“Y-you were the one texting me.” Tazzy tried to keep the terror from her voice, but she didn’t succeed.
The General seemed to be enjoying himself. “And here I thought you weren’t clever,” he said. “I’ve found spoofing to be an amazing tool when needed.”
She kicked the seat in front of her. “Are you going to just let him kidnap me like that?” she demanded, but the man ignored her.
“I assure you, Reggie will do whatever I tell him to. Won’t you, Reggie?”
“Yes, sir,” Reggie said without missing a beat.
Tazzy’s heart pounded so hard she couldn’t catch her breath. This was bad. No one knew she’d been taken. Thanks to those stupid texts, no one would think anything was wrong. She’d left her phone behind like an idiot, so no one could even track her that way.
She was trapped, lost and helpless. And before long she would probably be dead.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
Jaxon killed the engine on his Harley and swung off the bike in front of Deep Dive. The meeting about the General’s upcoming trial had run longer than he wanted, but at least it was done. He needed to see Tazzy. Needed to feel her in his arms and know she was still safe after three long days of lockdown.
He pulled open the door and stepped inside. The familiar smell of coffee and sugar hit him, but the scene in front of the counter made him pause. The Musketiaras and Hutch were cleaning up from Tazzy’s taste-testing session. Empty cups, syrup bottles, and sample spoons covered the bar. Georgia was wiping down the counter while Winnie stacked dishes. Breezy laughed at something Suzi said.
They all looked up when he walked in.
Georgia’s face brightened first. “Hey, Jaxon! You’re back. Where’s Tazzy?”
Jaxon frowned. “What do you mean, where’s Tazzy? She’s here.”
The room went still.
Hutch straightened slowly, a dish towel still in his hands. “Tazzy left with you a few minutes ago.”
Jaxon felt the cold spike of dread hit his chest. “The fuck she did. I just got back.”
Hutch reached under the counter and held up Tazzy’s phone. “You told her you were almost here to pick her up and to wait outside in the parking lot. I saw the texts myself.”
Jaxon stepped closer, his boots loud on the tile. “Show me.”
Hutch turned the screen toward him and typed in the password Jaxon gave him. The messages were right there, clear as day. Jaxon’s blood turned to ice.
“That wasn’t me.” Jaxon’s heart slammed against his ribs. Rage and terror battled inside him with equal vigor. Fighting his fear, he fought to keep his voice steady. “How long has she been gone?”
Georgia answered quickly. “Not long. Maybe five or ten minutes. She boxed up her supplies and then hurried out when you texted.”
Cupping his hand over his brow, he let out a frustrated sigh. That explained why her box was sitting on the ground outside the door. No way would Tazzy have left her stuff out there like that.
It had to be the General or one of his goons. Knowing the General, she could already be in a ditch somewhere. Five minutes with him might as well be five hours. He yanked his phone from his pocket and dialed Sawyer.
Sawyer answered on the second ring. “Yeah?”
Jaxon broke in. “I need the location of the General. Now.”
Sawyer paused. “Why? What’s going on?”
“Just get me the fucking location!”
“Calm down, brother. I’m on it.”
Every second felt like an eternity. Jaxon paced the floor in front of the counter while the girls watched him with wide, worried eyes. His mind raced through every worst-case scenario. The General had her. He knew it in his bones.
Sawyer came back on the line. “I show him as still at the Graceview compound. What the hell is going on?”