Noah’s next words hit harder than the rest. “Riley’s my niece.”
Jackson’s grip on the phone tightened. “Hell,” he muttered. The anger in him flared hotter, cutting through the exhaustion and frustration.
He couldn’t stand the thought of Noah’s family caught in this mess. Couldn’t stand that Avery was being used as bait.
“We’ll find them,” Jackson said finally. “And when we do, we’ll make sure the people behind this regret touching anyone tied to Crossfire Ops.”
There was a short silence before Noah spoke again. “I know we will.”
Jackson looked at Avery once more. Her eyes met his, filled with worry and something close to resignation.
He shook his head. “You’re not going anywhere near them. Not while I’m breathing.”
And he meant it.
Avery pushed back from the desk, her chair scraping against the floor. “I can’t just sit here, Jackson,” she said, her voice shaking. “They’re going to kill those women if I don’t turn myself over.”
“No,” Jackson said instantly. His tone was sharp, final.
“Jackson, I have to,” she argued. “They want me. If that’s the only way to save them—”
Noah’s voice cut in through the phone. “Avery, don’t even think about it. You hold off and give my people a chance to work the problem. We’re already tracing the signal from the kidnappers’ message. We’ll find them.”
Avery’s eyes glistened, but she nodded. Jackson could tell it wasn’t agreement. It was desperation.
He rubbed a hand over his jaw and forced himself to focus. “Noah, when’s Sheriff Chase bringing in Darian, Charlotte, and Mick for questioning?”
“About an hour,” Noah said. “Warren’s being brought in, too. The sheriff’s running all of them through separate interviews.”
Avery looked up sharply. “I want to be there for that.”
Jackson turned toward her. “No.” She started to speak, but he didn’t let her. “It’s too risky. The kidnappers could have takenthose techs to lure you out. If you show up at the sheriff’s office, you’re walking right into a trap.”
Her chin trembled, but she held his gaze. “Then they’ll just keep kidnapping and killing people until I do something.”
“Not if I can stop them,” Jackson said, locking gazes with her. “But you going out there could make things worse.”
Noah sighed heavily on the line. “Jackson’s right. They could have eyes on the sheriff’s station and be waiting for you there.”
The silence that followed was thick. Jackson could almost feel the war going on inside her. The need to help against the instinct to survive.
He wanted to tell her it would be all right, but right now, even he couldn’t promise that.
“For now, I think it’s a good idea for both of you to come to Crossfire Ops headquarters,” Noah went on a moment later. “If we come up with a plan that involves either of you, I need you close.”
Jackson exchanged a look with Avery. She was pale but composed, her eyes still shadowed with worry.
“I need your location,” Noah added. “Once I have that, I’ll send a pickup.”
Jackson trusted Noah with his life. With Avery’s life, too, so he gave his boss the address. “You’re sending a team?”
“No,” Noah said. “A helicopter. It’ll be faster and safer than putting you on the road. I don’t want you driving into an ambush.”
Jackson thought of the last time they’d been hunted on open ground, of the grenade launcher and the explosion that had leveled his house. His gut tightened. “You sure about that? We’ve already seen what they’re willing to use.”
“I’m sure,” Noah said. “All precautions will be taken. The pilot’s one of ours, and I’ll have an armed escort on board. No risks.”
Jackson blew out a slow breath and looked at Avery. “You okay with this?”