Code Name: Genesis (Jameson Force Security #1)(55)

Granted, while this interview is pretty informal, I am still in the middle of a business dealing and would ordinarily ignore such a thing.

But it’s Joslyn.

And knowing her, she is probably sending me something silly and designed only to make me smile.

I should ignore it.

But it’s Joslyn.

“Excuse me,” I say to Saint as I reach out to take my phone. After I tap on the text, I start to read, my body locking tight. In an instant, I feel like my entire life has just been shattered.

I’m so sorry, Kynan. He has Lynn. He’s going to kill her if I don’t go with him. I had to make a quick decision. No matter what happens, I love you so very much. Please forgive me for what I’m getting ready to do.

A wave of nausea hits me as I realize the kiss I gave Joslyn just before she walked out the door with Cruce may have been the last time I ever touch her. This text may be the last words she ever says to me.

He could be killing her right this very moment.

My phone rings in my hand. I’m so startled I almost drop it. Cruce’s name comes up on the screen, and I answer it by barking, “What the fuck is going on? I just got a text from Joslyn that sounds like she willingly went with the bastard.”

Saint stands up from the stool opposite me, his body tight and hyper alert as he watches me with concern.

“She ditched me at the Four Seasons,” Cruce grits out with anger and frustration. “Hopped out of the fucking car and said she had to use the bathroom. Ran off as I was trying to get out of the car. I swear to God, Kynan, I couldn’t have been more than ten seconds behind her, but she wasn’t in the bathrooms. She just disappeared.”

“I don’t fucking understand,” I say as I snag the keys to the car I rented when I first arrived in Santa Barbara. Saint follows along behind me as I head to the door, but I pay him no mind. “I’m on my way to you now.”

“I’ve already called the police. They should be arriving any moment. I’m in the employee parking lot off the service door from the lobby. I found her purse and phone. Saw a car pulling away pretty fast, and I managed to get a partial license plate on it, but I couldn’t see if she was in there or not.”

“Jesus fucking Christ,” I mutter. I’m so angry with Joslyn right now for doing this… and at Cruce for letting her. My head is fogged up, and my ability to form rational thought is impaired.

And then it hits me, just as I reach the front door.

I disconnect from Cruce without another word, pulling up the tracking app I installed. It’s connected to the devices in her purse, phone, and in the earrings I gave her. Christ, was she wearing the earrings today? I can’t remember. Her hair was loose and covered her ears, but I’d told her to always wear them. Surely, she had, right?

“What is that?” Saint answers as he steps in to look closer at my app.

“A tracking device.”

“He’s got your woman?” he asks.

“She apparently got in his car willingly because he said he’d taken her manager,” I grit out, furious still at Joslyn but also incredibly terrified at the same time.

“Says a lot about your woman,” Saint remarks, and I glare at him. He just shrugs. “She must have a lot of love and loyalty to have done that.”

Yeah… She sure as fuck does, but I’m furious at her for being that way.

I tap on the icon that will connect to the signal in Joslyn’s earrings. The purse and phone are out of play, but with my breath caught in my throat, I wait for a red flashing circle to come up on the Google maps the app integrates. I get nothing in return.

“Shit,” I mutter.

“What’s the signal distance?” Saint asks.

“Ten miles.” That was the problem when we had the earrings created on such short notice—we were only able to use readily available technology. The size of chip we put in the earrings has only so much strength in its signal.

The lack of a signal tells me something particularly important, though.

Which direction he is headed.

If he was headed south toward Joslyn’s house from the Four Seasons, I would have picked up the signal. It’s proof he’s headed either north or west, which at least gives me a starting point.

I spare Saint a glance to say, “Sorry, buddy. Interview’s over. We’ll have to pick this back up some other time.”

“I’d like to help,” Saint says. “I can’t learn a damsel is in distress and just walk away.”

I nod gratefully, quickly disarming the security panel so we can exit the house. “I’ll shoot you the link so you can download this app. Follow me in your car to the Four Seasons. Once there, you, Cruce and I will branch out to search for her.”

In seconds, I’m in my car headed to the Four Seasons. I place a call to Bebe.

I come to appreciate her efficiency even more when she answers my call by giving me an immediate update. “I’ve already talked to Cruce. Rachel and I have the map up. Once her signal comes online, I’ll sync it to the app so everyone can have access to it. In the meantime, I’m running the partial license plate Cruce was able to get. I had to hack the California’s Department of Motor Vehicles so if I get caught, you have to bail me out.”

“I’ve got your back, Bebe. Thank you for jumping on this so fast.”