Chapter 28

Hours later, Austin and his teammates were flying in a military helo over Waimea Canyon, search lights scanning over the jagged rocks and deep ravines. Duke had eventually flown to Honolulu International Airport in the early morning hours—without Alexa. Airport authorities alerted the HPD upon his arrival, and police arrested him for suspected kidnapping of Alexa and threats made to a retired military officer. Alexa hadn’t been in the helicopter with him, and given the only place he’d landed was Waimea Canyon, Austin hoped like hell this was where she was.

Unless he’d dumped her body somewhere over the Pacific.

Austin’s gut churned. He could only hope and pray that she was alive and that she would hang on until he could get to her. He wanted to kill Duke with his bare hands for even going near Alexa, but at the moment, his only priority was finding his girl.

Duke had refused to cooperate with police detectives, pleading the fifth. No one knew what he’d done to Alexa before flying back to Oahu, but at the moment, this was their strongest hope. Austin’s mind whirled as he scanned the rocky area below. Had Duke dumped her body? Had he simply left her there in the canyon, scared and alone? Was she hurt?

“Fuck!” he spat out, clenching his fists. “I’m going to kill that asshole.”

Wyatt shot him a look. “Keep your cool, buddy. It won’t do Alexa any good if you end up in jail.”

“There’s still no recent hits on her cell phone,” Aaron said, listening over his headset. “They were hoping it would ping off a local cell tower.”

Austin shook his head. “He left her here. I know it.”

Aaron nodded. “The last pings from her phone were from cell towers in the vicinity of Waimea Canyon this afternoon. In all likelihood, she never left.”

The radio crackled in Austin’s ears, and the local PD gave an update. They were flying a drone over the canyon, searching for Alexa as well. Infrared would detect heat signatures, and Austin could only pray they would find her. The trouble was, there were ten miles to search. The police were hoping to interview witnesses, to learn if anyone had spotted a helicopter that afternoon, but Duke’s helo was hardly the only one flying in the area. It was a popular tourist spot, with sightseeing tours going on every day.

“We’ll find her,” Ryan said over the headsets, glancing at him.

Austin clenched his jaw and nodded. He couldn’t fathom the alternative.

The men flew for another hour, looking for any clue as to where Duke had landed. They were flying close to the jagged cliffs, searching for any evidence that would be helpful. Austin’s head was pounding, frustration nearly overwhelming him. If he could just spot something, anything, they’d have a damn chance of finding her.

“I’m banking to the left,” the pilot said over the headsets. “The police drone is scanning in this section.”

“Roger that,” Wyatt replied.

The pilot flew toward a clearing in the canyon, and Austin’s jaw dropped in disbelief. “Get closer!” he urged. “I think I see something in the searchlight.” The pilot lowered the helicopter even more, and Austin wanted to cry in relief as the light scanned over something on the ground. “That’s Lex’s backpack! She was here. Holy shit! This is where they were!”

His headset crackled again as the pilot radioed an update, indicating that they were about to land. They’d barely touched down before Austin was hustling out, crouching low to the ground beneath the still spinning rotors. “Fuck, that’s it!” he called out, his teammates jumping out behind him.

Austin’s heart was pounding as he grabbed her backpack, adrenaline coursing through his veins. He frowned, realizing her water and phone were both inside, along with several granola bars. “Why would she leave this here?” he murmured.

Hudson grunted beside him. “She must not have had a choice.”

Wyatt clapped his hands together, getting the men’s attention. “Let’s spread out. The drone is going to fly over this area looking for Alexa, but temperatures have dropped. It’ll be harder to spot her if she’s out here in the cold without any supplies.”

The men quickly discussed which areas to search, locating their position on a map. Austin took off jogging after they’d divided the area into quadrants, adjusting his night vision goggles. They hadn’t exactly been authorized to leave Oahu with a military helicopter, but his CO had told them he’d handle it. Austin’s only priority now was finding his girl.

“Lex!” he yelled. His voice echoed in the darkness, his heart thundering. “Alexa!”

***

Alexa blinked, trying to figure out what had woken her. Sharp pains shot down her arms and back from being tied in this position so long, and she wanted to scream. She fought at the ropes binding her wrists again, fresh tears falling down her cheeks.

“Agghhh!” she said in frustration.

It was pitch black out, and her stomach rumbled. She didn’t even remember the last time she’d had anything to eat or drink, and she was so cold, she was shivering. While she was amazed she’d somehow fallen asleep, it had been restless and full of nightmares. Just as her head started to lull to the side once more as she drifted off, her body jerked again.

Was she dreaming?

“Alexa!”

The voice was faint, coming from somewhere in the distance, but she wasn’t imagining it.

“Alexa!” someone shouted again. It was slightly fainter. They were going the wrong way, she realized in horror.

“I’m here,” she croaked, recognizing that no one would ever hear her. She coughed, trying to clear her throat. “I’m here!” she called out, slightly louder. “Help me! Help!” she screamed.

Suddenly, she heard other voices yelling. Male voices that sounded familiar. Fresh tears smarted her eyes, but they were from sweet relief. Austin had found her. “I’m over here! Help me! I can’t move!”

What felt like an impossibly long time but had to be mere minutes passed, and then she heard thumping as the men got closer. “I’m here, I’m here!” she yelled. Suddenly she saw a flashlight beam, and Austin and his teammates came running over.

Austin slid to his knees in front of her, his voice hoarse as he yanked off his night vision goggles. “Lex. My God. What the hell did he do to you?” He was already sliding a scary-looking knife free, gently lifting her hands toward him. “Shit. You’re bleeding.”

Wyatt crouched down beside him. “I got it. Hold her hands steady.” Austin handed over the knife, taking her hands between his own, and she burst into tears. “Shhh,” Austin soothed, brushing his lips against her forehead. “It’s almost over. We’ll get you free.”

Her hands fell free of the ropes, Wyatt tossing them to the ground before handing Austin back his knife. The other men were there, too, she realized, someone cutting the ropes from behind the rock. The binding around her abdomen tightened for just a second, and then she sucked in a deep breath as they also fell away. Austin was gently rubbing her wrists and shoulders, murmuring soothing words. Hudson stood up from her feet, the rope from her ankles clutched in his big hand.

“Roger that, we found her,” Aaron said over the headsets. “We’ll return to the helo ASAP for extraction.”

“Are you injured?” Wyatt asked, his assessing gaze moving over her. “We can take you straight to a hospital.”

She shook her head. “No. He didn’t hurt me. He tied me up and left me here to die.” She burst into tears, shaking, and then Austin was collecting her in his arms. The other men were talking over their headsets, someone producing a thermal reflective blanket to drape over her.

“I didn’t even hear the helicopter,” she told Austin. “I was asleep, and it was only the sound of your voice that woke me up.”

“I’ll always come for you,” he said huskily, his own eyes shining with tears. “Now, what do you say we get you out of here?”

“Yes please.”

He chuckled, palming the back of her head, and kissing her in front of all his buddies. “I love you,” he whispered. “I thought I lost you, but I love you so damn much, Lex.”

“I love you, too,” she replied.

“Then let’s get you home where you belong.”

“Oh, what about Callie?” she asked, worry coursing through her.

“I’m going to meet her at the hotel,” Wyatt assured her. “The boys will drop me off at the airport, and I’ll catch a cab there. You’ll fly back to Oahu with the team on the helo.”

“It’s too bad you can’t repel down and land on the hotel, commando style,” Alexa joked. “Callie would love that.”

The men laughed, looking at each other in amusement.

“Callie’s already seen us in action,” Wyatt reminded her.

“Good point,” she said, smiling as Austin easily lifted her into his arms. The blanket was already helping to warm her, but snuggling up against him was the best thing she’d ever felt.

Wyatt nodded his head in the direction of their helicopter. “Let’s roll,” he told his team, and the men began walking back out in the direction they’d come.

“You okay to handle another helicopter ride?” Austin asked, looking down at her in the darkness. “We don’t have many other options to get out of here.”

“If you’re with me? Absolutely. There’s nowhere else I’d rather be,” Alexa assured him.

“Me either, baby girl,” he said, ducking down for a quick kiss before carrying her through the night. She was safe again, free, and in the arms of the man she loved.