Chapter 56

56

He couldn't get into the ER fast enough. Not since Jacobson had called his brother-in-law directly. Allen Jacobson had promised he wouldn't leave Powell's side until Gunnar got there. Of course, he wouldn't—Allen's sister Shelby was one of Powell's closest friends on the planet.

Allen would protect her with his life if he had to.

Just like Caine and Rafe, Heather's nephews, would. And Vince—Dom Acardi's own father who worked as head of security there. They would all protect her. Until Gunnar could get to her. Logically, he knew this.

But logic had nothing to do with how he was feeling now.

He wouldn't believe it was her until he saw her, touched her, for himself.

Then the doors were opening in front of him, and he was running in.

Dr. Jacobson met him at the main desk. "Nikkie Jean is with her. And Annie Barratt."

"I need to see her," Gunnar told him. "Is she okay? The baby?"

"She's going to be fine, Erickson. Just bruises. We're getting her ready to head up to radiology now." He held out a hand. "She's in a state of shock, but she's relatively lucid. I know you'll have questions."

"Has she said anything about Heather?" Jake asked from beside Gunnar. He'd been the one to drive. Jake was hell on wheels when needed.

It had been needed.

"Taken out of there in a box truck about an hour ago. Heading southeast. Powell got a partial plate. But that's all she had." Jacobson led the way. "I'll tell her you're here."

Gunnar was right on his heels.

Then he could hear her talking. He heard her. Thank God.

He almost hit his knees.

Then big dark eyes were looking right at him.

And she was standing. Moving.

Toward him.

Gunnar just scooped her close and held her. He had her back. He wasn't ever going to let her go again.

"Gunnar, I'm okay." Her arms were around him. But she was moving gingerly. They'd hurt her. She had a black eye. He could see it forming. "You have to go find her. You have to go get her back. You have to."

"We won't ever stop looking," he told her against her hair, holding her close gingerly. Careful not to hold her too tightly, no matter how much he wanted to.

"Gun, we need to ask her some questions," Daniel said behind him. "Time…matters."

Gunnar knew he was right. Heather was still missing. But the hardest thing he had ever done was step away. So he could just look at Powell as she told them everything she knew about the men who still had Heather.

Gunnar was going to get Heather back now if it was the last thing he ever did.

And he was going to make those bastards pay for every mark on Heather and every mark on Powell. No matter how he had to make that happen. He wasn't waiting for Daniel to catch up now. Daniel's screw-up had almost cost him who mattered most.