A Minor Technicality [Completed] *Slowly Editing*

Chapter 38 - Gone

Luca POV

Bile rose in my throat as I stared disbelievingly at my best friend.

"Say that again," I demanded, closing the distance between us, body pulsing with the sudden need for a fight.

Walker slowly repeated the news, his calm demeanor betrayed by the unshielded concern in his light blue eyes. "No one has seen Michael or Blythe since we infiltrated the warehouse."

"You said Jimmy's SUV is missing?" My voice was tight, as was every muscle in my body.

Walker sighed and scanned the vehicles that were scattered around the premises. "Yeah. He was bitching about us paying if we dented the damn thing, so I know it was here, but I don't see it anywhere in the lot."

"You're certain?" Hope pathetically took flight in my chest before dying an agonizing death when I met Walker's confident gaze.

"I've been stalking that asshole for weeks. His freakin' plate says 'JFitz'. Trust me. That car is not here."

"Fuck!!" The yell tore from my throat and echoed across the expanse of the lot. I ignored the confused expressions of the onlookers and ran toward the warehouse, the gravel crunching beneath each violent step.

"Natalie!" I shouted as I entered the room. Intermixed with the criminals and WITSEC marshals was a small group of federal agents. The reminder that Walker and Natalie had completely disregarded my opinion, had sought help from the FBI without my knowledge, and had brought agents with them to the meet, made me growl. Stalking across the expansive room, my eyes narrowed when I found her. Natalie's wide eyes met mine. She excused herself from the FBI agent she was debriefing, and hurried toward me.

"Luc, everything okay?" Her dark eyes narrowed as she watched me knowingly.

"Michael and Blythe are missing." I ran my hands through my hair and locked eyes with Nat. "I need to find her," I asserted.

"What do you need me to do?" Natalie snapped to attention, fully alert and ready for action. All pretense of relaxation fled her features. Her loyalty was something I'd always admired, and I was thankful she was here to help me now.

"I need you to find Farrah," I instructed, and Natalie's face lit with recognition at the name. "She was able to sneak out before all hell broke loose."

Natalie nodded, but she glanced warily at the agents behind her.

"Guess I'll have to turn things over to the Feds," she frowned. "Anything else?"

"Yeah. Contact their parents," I ordered. "They got back home from their cruise last night, and I'm certain they'll be in a panic. Blythe was waiting to call them until we had Farrah, but I don't think we should delay it, given the circumstances."

Natalie lifted her hand to my shoulder and squeezed, her face softening.

"We'll find them both, Luca," she promised, but the words did nothing to ease the burning despair in my stomach.

"Right," I muttered emptily. "I've got to go."

As I reached the door, Natalie called my name.

"Take Eastcott with you. An extra set of eyes never hurts."

"Thanks," I answered curtly before returning to Walker.

Within minutes, Eastcott joined our huddle, advising us that Natalie had sent him. My blood was racing through my veins in anticipation of the hunt ahead of us, and I was in no condition to drive. Professionalism had gone right the fuck out the window. This being the case, Walker took the wheel of the large, black Expedition, while I rode shotgun. Eastcott busied himself pulling up the GPS tracking system that Walker had ingeniously thought to plant in our shoes. It took several minutes for the system to load and Eastcott to find an active signal, but I almost shouted in elation when he declared that he had found Blythe.