WICKED INTENTIONS { Completed}

Chapter 28

An odd feeling had taken over Nathan. It was a severe mingling of love, panic and fear that felt like a hot pressure constricting his heart, and had to be the worst kind of agony any man could ever feel.

If anything happened to Shakira...

If anything happened to her...

The thought sent a hellish stab of pain in his chest and he stepped on the gas.

"Turn left at 81," Randall ordered. The PI's concentration was on the iPhone in his hand. That iPhone, and the blue dot on its map-like screen, was the difference between Shakira's life and death.

Edya had been mortified that her PI was now bugging FBI agents. Even Randall's explanation that the FBI agent had been too 'nice' and he just wanted to know if Karyn knew where Gates was, was not enough for Nathan's mother. Did he know what this could do to the Landa-Hollis name and their business relationship with the government?

As far as Nathan was concerned, the Landa-Hollis name could go screw itself. FBI Agent or not, Karyn had Shakira. What if she didn't? What if she had already killed her? The panicked tune in his pulse and heart, increased in tempo and volume until his ears rung with it. He gripped the steering wheel tighter as he shook his head. No, Shakira was alive. She's alive. Nevertheless he sped up.

"They're still not moving?"Nathan forced the question through clenched teeth.

"Not moving." Randall agreed. "Might be their final destination."

"How far?"

"Forty minutes," glancing at the trees and road signs flying with raised brows, Randall added, "but if you keep driving that way, thirty minutes."

Shit. It took all of Nathan's self-control not to bellow his frustration or let his temper explode in a bonfire of frustration. Because Karyn had a head-start on them and his car was much faster, they'd taken it but right now it felt like his Bugatti was an ancient train plodding its way slowly up the hill. The only reason he wasn't beating every speed limit was because he was afraid of being stopped but he was on the edge.

He released his breath explosively and he floored the car.

In twenty-five minutes they were pulling up a few miles away from where Karyn's car seemed to have stopped. Neither of them wanted to alert her of their arrival. After calling nine-one-one to alert them of a possible kidnapping, the two men exited the car, drawing their weapons as they went. Crouching low to keep his head from being seen above the hedge, Nathan edged towards the open gate. Randall matched Nathan's fast ground-covering pace stride-for-stride.

Nathan peeked over the gate. A solitary and worn cabin stood a few feet away. But it held no attraction for him. His eyes immediately zoomed in on the midnight black SUV parked in front of it.

They're here.

He turned slightly to Randall who gave him a brief nod before he scrambled through the gate. His shoes crunched against the stony path as he ran for the far end of the fence where they could get some kind of cover. Though the cabin's windows were boarded up, there was no way of telling if someone was watching them or not.

Watching the house keenly for any movement, Nathan and Randall made their way towards the cabin. There were none. They got to the cabin's porch steps without noticing or hearing anything odd. Steeling his shoulders and nerves, and pointing his gun straight ahead, Nathan trod on the first step and it creaked beneath his weight.

* * * * *

The air was heavy and electric with the promise of death. And Shakira had decided a few minutes ago that if that was the price of saving Nathan then she was going to let it happen.