KELLAN WARD
"She's here?" asked Kellan as they drove into the cracked and pocked blacktop parking lot. It had taken more than an hour to reach the abandoned industrial park on the outskirts of Ash City.
Empty warehouses with broken windows, graffiti-ridden walls, and sagging roofs lined up like old coffins. As they passed the row of decrepit buildings, the car's lights bounced off the pitted road.
"The GPS shows she's in a warehouse off the main lot. It's in a field by itself. I believe it was once owned by a private pilot. He kept his Cessna there."
"I see."
"Forgive the rough ride, Mr. Ward. It's only gravel and dirt from here on out."
The elegant Maybach was not made for traipsing across a weedy, rocky field. Still, Jingyu managed to get the car to the wooden warehouse standing alone in the grassy area. The full moon shone brightly, like a wounded god's eye judging the poor mortals below.
Jingyu killed the lights of the Maybach. They sat together in the stillness, staring at the ugly wooden structure. In the darkness, Kellan heard the rush of his own breath, a little too rapid, a match to the fury that beat hotly in his veins. The idea that someone had stolen his wife made him homicidal. He wanted to destroy everything in sight.
He attempted to calm himself, but the effort was useless. Until he saw Aurora safe and sound, he wouldn't know peace.
The nape of Kellan's neck tingled. "Perfect spot for an ambush."
"I had a team check the area before I brought you to the location, sir. No one is out here."
"Have the guards follow me inside."
"What if I send a team to sweep the interior?" Jingyu met Kellan's gaze in the rear-view mirror. "You shouldn't risk yourself, sir."
"For her, I'll risk everything. What's my life compared to hers?"
"Sir."
Kellan lifted a hand---a gesture meant to stave off his assistant's worries. He knew Jingyu worried when he didn't care for himself properly, but the man also knew how Kellan felt about Aurora. There was no compromise when it came to his little butterfly.
"Aurora belongs to me. I must rescue her."
Kellan opened the door and strode toward the warehouse. Behind him, Jingyu and two rows of men in black suits with weapons ready lined up.
Just as they reached the side door, Kellan's cell phone vibrated in his pocket. He plucked out the cell and answered. "Just you," said the male voice. "No weapons."
"Where's my wife?"
"Wife?" The man paused. "You get the certificate?"
"Yes."
"Huh. Unexpected. Well, what are you waiting for? Come inside for a chat."
The call ended and Kellan returned the phone to his inner jacket pocket. "Stay here," he said to his guards. He glanced at Jingyu. "You, too."
Jingyu's expression showed that he wanted to argue, but at the end of the day, he was Kellan's loyal, obedient subordinate. He nodded. "Yes, sir."
Kellan opened the door and walked into the dark interior. At the other end of the warehouse he saw the bright beam of a flashlight. He followed it, stopping when the light was pointed directly at his face. He lifted a hand to block the radiance.
"Where's Aurora?" he demanded.
"Safe."
"I want proof."
"Sure. But you're going through a lot of trouble for a toy."
"She's my wife. The lady of the Ward family. Call her a toy again and I'll rip out your throat."
The man laughed and then pointed the beam at the ground. He turned off the flashlight. "You could try."
"I want my wife back," said Kellan. "What do you want?"
"Don't you care who I am?"
"No." Kellan glared at the figure hidden in the shadows. He didn't care who the man was, but as soon as Aurora was safe and back in his arms, he'd deal with this asshole.
"What I really want, Mr. Ward, is for you to divorce Aurora and stay the hell out of her life."
Kellan didn't respond. He clenched his fists, grinding his teeth together as fury burned through him.
"I could always make her a widow," said the man casually. "How much are you worth?"
"Nothing," said Kellan. "All of my wealth belongs to Aurora. The moment she married me, all my money, properties, and businesses transferred to her."
"Well, now. Aren't you a good husband?"
"I'm losing patience. Where's Aurora?"
"I told you, she's safe. By the way..." An object was tossed to his feet. It bounced off his shoe. In the moonlight streaming from a hole in the roof, he saw the glitter of Aurora's wedding ring.
"Your tech is easy to detect. And the ring is gaudy as hell. Have some class, Mr. Ward."
Kellan knew Aurora's kidnapper was trying to rage-bait him. He was also stalling for time. For what, Kellan didn't know, but it was irrelevant. Kellan dropped to his knees, rolled forward, and slammed the hidden syringe into his enemy's thigh. The action took less than 10 seconds.
The man swayed and then fell, completely passed out. Kellan rifled through his leather jacket and found a wallet and a phone. The wallet held an ID for Ryder Hamilton, a couple of credit cards, a haircut discount card, and a business card for Thorne Enterprises. The phone was locked, but before Kellan could attempt to break its code, it rang. He swiftly answered.
"Commander, your sister tried to commit suicide. We're rushing Miss Moon to Thorne Enterprises' private hospital. It's located on the Thorne compound and has tight security. Ward won't be able to get to her."
Kellan hung up the phone. His heart crawled into his throat as he thought about Aurora, bleeding and dying. He dropped the phone and smashed it with his foot.
Anger and fear for his beloved boiled together into a heated brew that soured his stomach. He leaned down and slapped the unconscious man's cheek. "If you really are Aurora's brother, then I must spare you. Unless Aurora disagrees." Kellan rose to his feet and then kicked the man as hard as he could. "You better hope my little butterfly is all right. Otherwise, brother or not, I'll end your life. Painfully."