Bare Necessities by Lacey Wolfe Page B

and started the car. From the side mirror, she could see Kimberly on the phone looking as though she was having a panic attack. Seth would save her. She was sure of it. Afterwards, he’d never trust her again. She’d repeatedly told him she could take care of herself and had gotten him to start letting go of his past, and now this happened.
    “I think, before we go home, we should take a detour. Let’s get married,” John suggested.
    “Married? No way.”
    “Ava, I don’t want to hear it. You’re mine. I just went halfway across this damn country to prove it. Doesn’t that show you just how much I love you?”
    More like how psycho he really was. “You know how I feel about marriage.”
    “And you now know how I feel about you. Really, do you have much choice? What’s that pretty little girl’s name? Ah, Lila.”
    “You’re a real creep, you know that?” she snapped.
    He laughed as he sped through town, heading right for the interstate. Things weren’t looking good. If he got on the interstate, it was going to be much harder for Seth and the other officers to find her. Ava closed her eyes. All she could do now was hope luck was on her side.

 
     
    Chapter Fifteen
     
    Seth’s office door flung open, and Cody and Randy stood there, ghost-white. Seth dropped his pen and went to his feet. Something had happened.
    “Is it Ava?” Seth asked.
    Randy nodded. “Kimberly just called.”
    “What has the son of a bitch done now?” Seth demanded.
    “He kidnapped her.”
    Seth’s mouth dropped open. Had he heard them right? “What?”
    “Kimberly said a man took Ava.”
    “What the fuck are we doing here? Get your asses in a car, and get her!” Seth grabbed his keys and started to leave the office.
    Cody placed a hand on his shoulder. “We’ve got several officers out. You’re not on this case. You can’t go.”
    Biting his lip, Seth couldn’t believe they didn’t want his help, but he didn’t care. “Cody, I don’t give a fuck. That is the woman I love, and I am going to save her.” He stomped past the men and didn’t care one bit about his job at the moment. The only thing he cared about was Ava.
    Seth was out the door and in his car before anyone had a chance to argue. Part of him was pissed that anyone would tell him not to. He revved his car then froze. Which way to go? There were multiple ways he could find her. Shit! As his heart raced, he feared he was going to lose control. He punched the steering wheel, sounding the horn.
    Cody appeared by the passenger’s side. Seth rolled the window down.
    “I’m coming with you. According to your sister, he was headed toward Jackson Hole. If we can catch him before he hits the interstate, we’ll be good. You already know what happens if he gets there before we catch him. He’s in a blue Mustang, so he’s going fast. I’ve got an officer trying to track Ava’s phone right now. As long as it stays on, we will know where they’re headed.”
    “Get in, and let’s go.”
    Once Cody was in the car, Seth backed out, put his lights on, and got the hell out of Brookfield.
    * * *
    Ava stared out the window as the car sped down winding roads. In another ten miles, they would be getting close to the interstate. She had no idea if the police even knew she was missing, and if they did, she didn’t know how much of a distance John had on them. Her eyes watched the passenger side mirror, hoping to see blue and red flashing lights. Instead, she just kept seeing the green trees as they passed them.
    They’d already made it through Jackson Hole. She knew the road’s thirty-five miles per hour speed limit would slow the police down. Glancing over to the speedometer, she saw John was easily pushing eighty.
    She had to figure out something. She had to slow this vehicle down.
    “I’ve got to use the restroom,” she said.
    “Need a cup?” he replied.
    “Not unless you want me shitting in it.”
    “Fuck! It’s just like you to have to need something to