Betrayals of the Heart by Melissa Ohnoutka

couldn’t be allowed to make it more than a few blocks. His very life depended on the officers now staking out their property. Why did that fact bother her?
    Old feelings of distrust for law enforcement surfaced. Steven wouldn’t hesitate to pay off the local cops, FBI and whoever else crossed his path.
    Reluctantly, she picked up the phone and dialed Ryan’s cell phone, unsure if he’d even answer. She needed to at least try to stop her son. Ryan would know exactly what to do.
     
    ***
    The phone on Ryan’s hip shook as he shifted his weight. He’d just located a vehicle matching the description of the one a neighbor had seen on their block. Little doubt as to its owner floated in the air. The dark vehicle stuck out like a sore thumb in the tiny little suburb. Any limo seen driving down one of the main streets of town had a variety of cans trailing behind it and shoe polish across the back window with the words “Just Married.”
    This one sat clean, free of cans, ribbons, and bows. He suspected that a speck of shoe polish had never come close to its spotless windows. The car idled on the side parking lot of an empty warehouse. Although the area was free of signs of life, his gut warned he wouldn’t have to wait long.
    “Where are you hiding, you coward?” He gritted his teeth trying to ignore the irritating, but persistent vibration. Whoever dared to call him had a great deal of balls. What if he’d forgotten to switch the setting off? And that’s when it hit him. No one working the case would disturb him during surveillance unless something had gone terribly wrong.
    He reached for the phone slowly. His hiding place in the parking lot across the street among a row of used cars for sale lacked the means to move too much without being seen. One slip and the gig was up.
    He flipped open his phone on the seat beside him, recognizing the number immediately. His heart jumped to his throat as he pressed the speaker button.
    “Makayla, what’s wrong?” Even though he whispered, it seemed to echo loudly within the small space. He scanned the warehouse, keeping close tabs on the vehicle not thirty feet away.
    “Michael’s gone.”
    What do you mean gone?” His brain struggled to decipher the information. Had Steven been able to get his hands on Michael as well? Impossible. What about all the cops?
    “You just let him leave? Why…”
    Gunfire ripped through the air across the street. The phone made a soft click as he closed it with his forefinger, his focus glued to the building. Everything inside him wanted to continue the call, find out where the devil Michael took off to. That and he knew his tone was way too rough.
    But something was going on in the warehouse and whatever it was wasn’t good. Two men exited the building, carrying a heavy plastic bag. Their cautious body movements were all the proof he needed. He’d hit pay dirt.
    The taller of the two men appeared to be taking orders from the shorter muscular man. They made their way around the car to the passenger side where the taller man opened the door as if wanting to put the bag inside.
    The next sight disturbed Ryan. The smaller of the two slammed the door, appearing to curse the taller one. Then they walked to the back of the car, scanning the surroundings as if sensing someone watching.
    Ryan slumped further in his seat and held his breath.
    After several torturous seconds, the men finally turned their attention to the trunk, tapping it three times before it opened. They placed the bag inside and pulled it shut. Then the taller man nodded, making his way to the driver’s side door where he slid behind the wheel. The shorter man just shook his head and then headed back inside the warehouse.
    “What the hell?” The car slowly eased out of the gravel driveway and headed back to town, leaving Ryan more confused than ever.
    His mind raced. Should he follow? Call Special Agent Harrington? It was risky. They had no idea how many suspects were a part of