Page 81 of Home Again

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“Yeah?” Sebastian asked. “Did you find him?”

“No sign of him, and per Jada he’s powered down his phone again so he could be anywhere.”

“It’s oh-three-hundred. He should be in bed,” Sebastian said.

“Where are you?” Gideon asked.

“I’ve got Darnell with me. He’s going to show me where Gianna is.”

“For real?”

“Yep.”

“What about the other cousin, do you have a bead on him?”

“No,” Sebastian admitted.

“So he or Bradley could be waiting for you.”

“I know. But I gotta do this.”

“Wait for me,” Gideon said, his voice full of command. Figured, since he was second in command of the Omega Sky team.

“I can’t, Gideon. I don’t know how badly she’s been hurt. I’ve got to go now. Jada’s hacked my phone; have her do her voodoo and track me once you get here. Grab Neil and the boys—they’ll show you how to pilot an airboat.”

“Don’t go!”

“Sorry, I think this connection is bad.” Sebastian hung up the phone. He reached over Darnell and opened the door, then shoved the bastard out onto the ground, scooted across the bench seat, and got out behind him.

He picked him up off the ground and practically dragged him down the path to the edge of the swamp. Sebastian pointed to the four-man airboat. “Hop on.”

Before he started the airboat’s engine, Sebastian took the roll of duct tape and used it to bind Darnell’s wrists behind his back. Then he ripped the tape off his mouth. He was crying.

Sebastian settled his gun against Darnell’s kneecap. “Do you remember our little talk back at your trailer?”

“Yes, sir.”

“I want you to direct me to where Gianna is. Personally, I’d trust you more if you were bleeding all over the bottom of the boat. What do you think? Should I shoot you first before you start giving me directions?”

Sebastian resisted the urge to roll his eyes when all Darnell did was stare.

“That was a question.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Oh, fuck it. Tell me which direction to go.”

Darnell lifted his head from the bottom of the boat, obviously confused. “I don’t know. I can only do this when I’m in the chair.”

Sebastian hoisted Darnell into the airboat chair then duct-taped him to it. He was pretty sure the dumbass wouldn’t try to get away by jumping into the swamp when his hands were taped behind his back, but who the hell knew.

“Which way?”

Darnell tilted his head straight. “Straight ahead, then veer left after that big cypress.”

It took forty minutes of twists and turns before Sebastian saw an airboat up ahead.