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But I can’t do that and take Della’s career from her. She’d never forgive me, and I just want her safe and happy by my side “Right,” I manage through gritted teeth.

We run as a silent unit down the trail, and when we get near the vehicle, Ridge points to the ground. “Looks like they fought or he dragged her, at some point.”

Vandal, with Havoc covering him, nudges the door to the first silo open. They come out, empty handed. Knox and North enter the second small one, but it’s the same.

Empty.

I should be leading this. I should be going in. I want my face to be the first Della sees, so she knows I’ll always come for her.

Ahead, there’s a small, corrugated shed, and I take the distance on soft feet, trying to even my breath so I can hear something other than the blood rushing through me. The door is closed, but I put my shoulder to the wall and listen.

“…Don’t make this harder. Fuck, Della. Stop moving.” That little shit is spinning out.

I want to go in, guns blazing, but I need to see if there’s a booby trap. I pull out the little mirror I have on a stick, and I shift to lift it up to the small window so I can look inside while Ridge quietly signals the others over. Della is on her knees in the middle of the room, her hair a mess, a bruise flowering at her temple and blood dripping down her cheek, as Evan waves a gun in her direction.

My head starts to spin. My girl, my woman, my everything, is in mortal danger. And it’s gonna leave an indelible scar on my heart that I didn’t get here sooner.

One poorly timed shot, and I’ll lose her forever. Which means the seconds matter, I can’t wait for the others to reach me. Back up will mean nothing if she’s already gone. But Della is between the two of us, and I can’t get a clear shot.

So, I shove the door open and step inside with my hands raised.

Immediately, Evan grabs Della by the hair, yanking her even closer in front of him. “Don’t come any closer.”

“Sunny,” Della says, relief sharp in every letter.

“That’s far enough,” Evan says. “One more step and I’ll kill her.”

I stop. Not because he told me to. But because that protective instinct I’ve had my whole life is screaming that there’s a way to get her out of this if I don’t rush it.

“Easy, Evan,” I say. “Nobody needs to get hurt, here. You want to tell me how we got here?”

He sneers and grabs her hair again, but something tells me this is a last grasp for power from someone who knows they’re beat. “If she hadn’t met you, this would all be over.”

A single tear spills over Della’s lashes, but I can’t comfort her, yet.

I huff. “Evan. There’s nothing we can’t make happen. We can get you out of here. Where do you want to go?” It’s a lie. This fucker is going nowhere, beyond prison.

Della shakes her head. “Bennett found out he had debt and blackmailed⁠—”

“Shut up,” Evan yells.

Bennett. That fucking cunt.

“Why is Della here?”

A tear trickles down his cheek, but I have no sympathy. “He said they needed the land. Bennett. And I needed money. It was stupid. I thought that would be it. Discredit Della. But she wouldn’t stop. And Bennett wanted⁠—”

A floorboard creaks over by the door, and I see Ridge with his phone out, videoing the whole thing.

“No,” Evan says.

“Say cheese, motherfucker,” Ridge replies.

“Put the gun down, Evan,” I say. “It’s the only way you’re getting out of here alive. You have my word that you’ll still be breathing at the end of the day.”

For a second, Evan stands there, and Della strains against the way he holds her.

Knowing he’s defeated, he does as I ask, and Della slumps to the floor in relief. I hurry to grab her while Havoc and Vandal storm past Ridge to grab Evan.