Take - Page 98

Kav cursed. “He’s going to lock her in a tomb.”

That would suit Auclair’s sense of drama.

“Which cemetery?” My hand squeezed on my phone. “There’s St. Louis Cemetery No. 1, 2 and 3. There’s Lafayette Cemetery.”

“St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 is the oldest,” Dante said.

“Lafayette is closer,” Colt said.

“It’s Lafayette Cemetery No. 1.” Keiko’s no-nonsense voice came from the dash. “I spotted the blue Explorer there.”

Beau wrenched the wheel, the tires screeching.

The cemetery was in the heart of the Garden District and not too far away.

“Noah, Linc,” I said. “The cemetery has over a thousand tombs. I need you to narrow down possible crypts Auclair might use.”

“On it,” Noah said.

But it was possible Auclair would just pick one randomly. I might still be too late.

I felt a hand on my shoulder. I looked back at Dante.

“She’s strong and feisty,” Dante said. “She’ll hold on.”

I nodded. The drive was only a few minutes but felt like hours.

Beau finally slammed on the brakes, and I flew out of the SUV. I looked up at the metal archway and the gate into the cemetery.

The lock had been cut off the gate.

Beyond it was darkness. I could just make out the shadows of tombs and some trees.

“There are flashlights in the back of the SUV,” I said.

“I’ll get them,” Colt responded. A moment later, he handed us all one.

As my brothers flanked me, I pulled out my Glock. I touched my earpiece. “We’re at the cemetery.”

“We don’t have any targets yet,” Linc said. “Sorry, boss. We’re working on it.”

My hands clenched on the hilt of my gun. Beside me, my brothers turned on their flashlights.

“We split up,” I ordered. “Take different sections of the cemetery.”

They all nodded.

My brothers split off, and I jogged down a line of crypts, listening for any sounds and searching for any movement in the darkness.

Everything was dead still and silent.

“Where are you, Frankie?” I whispered.

I kept moving, aiming my flashlight around. It illuminated run-down graves and tombs, and the eerie branches of the trees rising above them. I moved down the next row of crypts. The path was uneven in places, the stones covered in moss.

My chest was tight. There was every chance Auclair would hurt her. That I could lose her.

I paused, my hands on my hips, and dragged in some deep breaths. I couldn’t afford to lose it.