so self-conscious. Growing his hair longer helped him feel less insecure about it but it didn't take it away completely. The fact was that when he smiled widely or laughed hard, the scar tissue tugged slightly, and his smile was slightly crooked. And he was a man who liked to smile. Just then Josh smiled at something Dodge said to him and the perfect smile and unmarked face on Josh made him want to hide in a dark room. The women always loved looking at Josh.
Yvette then received a text and she read it to the group. "Bethany was leaving work. She worked late and was taken from the parking lot. She worked at a medical clinic. In Mazzulla, Montana."
Gaige turned and looked at everyone, "Okay, we have Colorado, Montana and Illinois. Not to mention that Bridget was followed home to Steuben, Indiana. No states in common. So far, the only commonality we have is that they had recently left work. Likely not feeling threatened in parking lots feeling that there were other people around would offer a sense of security. Other than that, we don't have anything else in common except they are all women. All around thirty years of age. And all have a friend associated with GHOST."
Gaige worked on a map, circling the cities where each of the missing women had disappeared from. Sophie's phone rang and she answered it, while scooting to the edge of her chair, then standing. She walked to the corner of the room, where it was quieter, and as the rest of the group talked about possibilities it wouldn't inhibit hearing her caller.
She stopped walking to the corner and turned abruptly. Quickly walking to Gaige, her voice panicked. Gaige's concerned look had him standing to usher Sophie into a chair.
"Bridget's on the phone. Two of her clients were kidnapped last night after leaving the shooting range. They left in two separate cars but together they went to a local bar for a drink after class."
Gaige took Sophie's free hand in his. "What is the name of the bar? Are their cars left there?"
Sophie asked Bridget the questions and listened as Bridget responded. "The Last Stop. And yes."
Gaige entered the information into their software and Sophie continued listening to Bridget.
Axel tuned in to try and hear as much, at least of this end of the conversation, as he could hear.
"Are you and Aidyn alright? How about your mom?"
Sophie's back was ramrod straight as she listened to her friend. Her free hand now curved around her baby belly, rubbing lightly as she listened to her friend.
"Okay. What about your LEO?"
Nodding slightly as if she understood what Bridget was saying, Sophie swallowed and her eyes glistened.
"I know. Right now, my first reaction is to tell you all to come here. We can keep you safe here until we get this worked out, Bridget, would you consider it?"
The talking in the room slowly suspended as everyone waited to hear what Sophie was saying to Bridget.
"We have a plane. We can come and escort you and Aidyn and your mom. We have the room. We have the means. Please let us help you Bridget. I can't lose another friend..."
Sophie choked out a sob and Gaige stopped working on his computer and turned to face her. He picked up her hand again and held it in his left hand as his right hand softly swiped away a tear from her cheek. To see his gentleness with her confirmed how he'd be with his child. It was a sight for sure because the Gaige they knew was badass and tough. They all were, including Jax. It was really going to be something to see her with two babies. He smiled as he thought about it. Then his eyes darted to Jax, who sat looking totally uncomfortable and squirming in her chair to try and get comfortable. Dodge leaned in and whispered something to her, and she took his hand in hers and shook her head no.
Then Sophie's voice rose a bit. "What?"
She sat forward in her chair. "When?"
"No shit?"
She closed her eyes then opened them to look at Gaige, her brows high into her hairline, the tears she'd recently shed dried up and surprise clearly on her face.
"I don't even know what to say, Bridget. I'm speechless."
She listened for a while longer and everyone in the room was now silent. To say you could hear a pin drop was terribly cliche, but it was the only thing he could