Jonas, page 24
“Hey,” he said and came toward him. A nurse handed him a glass of ice chips. “I hear Sierra is in labor?”
He nodded. “Got here about four this morning.” He did look tired, his eyes reddened. “She’s nearly fully—probably TMI. What—is Shae here?”
The question dropped out Ned’s stomach.
Silence. Then, “I…nope. Uh…” And the last thing he wanted to do was stress Ian out even more, but now, shoot, he was stuck. “Actually, Shae and I got into a little disagreement, and I thought she might be…”
“Here? In Montana? What kind of disagreement has her hopping a plane to Montana?” Gone was the stressed out Ian. Welcome to Angry Ian, the former billionaire who knew how to get his way. His mouth tightened.
“Um. It’s a long story, but we were in Geneva, and then I got called up, and I’ve been trying to get ahold of her, but…she won’t answer my calls.”
Ian stood there, holding the cup of ice. “Won’t answer your calls? Did you go to her house?”
“Yes. No—I had a friend stop by. But she’s not there and—”
“Mr. Shaw. Your wife is asking for you.” A female nurse, petite, wearing pink scrubs, had stuck her head out of a room.
He nodded, turned back to Ned. “Find her. Straighten this out.”
“Yes, sir,” Ned said.
Ian pointed at him as he walked away. “Find. Her.”
“Congratulations on the baby.”
Ian held up the cup and disappeared into the room.
Ned headed out to the lobby. Sat on a bench. Pulled out his phone and swiped open Shae’s contact. Where are you, Shae?
His phone buzzed in his hand, and he answered the incoming video call from Fraser. His brother’s face appeared on the screen.
“What’s up?”
“Coco found some CCTV footage from Geneva you need to see.” He wore a grim look that trickled ice into Ned’s gut.
“What?”
“I sent you a link. There’s no audio, just the video. Tell me what you think.”
Ned minimized the call and opened the text app. Found Fraser’s link, then clicked on it.
Then everything inside him seized, his breath gone as he watch Shae storm out of the hotel. Given the sunshine and her attire, it looked like it had been right after their argument.
As he watched, she turned, her eyes widening, as if someone had called her name.
Then that someone walked up to her.
Tall, ponytail, wearing a backpack.
Dana Munson. Maybe. Probably.
And then, as he watched, a car pulled up, and Dana motioned to it. Shae seemed to frown, then look back at the hotel.
Like she might be thinking about returning.
To him.
Then she smiled and shook her head. Mouthed something. He couldn’t make it out.
But he clearly made out the shock on her face as Dana took her arm and then manhandled her into the car, pushing her inside.
Then he got in, shut the door, and it pulled away.
Ned just stared at the screen as the video ended.
“Ned?”
He thumbed open the call to Fraser. He was still wearing that grim look.
“Shae’s been kidnapped,” Ned said quietly.
Fraser nodded.
“Okay, I’m coming home. And then I’m getting on a plane. Can you ask Coco to run the plate number?”
“Done. And by the way, Ned. You’re not going alone. We’ll find her. I promise.”
Fraser hung up, and Ned closed his eyes, pressed the phone against his head.
Please, Shae, where ever you are, just stay alive.
I’m coming for you.
The epic romance and adventure continues with Ned and Shae’s story in NED, book 3 of the Minnesota Marshalls.
Thank you for reading
Thank you so much for reading Jonas. I hope you enjoyed the story.
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Susie May
About Susan May Warren
With nearly 2 million books sold, critically acclaimed novelist Susan May Warren is the Christy, RITA, and Carol award-winning author of over ninety novels with Revell, Tyndale, Barbour, Steeple Hill, and Summerside Press. Known for her compelling plots and unforgettable characters, Susan has written contemporary and historical romances, romantic-suspense, thrillers, rom-com, and Christmas novellas.
With books translated into eight languages, many of her novels have been ECPA and CBA bestsellers, were chosen as Top Picks by Romantic Times, and have won the RWA's Inspirational Reader's Choice contest and the American Christian Fiction Writers Book of the Year award. She’s a three-time RITA finalist and an eight-time Christy finalist.
Publishers Weekly has written of her books, “Warren lays bare her characters’ human frailties, including fear, grief, and resentment, as openly as she details their virtues of love, devotion, and resiliency. She has crafted an engaging tale of romance, rivalry, and the power of forgiveness.”
Library Journal adds, “Warren's characters are well-developed and she knows how to create a first rate contemporary romance…”
Susan is also a nationally acclaimed writing coach, teaching at conferences around the nation, and winner of the 2009 American Christian Fiction Writers Mentor of the Year award. She loves to help people launch their writing careers.
Susie is the founder of www.MyBookTherapy.com and www.LearnHowtoWriteaNovel.com, a writing website that helps authors get published and stay published. She is also the author of the popular writing method The Story Equation.
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Also by Susan May Warren
THE MINNESOTA MARSHALLS
Fraser
Jonas
Ned
Iris
Creed
SKY KING RANCH
Sunrise
Sunburst
Sundown
THE EPIC STORY OF RJ AND YORK
Out of the Night
I Will Find You
No Matter the Cost
GLOBAL SEARCH AND RESCUE
The Way of the Brave
The Heart of a Hero
The Price of Valor
THE MONTANA MARSHALLS (family series)
Knox
Tate
Ford
Wyatt
Ruby Jane
MONTANA FIRE
Where There's Smoke (Summer of Fire)
Playing with Fire (Summer of Fire)
Burnin' For You (Summer of Fire)
Oh, The Weather Outside is Frightful (Christmas novella)
I'll be There (Montana Fire/Deep Haven crossover)
Light My Fire (Summer of the Burning Sky)
The Heat is On (Summer of the Burning Sky)
Some Like it Hot (Summer of the Burning Sky)
You Don't Have to Be a Star (Montana Fire spin-off)
MONTANA RESCUE
If Ever I Would Leave You (novella prequel)
Wild Montana Skies
Rescue Me
A Matter of Trust
Crossfire (novella)
Troubled Waters
Storm Front
Wait for Me
MISSIONS OF MERCY SERIES
TEAM HOPE: (Search and Rescue series)
Waiting for Dawn (novella prequel)
Flee the Night
Escape to Morning
Expect the Sunrise
NOBLE LEGACY (Montana Ranch Trilogy)
Reclaiming Nick
Taming Rafe
Finding Stefanie
THE CHRISTIANSEN FAMILY
I Really Do Miss your Smile (novella prequel)
Take a Chance on Me
It Had to Be You
When I Fall in Love
Evergreen (Christmas novella)
Always on My Mind
The Wonder of Your
You're the One that I Want
THE DEEP HAVEN COLLECTION
Happily Ever After
Tying the Knot
The Perfect Match
My Foolish Heart
The Shadow of your Smile
You Don't Know Me
A complete list of Susan’s novels can be found at susanmaywarren.com.
Jonas
A Minnesota Marshalls Novel
Copyright © 2023 by Susan May Warren
Paperback ISBN: 978-1-943935-86-4
Ebook ISBN: 978-1-943935-85-7
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without written permission of the publisher.
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either products of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously. Any similarity to actual people, organizations, and/or events is purely coincidental.
Scripture quotations are also taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright© 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc®. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.
For more information about Susan May Warren, please access the author’s website at the following address: www.susanmaywarren.com.
Published in the United States of America.
Cover design by Jenny Zemanek, jennyzemanek.com
Susan May Warren, Jonas
