Chapter 438
“I can’t believe this is actually happening p>
“It’s happening because you made it happen, and I just know with them, you guys will do wonderful things” she says proudly. “I believe you’ll become the largest most successful research company this country has ever seen p>
Before I can answer, my phone rings again. I pull back slightly and frown when I see the caller ID.
“Hello p>
“Sierra,” Elena says softly. “Hi p>
“Hey p>
There’s a brief pause before she asks carefully, “I wanted to ask if we could maybe meet for coffee… If you aren’t busy that is p>
I glance toward Lilly before nodding slightly to myself. “I’m not busy p>
We settle on a location before hanging up.
“You’re leaving already?” Lilly asks.
“I won’t be long p>
“Who are you meeting p>
“Elena p>
Lilly immediately frowns slightly. “Who the hell is that p>
I explain to her who she is and how she met.
“Just be careful” she says after I’m done, “Just because that man was captured, doesn’t mean there isn’t anyone else after you… remember you have a bounty over your head p>
I squeeze her hand, “Don’t worry so much, I’ll be careful p>
About forty minutes later, I walk into the café we agreed on and immediately spot Elena sitting near the windows. She looks up the second she notices me approaching, a small smile spreading across her face as I sit down across from her.
“Elena p>
“Hey,” she replies softly.
For a moment, awkward silence settles between us while I try to figure out why exactly she asked me here because she seems nervous.
Finally she takes a small breath and asks, “How are you doing p>
“I’m okay,” I answer automatically before giving her a small shrug. “As okay as I can be, I guess p>
“I’ve been thinking about you a lot. That’s actually why I asked you to meet me.” she admits after a moment. “I just wanted to know how you’re really doing and if there’s anything I can do to help p>
Something about the way she looks at me tugs at my memory, but before I can fully grasp the thought, it slips away again. I release a slow breath and then, for some reason I don’t understand, I decide to tell her the truth.
“I want my baby,” I whisper quietly, my voice shaking slightly, “I just… She’s only a few months old and I’ve never even held her before p>
Elena’s eyes fill with tears almost as if she can feel my pain… And maybe she can because she too is a mother.
“The only thing I have are the pictures my family took before she was kidnapped,” I say.
By the time I finish speaking, tears are running down both our faces. Elena reaches across the table and gently holds my hands.
“I’m so sorry, I can’t even imagine how painful this must be.” Her hand instinctively moves toward her own stomach. “I’m almost due, and honestly… if someone took my baby… I think it would destroy me too p>
I try to push down the pain and the longing for my baby while she squeezes my hands gently.
“As a mother, I understand that kind of pain,” she continues quietly. “And I’m so sorry you’re carrying it p>
I listen carefully, but once again something about the way she says it feels deeper somehow. It’s not just sympathy or comfort; it’s like she understands too much.
“All I want is my daughter back,” I whisper, pushing the previous thoughts away because it just seems ridiculous. “Nothing else matters would make me feel better p>
Elena nods immediately, tears still in her eyes, “You’ll find her… I can feel it p>
I study her quietly for a moment and for some reason, she seems different today. Before, I always assumed she was simply quiet by nature, but now I’m starting to realize maybe she was holding herself back around me all along.
We continue talking for a while longer until eventually it’s time to leave. Outside the café, I turn towards her.
“Do you need a ride?” I ask her when I notice she’s not leaving.
Elena shakes her head gently. “My husband is coming to pick me up p>
I nod slowly. “Okay, then… Goodbye and thank you for the coffee date. I really needed that p>
“It’s nothing, just glad I could help in any way p>
I start turning away before I suddenly hear her mumble something under her breath. I stop and glance back at her.
“Did you say something p>
For a split second, Elena looks startled, but then she quickly shakes her head and forces a small smile.
“I just said be safe p>
I nod slowly, but unease curls quietly inside me because I could’ve sworn she said something different.
The thought follows me all the way to my car. I’m just climbing inside when my phone suddenly pings with a text. My stomach tightens instantly when I see it’s from the same unknown number.
I quickly open it.
BE CAREFUL, SIERRA. DON’T TRUST EVERYONE AROUND YOU.