Chapter 190
This is different and much worse because it’s not me.
It’s her.
And I don’t know where she is, I don’t know if she’s hurt, If she’s scared, If she’s I drag a hand down my face, trying to steady myself.
“What the fuck is she going through right now I mutter under my breath.
The thought alone makes something twist deep in my chest.
“Is she even okay p>
I let out a sharp breath.
“Fuck p>
The word comes out low, bcause I know i know exactly where this leads and this is my fault, every bit of it. I brought her into this, Into my world,Into my mess And now she’s paying for it. My jaw tightens as anger starts mixing with the fear.
At myself and at whoever did this, at everything.i don’t stay in the room, i cant it feels suffocating.
I turn sharply and head straight for my office.l need answers and I need them now.
I push the door open nd stop.
Thomas is already there, standing by my desk. Efficient as always with a tablet in his hand.
“Footage,” he says, handing it over without wasting time.
“From the ice cream shop p>
I take it immediately my fingers still slightly unsteady.
The screen lights up and chest tightens again as I stare at it. I’m not sure I’m ready to see it but I press play anyway. I watch the video critically looking out for any details or mistakes the attackers might have made Everything moves fast after that, orders leave my mouth and people don’t hesitate as they scatter about. Phones start ringing and cars pull out of the compound one after the other.
No one asks questions, no one wastes time.
Good. Because I don’t have any to waste.
I stand in the middle of the room, my mind running through every possible angl and every possibility.
And then p>
“Sir p>
Thomas’s voice cuts in.
I turn as tw men drag Aaron in between them. My eyes lock onto him instantly he looks like shit, all bruised up with blood dried at the edge of his mouth nd his clothes roughened up.
But alive very much alive.
My chest tightens.
The moment they let him go, he stumbles slightly before straightening.
“Aaron,” I say.
He looks up at me, relief flashing across his face.
“Sir p>
I don’t let him finish as k cross the distance between us in seconds and grab him by the throat nd slam his navk into the wall behind him.
“Where is she?” I ask.
My grip tightens and his hands immediately come up, grabbing at my wrist, trying to ease the pressure.
“I I don’t p>
“Where is my wife p>
My voice is louder now and rough
“I failed,” he chokes out.
“I I couldn’t protect her p>
My eyes narrow.
“What do you mean you failed p>
“There was an attack,” he says quickly.
“They came out of nowhere p>
His voice shakes just enough
“They took her p>
My grip tightens instinctively.
“Who were you with?” I ask.
He hesitates for a second bt I see it clear as day.
“Aaron p>
My voice drops again.
“Who. Were you with p>
He blinks, like he needs to think,lyk he’s searching for the answer and that alone pisses me off.
“I i was with p>
My hand tightens around his throat, his words cut off into a choke.
“Answer me p>
“I was with the driver,” he rushes out.
“And Elaine p>
My jaw clenches.
“Where is the driver p>
“They they took him too,” he says brreathing harder now nd struggling under my grip.
“They took the driver,” I repeat slowly.
“And my wife p>
He nods quickly.
“Yes p>
“And they just left you?
The question catches him off guard and Aaron freezes.
But it’s enough for me to see it tht flicker.
“I I don’t know he stammers.
“They just they pulled her out and p>
I let go nim go suddenly and he drops slightly, coughing, dragging in air like he needs it to survive.
I step back, watching jim and getting the feeling that Something isn’t right not even close. There’s too many gaps and too many things that don’t line up.
I turn slightly.
“Thomas p>
He steps forward immediately.
“Yes, sir p>
“Lock him up p>
Aaron’s head snaps up.
“Wat p>
“No no, wait he stumbles forward slightly.
“I didn’t do anything p>
“Take him p>
The two men move instantly, grabbing him again.
“No Zane, please he struggles now, panicking.
“I swear I didn’t p>
His voice fades as they drag him out still shouting but I don’t look at him again until the door shuts nd silence falls.
Thomas stays where he is.
“Do you actually think he knows something?” he asks after a moment.
I don’t answer immediately.
I walk slowly, my mind still running nd trying to piecing things together.
“I’m not sure,” I say finally.
“But I find it interesting p>
I stop then turn slightly toward him.
A pause.
“And he wasn’t p>
Thomas nods slowly, unnderstanding settling in.
“It doesn’t add up,” he says.
“No,” I agree.
“It doesn’t p>
Silence again then I move back into motion.
“Check the progress,” I tell him.
“I want updates on everything. Cameras. Roads. Hospitals. Any report, any sighting anything p>
“Yes, sir p>
He leaves immediately md just like that I’m alone again. Timw drags slowly…Painfully slow as minutes turn into hours, each one worse than the last.
No calls, no leads. Nothing.
Every update is the same nothing found. No sign, no trace. Nothinb
Fuck! Whoever took her they knew what they were doing.
My jaw tightens because that narrows things down. A lot.
I stand in my office, staring at nothin, thinking and Running through names and faces of my enemies.
And then One name settles in my head.
Lucas…I don’t like the thought, not even a little bt right now i don’t have the luxury of liking anything.
He has connections more than most nd he knows how to find people who can’t be found.
He Knows how to find people who can’t be found My fingers tap once against the desk. Decision made I reach for my phone.
Because whether my pride liked it or not He’s the best shot I’ve got at finding her.
I stare at the phone in my hand for a second before dialing. It’s an old number, one
I haven’t tried to use in years yeara. One I shouldn’t even still have but I never deleted it for some reason. I didn’t have a reason to, didn’t think I’d ever use it again either.
My thumb hovers for half a second then I press call.
It rings for a few times, each ring dragging longer than it should.
My jaw tightens slightly if he doesn’t pick up there’s a small click then the line connects. There’s a brief second of silence then p>
His voice older and rougher now but still the same.
I didn’t even realize I was holding my breath until I let it out.
“Hey,” I say.
The word comes out more awkward than I expected so I clear my throat slightly and try agin.
“It’s Zane p>
There’s a pause on the other end then a long cleary annoyed heavy sigh.
No surprise there p>
I don’t take it personally, I don’t have the time to.
“I need your help,” I say. No beating around it… just the truth.
There’s a short, humorless laugh from his end.
“Of course you do p>
I close my eyes briefly.
Yeah.That sounds about right.
“Well I don’t have any hand of help to extend to you ” he continues.
“Try not to call me again p>
The line goes dead just like that.
I stare at the phone for a second or two
“Fuck p>
The word leaves my mouth as i drag a hand through my hair, pacing once.Twice
Of course he’d react like that, I kind of expected that… But I don’t have the luxury of letting that stop me so I dial again Immediately.
It rings a few times and when he picks up p>
“What the fuck is wrong with you?” Lucas snaps the second the call connects.
“Isaid don’t p>
“Elaine’s been kidnapped p>
I cut in, no need warming up to it.
I don’t say anything else I just let it sit with him… A few seconds pass.
Then p>
His voice is different now, it sounds lower
“She was taken,” I say.
My grip tightens slightly around the phone.
“An Attack at an ice cream shop, car crash after there’s been no trace since p>
Theres Another pause, much longer this time i can almost hear him thinking and processing.
Then p>
“I’m on my way to your house p>
Something in my chest eases slightly just a little.
“Thanks,” I mutter.
He doesn’t respond as the line cuts and I lower the phone slowly.
My jaw tight again.
Because whoever took her They’re about to regret it big time.