Chapter 431
I close my eyes briefly and for a second, the chaos inside me quiets just a little. After a while, Noah slowly pulls back enough to look at me properly.
“Are you okay?” he asks softly.
I nod weakly. During the time I’d spent waiting for him, I’d at least managed to stop shaking.
Noah studies my face carefully for another second before guiding me back toward the couch.
“Tell me everything p>
So, I do. I tell him everything, though there isn’t much to tell.
The second I’m done, Noah reaches for my phone. “Can I p>
I immediately hand it over and he passes it to one of his men while the other begins setting up what looks like a temporary workstation right there in Lilly’s living room.
Everyone moves quickly and efficiently while Noah sits beside me as all of it unfolds around us.
“We found something earlier today,” he says after a moment, and I turn towards him immediately, “Blaze looked into one of my rivals, and apparently he left the country two days after you did and came back the day after you returned p>
I frown slightly as I stare at him, my mind running.
“That can’t just be coincidence,” he mutters.
“But that doesn’t make sense,” I say quietly. “No one tried to hurt me while I was out of the country p>
“Maybe he was waiting for you to come back and all he did was observe you when you were abroad,” Noah exhales slowly. “I have men monitoring him, but so far we haven’t gotten anything concrete p>
Before I can respond, one of the men suddenly calls out.
“Mr. Wood p>
Both of us turn immediately. One of them is staring at the screen in front of him with visible frustration.
“Did you find something?” Noah asks sharply.
The guy runs a hand over his face before looking back at him.
“That’s the problem,” he mutters. “I can’t find a damn thing on the number p>
Noah frowns deeply. “What do you mean p>
“The number isn’t registered to anyone,” he replies. “No name, no. ID and no linked accounts… There is absolutely nothing p>
“Tell me you’ve gotten at least a signal,” Noah asks.
The guy’s expression hardens. “It’s bouncing through multiple locations, but the strongest hit is coming from Africa p>
I stare at the guy in disbelief, my fingers tightening around the edge of the couch as my brain struggles to process what he just said.
“How is that even possible?” I ask, my voice barely above a whisper.
He shakes his head slightly, frustration written all over his face as his fingers continue moving rapidly across the keyboard. “I’m not sure, but the signal keeps bouncing back to the same place p>
My eyes lock onto the screen as my heart starts pounding so hard I can hear the damn organ.
“The only way that would make sense is if they took my baby there,” I say slowly, trying to force my thoughts into order.
Noah’s jaw tightens beside me as his face turns grim. “That would explain a lot. The men we questioned said the last place Brook was seen was near the port. Maybe she got onto a ship and left the country p>
I swallow hard as the pieces slowly begin fitting together in my mind.
“It would also explain why no one could find her here… because she was never here to begin with,” I whisper.
Noah nods once, his expression darkening. The realization sends another wave of emotion crashing through me because somehow, despite how terrifying it sounds, this is the first real lead we’ve had in months. The first thing that actually makes sense.
I quickly turn back toward the guy. “Can you pinpoint the exact location p>
He nods immediately. “I’m trying now p>
The room falls quiet again except for the rapid clicking of keys and the low hum of electronics filling the apartment. I slowly lean back against the couch, my eyes drifting out of focus as real hope starts building inside me.