“Ten minutes.” I agree.
It’s been over twenty-four hourssince my girls were taken.The police have no idea where to look.Maddox has been on the phone with everyone he knows. He has eyes all over watching for signs they’re still in Paris, but he has people checking in other countries as well.
Normally, I might be curious how he seems to have all these connections. I know the guy grew up with money and power,but the people he’s calling aren’t entirely on the up and up.
My need to find my girls is stronger than my curiosity. I don’t give a damn if he’s talking to mafia kingpins or the pope. I just want my girls back.
Every second that they’re gone feels like a noose getting tighter and tighter around my neck. Breathing through my angerhas gone out the window. I’m a landminewaiting on the right person to step on me.
Angel has made it his business to keep Josephine and Camilla calm and distracted.Not sure it’s working since they both look like they’ve been crying for days. Ryderand Liam are trying theirbest to help.They’ve been on the phone with European contacts all day, too.
Dane has navigated between highlyagitated to worried and back.He’s paced my suite so much his tracks are starting to show.He hasn’t said anything else since yesterday. I don’t know if he’s too pissed to speak or if I got through that thick skull of his.
I’ve been in my room.I can’t do anything but wait. I don’t have contacts to call. I don’t have any kind of resources to pull.
Right now, I’m sitting on the floor against the wall. I have Lyra’s stuffed elephant in my hands, my head against the wall, and my heart bleeding.
I won’t survive if I don’t get them back. Both of them. It’s not even a possibility.
The music playing through theBluetooth changes.I Can’t Help Falling in Lovecomes on. It’s the song I have sung to my baby every night since the day she was born. It’s the same song I’ve hummed to Cara when she has her nightmares.
I break. Thirty-six hours of worry and fear come pouring out. My shoulders shake as tears stream down my face. I would dare any manin my shoes not to cry.Not to feel like his world is crumbling around him.
I have no idea how long I sit there in the dark,letting it all out. I don’t even realize when the song changes.
Finally, I pull myself together.I stand up, drag myself into the shower, then out of the room.
The suite is completely empty save Maddox sitting at the bar.I watch as he does a line. Under different circumstances, I’d flip over him doing that where my daughter eats, but I can’t bring myself to care right now.Especially since he hasn’t been off the phonefor more than five minutes since everything happened.
“How are you holding up?” I hear behind me.
I turn to see Henry coming out of the extra room. “When did you get here?”
“A couple of hours ago. Hopped the first flight out when David told me the kid and theprincess were missing.” His eyes show genuine concern.
“Wouldn’t have happened if I stopped them from going,” Itell him, hanging my head. “I had a bad feeling. I should’ve put my foot down.”
“I’ve watched you put your foot down with that kid.She kicks you in the shin every time,” he chuckles sympathetically.
A small smile forms on my lips. “Yeah, she does.”
“We’re going to find them, man. We’re going to bring them back.”
I sit on the sofa with a sigh. “She was just getting some of herself back. What do you think this is going to do to her?She tell you what happened to her?”
“You already know the answer to that, but I have seen enough to recognize the signs of PTSD.”
“The cause of itis the same person who has her right now,” I tell him.
“We’re going to find her. I’ve got people looking.”
“Everyone has people looking,” I snap.
A knock at the door has the conversation come to an end. Maddox goes to answer it.
“Madsux,” I hear from the doorway, making my heart race.
I am to my feet and at the door in less than a second. I scoop up myprincess. Relief floods me. It takes real effort not to break down right there.
