Total pages in book: 53
Estimated words: 49330 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 247(@200wpm)___ 197(@250wpm)___ 164(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 49330 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 247(@200wpm)___ 197(@250wpm)___ 164(@300wpm)
"Annie? Annie!"
I threw the clothes over my arm on the floor and scrambled frantically as I tried to find her. I ran around the store in a panic, but I couldn't see her. I ran out of the store and started to look for her. She was nowhere to be seen.
I ran up to one person after another. "Have you seen a little girl in a pink top with a yellow elephant on the front and blue jeans?"
No one had seen her.
The mall was full of people and I couldn't see her anywhere. Tears sprung to my eyes as I moved through the wide space. I could tell I was unraveling. This was the worst thing that could possibly have happened.
Pull it together for Annie.
I forced myself to keep moving. I needed to find her now. Oh, God. Oh, God. I need to find a security guard. They have cameras.
I needed to call the police right away. If someone had taken her then the sooner I called, the better. I dug into my pocket and pulled out my cellphone when my ears picked up a familiar sound.
Annie's little voice calling to me.
"Come on, Annie. Let's go."
I whirled around and my eyes landed on Daphne. What the fuck? She was dragging Annie through the mall and frowning furiously. Annie looked like she'd rather be anywhere, but by her mother's side.
I stalked up to them and crossed my arms in front of my chest. "Daphne," I said sharply. "What are you doing? Annie's supposed to be with me."
The woman looked me up and down. "Oh? I didn't know I needed permission to have access to my daughter." She laughed. An ugly sound. "Besides, you obviously can't do a good job at keeping an eye on her. What were you thinking letting her wander off like that?" She lifted her chin at me.
I bristled with annoyance. It was clear to me that she had taken Annie away on purpose. Probably just to watch me squirm and have something on Christian about the way Annie was being taken care of. "Annie, come here," I said and held out my hand.
Immediately, she yanked her hand from Daphne’s grip and ran to me. Slipping her hand into mine, she pressed her body against me.
I gave her hand a little squeeze to let her know that everything would be okay. If Annie hadn't been standing there, I knew I would have yelled at Daphne for pulling such a stupid stunt, but I didn't want to upset Annie.
"I have things to do anyway," Daphne sniffed. "You can take her home."
I was going to do that anyway, bitch.
In my life, I tried not to think badly about anyone, or talk badly about them, but honestly Daphne was in a league all on her own. I could see the way she used Annie to try to get what she wanted and it made my stomach turn. "Thanks," I said sarcastically.
"I heard about you," Daphne called after I started to turn to leave. "Gabriel told me all about how you and Christian were at the party. How close you were."
"And?" I snapped.
"And I want you to know that you're nothing. You stay the hell away from Christian or there will be serious consequences."
I scoffed. "Are you threatening me?"
"Threatening? No. I'm telling you exactly what's going to happen if you decide to keep going after Christian."
Before I could say a word, she turned around and stalked off on her high heels as if she'd just done something great.
I gritted my teeth. How could anyone be that awful? I didn't get why she was so focused on Christian when he clearly wanted nothing to do with her.
I glanced down at Annie. "Do you want to pick up some lunch and go home?" I asked quietly.
Annie nodded. She still seemed to be a bit dazed. "Yeah," she whispered. "I want to go home."
I took her hand as we headed for the exit to the mall. She refused to let go of my hand the entire time and I kept glancing at her to make sure she was okay.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Hannah
The drive home was quiet for once.
Annie didn't talk my ear off. Instead, she stared ahead and kicked the back of the seat quietly. For such a young child, it was easy to see there was a lot on her mind. I wanted to say something to comfort her, but I felt like I should hold back and wait until she was ready to come to me.
We pulled up to the house and I helped her out then we slipped inside. As soon as I shut the door behind us, she turned around and hugged my legs tightly.
I quickly crouched down and pulled her into my arms.
She squeezed me harder.
"I wish you were my Mommy," she sniffled and buried her face in my shoulder.