Total pages in book: 56
Estimated words: 52105 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 261(@200wpm)___ 208(@250wpm)___ 174(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 52105 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 261(@200wpm)___ 208(@250wpm)___ 174(@300wpm)
“Let’s not make any assumptions just yet,” Harrison says, his tone calm and soothing. He walks out of the bathroom with two towels in hand. He hands me one to wipe the black grime off my face. He’s covered in remnants of the fire and is a wreck in appearance. No doubt I look the same. “We don’t need to be making battle plans until we have all the facts.”
Bile clumps in the depths of my core. “If it wasn’t the Morellis that took her”—I swallow and release a ragged breath—“then her life’s at risk. We need to act fast because… we don’t know why she was taken and what their plans are.”
Harrison shakes his head. “From our meeting at Wonderland, I get the impression that Lyriope is wanted alive. From all parties. I don’t think anyone plans to kill her. At least not right away. She’s too valuable alive.”
God, I hope Harrison’s right.
Swiping the towel over my eyes, I mumble more to myself than to Harrison, “This is an epic mess.”
“You think?” Harrison says. I can hear his chuckle being swallowed by thin composure.
“Is this where you tell me that you told me so?”
“I think that much is obvious,” he answers. “Ever since you met this woman, you haven’t been yourself. You’re off your game. The Nick Hudson I know would have seen this attack and kidnapping a mile away. You would have been waiting with gun in hand.”
I hold back the growl that is roaring inside of me. He’s right. Instead, I was in bed with Lyriope… sleeping. Sleeping! I never truly relax and sleep, and the one time I do, look what happens.
Security reenters and hands Harrison some printed photos. I don’t blame them for not handing the photos to me first. They know that I won’t tear Harrison’s head off where the same can’t be said for how I’ll respond to them if they give me the bad news.
I watch Harrison look at the photos, his facial expression impossible to read.
“Well? Who the fuck took her?” I demand.
Harrison signals for the men to leave. He then hands me the pile of photos and says, “No one. She escaped on her own.” He takes a deep breath. “She took the opportunity the fire gave her and ran. She literally walked out the front door.”
I look down at the black-and-white images of Lyriope with a bag flung over her shoulder and another in her hand. I actually have to blink and refocus on the pictures several times as it doesn’t seem real to be seeing what I do. No one is with her. She’s not at gunpoint. In fact, in some of the pictures, she’s looking over her shoulder in the dock’s direction, afraid to be found.
She wanted to leave.
She left my mansion on her own free will.
Why the fuck would she leave? I thought she was… comfortable. Content… maybe even happy.
Where would she go? Back to her beat-up car? Back to being homeless and in danger? Back to being the bastard Morelli that no one wants? Back to the way things were before… before… me?
Ignoring the punch to the gut, I snarl, “Find her.”
Harrison is already on his phone texting and nodding as he does. “She couldn’t have gone far.”
I have her old phone, her car keys, her purse with her ID. Even if she left, it’s not like she could make it on her own for long without some crucial items.
“There’s no place for her to run to other than to her brother or cousin.” I pick up my own phone and call my man who’s in charge of babysitting Dylan. As the phone rings, I order Harrison, “Start with Sasha. My guess is Lyriope is with her.”
When the phone picks up, I simply say, “Is Dylan with you?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Has he had any recent contact with his sister?”
A slight pause. “No, sir. None. We’ve been keeping him really busy and—”
“Good. No contact with his sister is allowed. Notify me if she attempts to. Watch his every move.”
I then hang up the phone and begin pacing the room again.
Harrison slides his phone into his pocket. “I’ve got our men on this. I also told Martha to do some digging on who started the fire. We still have to get to the bottom of that too.” He begins to leave the room, but before he does, he adds, “I’m going to go find Sasha Morelli. I agree with you. She’s the most likely one to know where Lyriope is.”
I leave my room as well and march to Lyriope’s. I open the door, hating the fact that she won’t be on the other side. As I enter the room, I stop and inhale. I can smell her. I can nearly feel her in this space. I glance at the floral painting she was working on in the corner of the room. She’s good… really good. Too bad she doesn’t know that herself.