Chapter 202
“Yes, sir.”
I hung up the line, my jaw working as I jammed my phone into my pocket.
Turning, I went back up the stairs, taking them two at a time. When I reached Raina’s door, I paused for a moment, leaning my palm against the cool wood. My anger hadn’t lessened, but now it was knotted with something else.
Concern. Guilt.
I knocked once. “Raina.”
No response.
I knocked again, this time a little harder. “Open up.”
Still nothing.
And then I heard it–the faint, fractured sound of quiet sobbing.
My chest tightened.
Damn it.
I shut my eyes and breathed in deeply. One thing I knew about Raina–she was going to begin blaming herself. That was just who she was. And right now that guilt was eating her alive.
I exhaled slowly, banging my forehead against the door.
“I swear to God, Raina, if you don’t open this door, I’ll break it down.” My voice was lower now, rough around the edges, but not with anger anymore.
It took her a couple of seconds before I heard her muffled response. “Go away, Alex.”
I closed my eyes again, pressing my lips together.
I could turn around. I could walk out. Just leave her sitting in here and drowning in whatever storm was blowing through her. But I couldn’t. I wouldn’t.
Not when I knew exactly how that shame could curdle into something darker.
I let my breath out slowly, my voice lower this time. “Come on, Rain. Open the door.”
Nothing.
I hesitated, then let out a sigh, laying my hand against the wood once more. “I’m sorry.”
The silence between us drew out.
“I know you’re blaming yourself,” I went on. “I know exactly what’s running through your head right now. That if you had done something different, Faith would be safe. That it’s your fault Nathan took her. That it’s your fault anyone is in danger.”
Another pause. Then, barely above a whisper, “It is my fault.‘
“No,” I said firmly. “It’s his fault. Not yours.”
A beat of silence. Then, slowly, the lock clicked.
The door creaked open an inch. Another inch. And finally, she was there, standing in the doorway.
Her eyes were red–rimmed, her face pale, lips pressed into a tight, trembling line.
And damn it, something in that broke something inside me.
I didn’t hesitate. I reached for her, wrapping my arms around her and hauling her against me.
She stiffened for half a second before her shoulders sagged, her fingers clutching the front of my shirt as a fresh wave of sobs broke free.
I held her tighter, pressing my lips against the top of her head.
“It’s all my fault,” she choked out. “I should have known. I should have seen this coming. Nathan–he always goes after the people I care about.” Her voice cracked. “It was Faith this time. What if it’s the kids next? What if-”
“Stop,” I said firmly, pulling back just enough to look her in the eyes. “That’s not going to happen.”
“But-”
1/2
Chapter 202
+25 Bonus
“I didn’t let it,” I cut her off. “No one else is getting hurt. I promise you that.”
If I was being honest, though, I didn’t have a damn plan.
Nathan had always been two steps ahead, and with Dominic too drunk to think straight, I was running out of options.
But I wasn’t about to let Raina spiral into a pit of guilt and fear.
I ran a hand over her damp cheek, thumb swiping a rogue tear clear. “Listen. We’ll work it out, yeah? We’ll get Faith home.”
The very edge of her lip quivered, but she nodded.
I let my held breath exhale and relaxed my grip on her. “Hungry?”
Headshake, voice husked out. “I j–j–just… w–want t–to g–g–o to b–b–ed.”
Nod, “O–okay.”
I walked her to the bed, pulled back the covers, and tucked her in.
She rolled onto her side, away from me.
I stood there a moment, watching the soft rise and fall of her shoulders.
Then, after a final glance at her, I stepped out of Raina’s room and pulled my phone from my pocket, fingers tightening around it as I dialed my agent. The call connected after two rings.
“Tell me you have something,” I said, voice low and sharp. I didn’t have the patience for excuses.
There was a beat of silence before the man responded, his tone cautious. “I managed to track the vehicle for a while, but…”
I didn’t like where this was going already. My jaw clenched. “But what?”
“It was left in an alley,” he admitted. “And… burned out. Completely burned out. No prints, no evidence left behind. Whoever did this knew exactly what they were doing.”
I closed my eyes, pulling a breath in through my nose, trying to hold on to my anger.
Of course, Nathan would clean his tracks. He wasn’t sloppy. Never had been.
