AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I’m going with you,” he said, and swung onto the bike behind me without waiting for permission.
I considered tossing him off, but the kid had grown on me, and who knew, maybe he could be of help. “Hang on,” I told him and accelerated out of town.
We left the bike on the cliff, making our way by foot down the rocky path to the cavern. The tide was coming in, making it even less likely I’d find anything, but I wasn’t leaving without trying. There must be something we’d missed. A clue. A trace of Eden—a footprint, a strand of hair—that would miraculously point me in her direction.
Rio trailed me into the cavern, swinging a flashlight methodically from side to side, but we both came up empty. When we reached the entrance again, I paused on the thin strip of sand and rocks that hadn’t been eaten by the tide, staring out at the Atlantic.
Rio stopped a few feet away, fury radiating from him like his heart was burning up. I knew how he felt. I even guessed some of his anger was for me, and I accepted that.
He turned off the flashlight and shoved it into his coat pocket. “Why the fuck did you make her come back here? Why couldn’t you just leave her alone?”
Guilt pressed on my chest. “You think I’m not asking myself that?”
“So then why, damn it? She was happy. She was doing okay. I would’ve helped her after the baby was born.”
Because she’s mine, damn it. And so is that baby.
That wasn’t a good enough answer, though, was it? And it wasn’t even the whole truth.
I’d gone after Eden because without her, nothing had seemed to matter. Not the syndicate. Not my promotion to lieutenant. Not even the respect I got these days from all the islanders who’d written me off as a troublemaker.
Rio sniffed, clearly fighting not to cry. He covered it by swiping at his nose with the back of his hand. “This wasn’t supposed to happen. You motherfuckers are supposed to protect her.”
My jaw worked. “I know. But I’m going to get her back.”
“You’d better.”
Dawn was creeping closer. I noticed with that part of me that was always aware of the coming daylight, but otherwise ignored it.
“I will,” I said, as much for myself as him. “Or go to my final grave trying.”
He speared me with a look. “Good.”
Brien texted me, ordering me to return to the castle ASAP. I swore, resenting the weakness that prevented me from continuing the search. But letting the sun burn me to a crisp wouldn’t bring Eden home.
Up until now, I’d kept my fear for Eden at bay, but as the darkness lightened, I wanted to drop back my head and howl at the sky like an animal in pain.
“We have to get back,” I told Rio.
I didn’t recall the ride back to the castle. Somehow, I ended up in the war room, Rio still stuck to me like a burr. Brien and Twilight had already returned, and Cain walked in seconds behind me.
I could tell by their faces that the news wasn’t good, but I asked anyway.
Brien grimaced. “Nothing. I’m sorry.”
“We won’t give up,” Cain said. “Tomorrow night we expand the search.”
I tugged on my hair, fighting that urge to howl again. “That’s too late. We need to find her now.”
The pair of soldiers in the war room shifted uneasily, their gazes carefully aimed at the floor. Brien pulled me into his office. Twilight and Cain followed, closing the door on Rio and the soldiers.
“You have to chill,” Brien told me. “We’ll keep the search going. Aiden is standing by to spearhead it.”
I drew a deep breath. Normally, I was the coolheaded one, the man who calmed everyone else down. Well, fuck that.
I shook off his hand. “This is on me. If she’s gone missing, then someone kidnapped her to get to me. Because she’s carrying my spawn.”
Twilight propped a hip against the desk. “I think you’re right. But why—what do they want from you?”
