Page 116

The hostess’ eyebrows shot up. “I beg your pardon, sir?”

“I need to get to London now.”

“Yes, sir.” She disappeared, no doubt thinking I was a complete lunatic, and she might just be right, because it felt like I was running out of time.

I couldn’t speed up the plane, and neither could the pilot, but that didn’t matter to me.

I had a feeling that even if we landed right now, it might already be too late.

Chapter Thirty-Five

Sophia

Exhaustion gripped me. My eyes felt droopy and kept rolling when I let myself relax, which wasn’t very often at all.

I was too wired, too nervous about what I was going to find when I got back home to London to relax for more than a few seconds.

I had no phone to call ahead, so I had no idea what was waiting for me.

The cab from the airport seemed to take even longer than the three flights I had been on in the last twenty-four hours. Minutes and seconds dragged for what seemed like forever.

Finally, a familiar street filled my gaze, and then, a familiar house. Paying quickly, I got out. My whole body ached from the travel and lack of sleep, but I looked around quickly.

Nothing was out of place.

No strange cars, no police or ambulances. I let out a sigh of relief.

I had made it in time.

Whatever happened next didn’t matter. I was in time, and in the next few seconds, I would see my daughter again and hold her in my arms.

I lifted my hand to knock, and the door swung open before my fist could make contact. Familiar, angry, whiskey-colored eyes stared down at me.

I reeled back, almost falling off the step. Matteo’s hand came out to catch me under the elbow and steady me before I fell on my ass.

“Matteo,” I squeaked. Oh, shit. I wasn’t in them at all. Not if he was here before me.

I had known all along that he would try to track me, but I thought I had done enough to put him off the trail long enough to let Nat and Lily get away.

Clearly, I had underestimated him.

“What are you doing here?” I asked as he yanked me into the warm confines of the house I called home.

“I could ask you the same thing, Sophia.” The hand around my elbow shook. “But to answer your question, I was looking for you.”

“Lil…“ I stopped myself at the last second. “Nat?”

“She’s fine.”

“I’m sorry if I don’t believe you, but…” I paused. I dragged my feet as he pulled me into the living room, and there she was, sitting on the sofa, her phone in her hands and a half-crazed look on her face.

“Thank God you are okay.” She lifted a tear-stained face to mine. “I didn’t know what to do, and then he showed up and I thought he might be able to help…”

My heart skipped a beat. “Help with what?”

A look passed between them. One I didn’t like at all. My mouth suddenly went as dry as a desert.

“It’s Lily,” she said in a quiet voice, and my heart dropped.