Fuck.
I was really hoping that wasn’t the case.
“Based on the fucking nothing we have, I’d say that might be a very good possibility.” Dante sighed. “But I will send out more men. We will triple the efforts. She will be brought home, and the ones responsible will be…handled.”
“I want to handle them,” I said in a low voice. “I will pay, if that’s what it takes.”
“Perhaps we could do it together.” Dante smirked at me.
“So be it.”
His smile widened. A soft knock sounded out before his door opened. Sirena walked in with Ellis, clutching her hand tightly. The moment she saw it was us, she broke free and rushed for me.
“Daddy!” She threw herself in my lap. Immediately, I hauled her against me and hugged her tightly.
“Hey, nugget,” I murmured, kissing the top of her head fiercely.
I looked at E to see his eyes wide. He sat forward, his full attention on her.
I released her, and she went to Anson next.
“Dadda.”
“Hey, baby.” Anson smoothed her curls.
“Where’s Mommy?”
“She’s away for a few days. She’ll be here soon to see you,” Anson said, giving her the best smile he could muster.
She accepted that answer before she went to Klaus, who lifted her easily into his arms.
“Unkie Dunkie said you don’t know how to dance. He said he is better than you.”
Klaus scowled at Dante. “I would own you.”
Dante scoffed. “Any time, old man.”
Klaus gave him the finger while Ellis clung to him. She broke away, and Klaus released her. I watched her go to E.
“Hi,” Ellis said shyly.
“Hey,” E replied thickly, his green eyes shining with tears.
She cocked her head at him. “You are my daddies’ friend?”
He nodded. “Your mommy’s too. I’m Ethan.”
“Ethan,” she repeated softly.
I watched with my breath held as she got closer to E, placed her hands on his cheeks, and stared at him.
“You have green eyes like Mommy and Unkie Dunkie,” she whispered.
He smiled. “Yeah.”
“But not eyes like mine. You are not first daddy.”
E visibly swallowed. “No, darlin’, I’m not.”
