As the women continued to hold on to each other, Adrian seemed to sense something of his thoughts and pulled him out into the hall. “She’s lovely, Luke. I’m so glad you’ve found her again.”
Luke sighed. “I never thought it would be like this. I can’t breathe without thinking of my little girl, out there all by herself, in a place like that.” He took in a choking breath. “You know what they’d do to her. Even though she’s just a child. Even if I find her, she won’t ever be all right. I will burn the whole world to find those responsible. I will kill Roger with my bare hands.”
“I’ll help you,” Adrian said. “And it starts with talking to Gabriel.”
Chapter Fourteen
Luke and Adrian stoodin the door of the nursery, watching Gabriel play with a fine set of army men. The dark-haired little boy had lined them all up in neat rows, obviously getting ready for an epic battle. Luke knew exactly how his nephew felt. Preparation was key when you were going to war, and he certainly felt that he was at war with Roger.
He’d agreed to let Adrian do all the talking, but it would be difficult for Luke to remain silent when so much was at stake.
As Adrian crossed the room, Luke hung back a bit, drinking in the little boy’s sweet features, wondering what his own daughter would look like. Would she be as resilient as Gabriel had turned out to be? Could she forget whatever horrors she’d experienced at Roger’s hands?
“Gabriel,” Adrian murmured, kneeling beside his son. “I believe that the British definitely have the advantage.”
Gabriel grinned, jumping up and wrapping his arms around Adrian’s neck. “Papa! Have you come to play with me?”
Adrian nodded and moved to take the side of the French. For a few moments, they engaged in battle, then Adrian ruffled his son’s head. “Do you remember the night we met?” he asked, forcing his voice to sound casual.
Knocking over one of his father’s blue French soldiers with his own bright red one, Gabriel nodded. “You rescued me.”
“Yes,” Adrian murmured, sharing a look with Luke. “Well, now I need to rescue someone else, and I wonder if you might be able to help me?”
“Really?” Gabriel asked, his pale blue eyes lighting up with obvious excitement. “You want me to help you be Prometheus? Can I have a mask, too?”
Adrian laughed. “Maybe when you’re older,” he said indulgently. Luke felt a swell of pride for his little brother. He hoped he could become half the father Adrian had become to this boy in so short a time. Only a few weeks had passed since Adrian and Vanessa had adopted the boy, yet they both seemed to have known instinctively how to heal Gabriel’s silence and sadness. He hoped he could do the same for his daughter.
“Well, the girl we are looking for, she might have been in that place we took you from. Do you recall a girl there about your age?”
The laughter in the boy’s eyes dimmed, and he returned his attention to the army men. “I don’t know.”
Luke’s heart sank.
“I know you don’t want to think about that place,” Adrian continued, his voice hollow. “But please, do try. It’s very important.”
Gabriel bit his lip. “I was the littlest,” he said at last. “There weren’t no girls there as young as me. The closest was Sophie, and she was twelve when I left.”
