Page 196 of Maddening Fixation

“Romeo’s grandfather took her.”

Keegan let out a long breath and rubbed a hand across his jaw.

“That old man just won’t quit,” he muttered under his breath.

He immediately pulled out his phone and called Romeo.

The call rang.

No answer.

He tried again.

Still nothing.

“He must be in a meeting,” Keegan said, lowering the phone.

I searched his face desperately for reassurance.

He stepped closer.

“Don’t worry.” His voice was calm but firm. “We’ll handle this.”

He held my gaze. “Your mother will come home safely. We’ll make sure of it.”

I wanted to believe him.

God, I wanted to.

But his promise felt fragile against the terror clawing at my chest.

The only person I wanted to hear those words from was Romeo.

If only he would answer his phone.

“Trust us, Juliet,” Keegan said quietly.

Then he turned and walked out.

A few seconds later, the sharp screech of tires echoed through the estate as his car sped away.

Silence settled over the bungalow once more.

It was suffocating.

My breathing grew uneven.

Nothing can happen to her.

Nothing.

My knees suddenly felt too weak to support me.

I stumbled into the bedroom and sank onto the edge of the bed.

My hands trembled uncontrollably in my lap as my heart pounded against my ribs.

Every horrifying possibility crashed through my mind.