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That nagging feeling in my gut is getting worse.
Please don’t let it be what I think it is.
* * *
“What do you have, Sean?” I demand upon entry into Jackson’s conference room at Cole Security. “And what are you doing in Virginia?”
Sean tells me to have a seat and informs me of his arrival this morning. Mandi had received a tip-off that Andres was lurking, so she contacted Sean immediately. They hadn’t realized their intel was off until they discovered Antonio had joined Andres, and they were in Virginia because they’d located Emily. When I asked where Mandi received her intel, all Sean would say was it came from a reliable source.
Sean informs us that he’d gone straight from the airport to Emily’s practice to warn her, only to find her office empty. Inside were her bag, purse, and cell, but my girl was long gone. He found it unusual that Mary wasn’t there either but has since learned that Mary’s grandson was involved in a hit and run leaving school, and she is still at the hospital. When I declare that it is too coincidental that Mary wasn’t there, Sean advises that he thought the same, which is why Mandi is investigating the accident further.
“So, are we assuming that Antonio has Emily?” I ask no one in particular.
“All the signs lead us to that assumption,” Sean confirms.
Fuck!
“Dad will meet us in Bojayá, Hawke; we roll out in thirty minutes.”
As though on autopilot, I follow as we prepare to now lead a recon mission to save the woman I love. I can hear their voices, but their words are blurred. Instead, thoughts of what happened to my wife and daughter start to flood my mind, clouding my judgment.
“Hawke,” I hear a soft feminine voice say from beside me.
Turning toward the voice, I find Hadley standing beside me.
“Hadley?” I utter, tightly hugging her into me.
“I’m here to help, Hawke,” she whispers, hugging me back.
Releasing her, I thank her for being here, only to have her tell me there is nowhere else she’d rather be. When I ask where her daughter is, she laughs and tells me grandma is spoiling her rotten. Smiling in return, I have no doubt that’s exactly what is happening as Sarah Valentine adores her granddaughter. The birth of that little girl gave that woman a whole new lease on life.
“I should have killed him when we rescued Peyton,” Hadley suddenly declares.
“That brother of yours was never going to let that happen, Hadley; he needed Andres.” I gently argue in return.
Shaking her head, she mumbles under her breath.
“You may have walked away from that life, Hadley, but Gerrick didn’t, and you have to accept that whether you approve of his actions or not.”
“I have accepted it, Hawke,” she sighs. “But that brother of mine is a dumbass, and he should have cut ties with Antonio a long time ago.”
Her reaction makes me laugh.
“You’re starting to sound more like Sophie every day,” I tease.
“And you sound just like Sean.” She giggles. “He keeps whining it’s like living with his sister all over again.”
“We’re ready to roll,” Sean interrupts. “The charter plane Jackson has organized is ready for us now.”
“So serious.” I hear Hadley tease her husband as she links arms with him.
“You’re going to be the death of me, woman,” he laughs, momentarily relaxing, leading his wife toward the front door.
“Oh honey, don’t you worry that pretty face of yours.” She grins. “I’ll make sure you at least die happy.”
“Is that a promise?” We hear him question as they exit the building.
The sound of laughter fills the room.
