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When I glance in the mirror one final time, I decide that my lips need some colour, so I stop to apply a deep crimson matte. I nod to my reflection repeatedly, content with the end result, even as my entire body is on high alert, waiting on my phone to buzz against my hip with a reply from one or either of them.
Keep your shit together, Summer!
When I stand to open the changing room door, I firmly shove all thoughts other than the job ahead of me out of my mind. Distraction is the key right now, or else I’ll drive myself mad.
CHAPTER31
CADEN
It’sten p.m. local time when Henry’s jet touches the tarmacadam at Teterboro, a small airport in New Jersey.
All three of us had grabbed some shuteye, and when I woke my son, he bounced to life in his seat. “Let’s go find Mom!”
I chuckle at his exuberance. “You, mister, are going directly to the hotel with your grandfather—”
“I prefer Pops, which youwellknow!”
I roll my eyes at my dad’s hatred of the title of grandfather. My reaction makes Jesse smile broadly, and despite the anxiety flowing through my veins, I can’t help smiling too.
“I’ll find your mother and bring her to you, okay?”
Jesse nibbles the side of his bottom lip, and his brows draw closer together as indecision flitters across his face.
“Ipromiseto bring her to you as soon as I locate her.”
His eyes blow wide, as though my statement has reminded him of something important. He reaches into his jeans pocket. “I have her location on the tracker app on my cell. Here, look!”
He waves his cell under my nose triumphantly before opening the app and finding the dot indicating his mother’s whereabouts. Pinching his thumb and index finger together, he zooms closer until he can read the street names, and he chuckles.
“She’s in Tribeca. Most likely with Vaughn.”
My face freezes, but I manage to question him through stiff lips. “Vaughn?”
Ford’s search had been fruitless. Vaughn Burton was so reclusive that even the media had sweet fuck all on the prick. All that Ford had been able to find was the fact that Burton owned the fabled membership-only club, Rogue. In Tribeca.
“As in, Vaughn Burton?” The question is rung from my vocal cords.
Glancing up from his phone, Jesse meets my wide eyes and nods enthusiastically. “Yup. Vaughn is super fun. He’s got season tickets for the Yankees!”
The muscles in my throat stretch uncomfortably as I try to swallow. I clear my throat, but it’s little help.
Two black cars pull up alongside us on the tarmac. Dad places a hand on Jesse’s shoulder, watching me closely with concerned eyes as I take a few steps backwards in the direction of one of the cars.
“Here.” Jesse steps closer and thrusts his phone at my chest. “Take my cell so you can find her. And don’t forget your promise, Dad.”
I nod numbly while Dad steers Jesse into the second of the waiting town cars before they silently leave the airfield. My son’s eyes hold mine for as long as possible before they disappear into the night.
“There’s security inside the car with them, Cade. And I’ve arranged for more at the hotel.”
Ford’s voice jolts me to awareness. “Christ, man. You should have gone with them!”
I turn to my loyal friend as he quirks a questioning brow. “And if you run into aTequila Sunrise, who’s going to have your back?”
Glancing down at Jesse’s phone in my hand, I zone in on the tiny dot indicating Summer, and I feel my heart rate tick up several notches.
She’swithVaughn. At Rogue, by the looks of things. What are you even doing, North?
Indecision flows through my veins until I remember my promise to my son. To find her and bring her directly to him.
