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“Hi!” I instantly realize I sound way too chipper and his cocked brow agrees. “Sorry to bother you. Have you seen Willow?”
“Not yet.” He shakes his head. “Just got in.” He gives me a quick once-over and must see the panic I’m trying to deny I’m feeling. “Try the greenhouse. I overheard the gardener mention a new batch of flowers. She could have wandered off there.”
This place has a greenhouse? Of course it does.I follow the guard’s directional nod and run off down the path.
Willow knows better than to go off on her own. I want to scold her for giving me such a scare and I’m writing a speech in my head as I see the glass panes appear around a corner.
But my steps slow as I realize… maybe she didn’t disobey my rule.
This isn’t some hotel in the city. This is someone’s home. The longer we stay here and the more we make friends, this place is becomingourhome.
I’m not sure where to file that thought. So I let it simmer as a reassurance that Willow is safe here no matter where she wanders.
When I find the greenhouse empty, I chant the thought like a mantra and run back the way I came. She has to besomewhere. Withsomeone.
Do. Not. Panic.
“Oh, thank God!” I exclaim when I run into Bambi in one of the convertible lounge rooms. She’s sipping on an iced coffee and eyes me warily as I approach. “Have you seen Willow?”
Bambi pauses mid-sip. Then: “She’s fine.”
“Where is she?” I plaster on my best smile and try my hardest to not sound panicked or irritated.
Demyen’s assistant, lawyer, whatever she is, fails to hide the eye roll. “Clara. Relax. She’s fine. She’s safe and she’s happy. Now…” She holds her iced coffee up to me. “Care to join me? I can have Alejandro make another one of these. Best wakeup call ever.”
Now, my smile definitely feels forced and I’m sure she sees it. “Thanks. But no. I need to find my daughter.”
“You really don’t.”
Who the hell…?“As hermother, I beg to differ.”
Bambi doesn’t even blink at my chilled tone. “And as She-Who-Sees-All here, I promise you, she’s fine. Calm down before you overheat. Seriously, this coffee is incredible. He puts this special hazelnut creamer?—”
I spin on my heels and storm away before she can finish her attempt to distract me from finding Willow. My heart is pounding too loudly in my ears to hear her anyway.
There’s no way in hell Martin snuck in and kidnapped her, right? I wouldn’t put it past him, he’d definitely try, but the inevitable gunshots would have alerted me. Demyen’s made it exceptionally clear that no one is to get within fifty feet of my baby girl without our express permission—so it goes without saying that any attempts would result in violent chaos.
Plus, I see the way Willow has captured the hearts of our guards. There’s no way they’d let Martin get so much as a pinky toe through the front gates.
Another several minutes fly by without sight or sound of my daughter. Now, I’m not just panicking—I’mpissed.
I know one person here who should have eyes and ears on her at all times and, judging by the way Bambi dodged my questions, he’s the same person who probably told her to keep her mouth shut.
But when I burst into Demyen’s office, it’s just as empty as everywhere else.
So is his bedroom.
And the gym.
It’s when I storm through the garage filled with expensive cars—but not Demyen or Willow—that I get an insane idea.
It’s insane, but not for a mother searching for her child.
I dareanyoneto stand between me and my baby.
I grab the first set of keys my hand reaches off the hanging board and use the fob to unlock the car, thebeep beepand flashing lights leading me to a breathtaking Ford Mustang. It’s by no means the most luxurious car in the garage, but the way it revs sends a surge of adrenaline through my veins and I’m ready to crash through the gates with this beast.
Go time.
