58. Sienna
CHAPTER 58
SIENNA
“Hey!” Zander catches the attention of two hockey players.
The taller one turns, brushing floppy hair back off his face and eyeing us with confusion as we run toward him.
“’Sup, Donohue?” He raises his chin, then looks past us and waves.
I whip a look over my shoulder and see Wily racing out of his truck. Grady slams the other door and is bolting our way too.
Thank God.
Wily gives my shoulder a light squeeze as he greets the tall one. “Hey, Ethan.”
“Wily Wilson.” The guy grins, and I get the impression that he greets the blond football player the same way every time.
But his smile quickly vanishes when he takes in our expressions. “Okay, what’s going on?”
Two more hockey players slip out of the arena and notice us standing there. Obvious curiosity pulls them in our direction.
“My daughter’s missing,” Zander starts to explain.
Ethan’s eyebrows pop high. “Wow, dude… you’ve got a kid? When did that happen?”
“A while ago.”
“How did you not know that?” A stylish-looking guy with dark hair slaps him on the arm. “The rumors have been rife for weeks.” His smile grows as he looks from Zander to me. “Congratulations, by the way. I’ve heard she’s a real cutie.”
“What?” I snap. “How do you know about Zoey? Do you know where she is right now?” I push around the tall guy and start poking Mr. Slick in the chest. “Did you help him take her?”
“Uh… nope.” He raises his hands as two white flags while the guy beside him starts snickering.
“Ash-Man’s scared of the little blondie.”
“She’s yelling in my face, dude. What the fuck is going on!”
“Hey, don’t yell at her!” Zander thunders at him. “And don’t you fucking touch her.”
“I’m not touching her! She’s touching me!” Ash-man yells back. “Everybody just needs to calm the fuck down and tell me what’s going on!”
“Okay!” The guy who let me into Athletes Hall earlier today steps between me and his teammate, lightly nudging me back. His voice is calm and easy as he looks around us. “We’re not accomplishing anything right now.” Looking at me with his kind brown eyes, he softly asks, “Is your daughter missing? How can we help?”
Covering my mouth, I nod and fight an onslaught of tears while Zander steps up and wraps his arm around my shoulders. “Your assistant coach.”
“Oh, you mean Fish Sticks?” Mr. Tats crosses his arm and snorts. “That twat didn’t even show up to practice today.”
“That’s because he was busy taking my daughter!” I scream. “He picked her up from the babysitter when I was with Zander, and now he’s threatening to disappear with her unless I meet his ridiculous demands!”
Four shocked gazes stare back at me, one of the guys mumbling, “What the actual shit?”
“I know!” My voice cracks before I manage to bring it down an octave and ask, “Do you know where he might be?”
“Uh, no… but”—Ethan points back to the arena—“I’m gonna check in with the coaching staff.” He runs toward the glass doors, and I hold my breath while he swipes his card. I then just have to stand there for what feels like an eternity, avoiding gazes from the hockey guys and irate pacing from Wily while he checks with the other coaches.
When the arena doors pop back open and I see two worried staff members running out of there, I let out a shuddering breath.
One of them walks straight toward me, pulling out his phone as he talks. “I’m Coach Bergeron. Ethan’s told me the problem. Are you Zoey’s mother?”
“Yes.” I take his hand and give it a weak shake.
“Russell won’t shut up about you guys. I was looking forward to meeting you, but not under these circumstances.” He frowns down at his phone. “He came back from lunch and was really off. I mean, he’s been off for a few weeks now, but today was next-level. He asked to borrow my truck. He said it was for a personal appointment. He seemed kind of hedgy and anxious, so I passed on my keys without thinking, assuming he was going to see a doctor or specialist. I was waiting for him to come back with news that he had cancer or something. That would explain his slightly erratic behavior, but…” The man shakes his head, muttering a string of curse words under his breath. “He’s not answering.”
“How are we going to find him?” I look at Zander.
“Does your truck have any kind of tracking device?” Grady steps forward.
The coach shrugs. “I don’t know. I’m not a tech guy.”
Grady quickly asks for the specs, and Coach Bergeron does at least remember the make and model.
“Those trucks will definitely have something. Is there an app on your phone?”
“Uh… yeah, I think so, but I never use it.” Coach Bergeron shrugs and hands his phone to Grady.
I step up beside him, watching his thumbs race across the screen as he quickly finds the app and gets to work hunting down the coach’s truck.
“There it is.” Tapping the screen, he shows Zander, who nods.
“I know where that is.”
Snatching my hand, he starts pulling me toward his car, and we run over together, ignoring the shouts behind us.
We have one focus right now, and it’s to get to our girl.
I just pray she’s okay.
What the hell has Russell done to her?
I try to remind myself how much he loves her and that he wouldn’t hurt her, but my mind is in chaos, my body convulsing as I try to deal with my worst fear. The one thing I thought I’d never be able to handle as a parent is now happening to me.
But I have to survive it.
I can’t fall apart right now, because I have to get my baby girl back.