Chapter Thirty
I’ve been staring at my tablet for the last five hours, flipping back and forth between Ry’s account and Ingrid’s account, willing something to happen, for any insight on where she is. After the police department got here, they told me I needed to give them access to what I’ve been looking at. I handed over Ryan’s computer reluctantly, since they were worthless from the onset of all that’s happened. Bennett’s insistence and guarantee that he would bring her home was the driving force behind me handing it over.
I groan into my hands when I feel a hand on my shoulder.
“We’re gonna find her, because I’m not going to let Hadley get hurt again.” Connor’s thick brogue cuts through the silence where I’ve been isolating myself.
I break at his words. “I just got her, man. I can’t lose her.” The unshed tears finally break free, flooding down my face.Connor pulls me up into a tight embrace, letting me know without words that I’m not alone in this. I sob into his shoulder for several moments before a ding sounds from my tablet, pulling me back into the here and now. I jerk away to see the notification. A new post from the Ingrid account, a caption on an up close photo of Ryan’s tattoo.
@IngridsPerfectionDon’t worry, I’ll take good care of her.
“Jaysus,” Connor spits out from beside me.
Another ding chimes and I reload the page to another image, this time of Ryan’s hands chained around a pole.
I can’t speak. I can barely breathe as I look at the caption.
@IngridsPerfectionI don’t think she’s going to miss you once I’ve had my fun with her.
I stand up lifting the desk and throwing it against the wall. It smashes into pieces at the impact.
“I’m gonna kill this motherfucker!” I roar as I storm outside.
“Mr. Mancini,” a police officer approaches me as soon as I exit the building.
“What?” I snarl at him.
“There is new information we wanted to discuss.” His response is low.
“Unless the information is you know where she is and you’re bringing her home right now, I don’t want to fucking hear it.” I glare at him before he takes a step back and nods.
My phone notification goes off in my pocket. I pull it out to find an incoming video call from a number I don’t have saved in my phone. I swipe the green button to answer it.
“Hello?” I say holding the phone in front of my face, Connor having joined me at my side. I hear shuffling and soft whimpers through the call.
“Please let me go. I don’t want this, Luna. Please. Let me go.” The screen cuts to a set of chocolate eyes full of so many different emotions. I hear the rattling of chains, and before the screen jerks, I catch a glimpse of something familiar as I hear Ryan vomiting.
“She’s mine now,” a feminine voice whispers before the call drops.
Blood boils through my veins as I walk to my truck across the parking lot. Connor jogs behind me.
“What’s going on?” He grabs my shoulder trying to pull me to a stop.
“I know where they are and I’m fucking ending this since the police department is worthless,” I snarl. “Either join me or keep them off my tail.”
We step into the back yard and I take in the familiar sight. Before I left I really thought we could make this ours. Now If I never see my childhood home again, it will be too fucking soon.
I point to Connor to check the other side of the house and motion for him to meet me around front.
It only takes a few minutes before we’re both at the front with no sign of life inside. Praying to whatever gods are listening that we get in there without alerting anyone to our entry I wave my hand toward him, motioning that he follow me. I carefully twist the handle, thankful that it’s unlocked.
Keep breathing, you almost have her back.
I push the door open an inch at a time to make sure no one is around, taking in my childhood living room. I hear Ryan’s muffled screams from downstairs when the basement door opens and a man I’ve never seen before comes rushing out toward me. I ball my hands into fists before I wind back and start whaling on the stranger in front of me. My fists connect with his skin over and over again until I feel his bones cracking under the weight of my punches. When he finally stops moving, I let out a long breath and stand only to realize I’m covered in his blood. Connor is standing, staring at me before his eyes flick to the ground. A few feet from the stranger lies a gun he must have dropped during our rumble. I pick it up and look back at Connor.
“Stay here, make sure he doesn’t move. And call Bennett.” I mouth to him just before I disappear down the stairs.