Chapter 44
Chapter Forty-Four
Kain
After dropping off Harry, I drove by the entrance of the drugstore but didn’t see Eva. I slid into an empty parking spot and called her. When it immediately went to voicemail, a sense of dread rolled through my stomach. Where is she?
I sent her a text and called Bryan. “Did you see Eva?”
“She was still inside the drugstore when we left,” Bryan said. “Do you need us to go back?”
Something was off. I got out of the car, glancing around. “Yes. Eva’s not here.”
A startled old woman in a wheelchair approached me. The look on her face told me she had seen something horrible.
“I’ll call you right back, Bryan.” I hung up and met the woman halfway.
“Excuse me. Can you please call the police? Two people just kidnapped a woman.” Her lips trembled. “They took her in a white van. Hurry.”
My body went rigid upon hearing the words. Fear squeezed my heart as time fluctuated, tossing my mind into discombobulation.
Vengeance grew inside me like a malicious monster with its claws digging into my lungs, stealing my breath. Its fangs pierced into my heart and mind, destroying my sense of logic. I wanted to kill whoever had taken her from me.
Don’t panic. Eva needs you.
I took a breath to remain focused. “Thank you.” I studied the woman who had grown pale. “Will you be okay?”
“I’m fine.” She waved a hand, seeing my desperation. “Go find her.”
I turned and called Bryan. “Eva’s been kidnapped. I need you to return and work with Detective McNally. Check the recording from the drugstore and keep me posted.”
He cursed and apologized even though it wasn’t his or Garvin’s fault. “We’ll find her.”
I ended that conversation and called Detective McNally to inform him of Eva’s kidnapping and gave him my security’s phone number. A storm brewed within me, but I didn’t have time to acknowledge it. If I paused right now, it would take away from searching for Eva. Every minute mattered.
I slid into my SUV and called the boys, asking for their assistance with retrieving the street recordings and all those from the nearby businesses. The city wouldn’t give that to me without the proper approval, which would take too much time, and I didn’t have fucking time right now.
Timber was away on business, so I didn’t include him in the call.
“I’ll have my team get the street recordings,” Godfrey said.
“I’ll take care of the private recordings from businesses,” Hudson said. “We’ll find her, Kain.”
“Thank you,” I said, clenching my hand and trying my best to calm this emotional storm. What had happened between the time I hung up and my arrival? The duration was about twenty minutes.
I had to inform Harry about this terrifying news. I also had to let my friends know about Harry.
This wasn’t how I wanted to share the news about him with them.
I swallowed. “I met Harry today.”
“Harry who?” Hudson asked.
“Our savior—Harold.”
“How?” Godfrey asked. “Have you been in touch with him?”
“You’ve met him already,” I replied. “He’s Eva’s grandfather.”
“Are you serious?” Godfrey exclaimed.
“I only confirmed it today when I met him. He wants to see all of you. I was going to call you to set something up, but now—”
“We’ll find her—for you and for Harry,” Hudson said.
“We’ll touch base tonight. I have to let him know now.”
I ended the call and sat still, trying to collect myself. Dread tightened my shoulders as a cold tremor ran through me. Horrible scenarios emerged in my head, constricting my breathing. The last time I felt like this was when I found my mother’s body.
Calm your mind.
I inhaled and exhaled a few times, trying my best to clear my head.
This was a technique the therapist had taught me to return to a calm state.
I couldn’t think rationally when anger and fear warred inside me.
Eva needed me. Her safety depended on my efficiency.
I had to look at this scenario objectively.
When my body relaxed, my mind cleared enough to think. Did Hawthorne take her? It had to be him. I debated telling Harry later but decided he wouldn’t appreciate that. Besides, maybe he had some insight that could help get her back quickly.
As I drove to see Harry, I prayed to my mother, asking her to protect Eva.