Chapter 9
RIVER
It’s been almost twenty-four hours since the accident happened, and Finn and Maddy were taken. I haven’t heard anything from the police or Maddy’s father, but I did get to see Lily, and she’s doing much better.
When I tell her what happened, minus the details about Maddy’s real last name, she blames herself.
“This is all my fault,” she whispers, teary-eyed as she lies in the hospital bed hooked up to monitors and an IV.
“If I had never gone to northside, the accident never would’ve happened.
And Finn and Maddy wouldn’t have been taken.
Although I still don’t get why they took her.
I’m guessing Finn was taken because the kidnappers want a ransom. ”
“I’m not sure yet, since the police haven’t given me an update. But Lily, this isn’t your fault.” I take her hand in mine. “If they weren’t taken tonight, these people would’ve found another way.”
She sniffles. “I still should’ve never gone to northside.”
“I know. And I never want you to do that again.” I slide forward in the chair to grab a cup of water off a table. “Drink some water and try to get some rest. I know it’ll be hard, but you need to focus on getting better right now, and stress won’t help that.”
She grabs the water from me and takes a sip. “I’ll try, but no promises.” She hands me back the cup, and I set it down on the table.
I’m about to get up and call Grey again when my phone rings with a call from him.
“I have to answer this,” I tell Lily as I head out of the room.
She eyes me dubiously as I do, probably since I’m acting kind of sketchy by leaving the room. But I don’t want her to hear the conversation I’m about to have. It’s too risky for her to know about Maddy’s bloodlines.
“Hello?” I answer the phone after I’ve stepped into the hallway. “Please tell me you have an update.”
“I have a few,” he tells me. “I’ve found the locations of where Maddison and your brother are being held, and I also found out that your father is the person who took them.”
“What?” I say loud enough that the doctors nearby throw me dirty looks. I turn my back toward them and lower my voice. “My dad did this?” No, there’s no way.
And yet…
Part of me knows there is, that he could’ve had something to do with my mother’s disappearance as well. If so, though, what’s the fucking connection, because there has to be one.
“He did,” Grey says. “I’m positive he’s going to try to kill Maddy after he gets her to sign a paper that will give him her inheritance.”
I prop my shoulder against the wall. “What inheritance? Like yours? Because that doesn’t make sense. You’d have to die, too.”
“No, not mine. Her Everford inheritance,” he explains.
“Look, I can’t get into all of the details right now because I need to rescue my daughter, but what I can tell you is that Ellie got a hold of me and has told me some information that might protect Maddy from getting killed.
She also told me she’s found out the real reason behind the hunt for the Everford bloodline.
It’s why she took off. She’s been on a search for a way to protect Maddy.
” He briefly pauses. “Your mother has been helping her, too.”
I straighten, my pulse racing. “Is she okay? My mom, I mean.”
“She is, but she’s in hiding because your father found out what she was doing,” he tells me over the sound of an engine roaring.
“Ellie and your mom have been working together for a long time, but when Maddy got the scholarship to The Royal Academy, they realized that the wrong people were suspicious of her and that they needed to find a way to protect her and to avoid people finding out that Ellie is Maddy’s mother.
Your father is the reason Maddy got that scholarship.
Apparently, he got suspicious that she could be an Everford, and so bringing her to the Academy was his way of keeping an eye on her while he looked into it.
Tonight, though, he found out she was a match for the Everford bloodline.
He won’t kill her, though, until she signs those papers, so I need to get to her before she does. ”
All I can hear is my heart thumping in my chest. My dad did this? I mean, I know he’s a piece of shit, but is he a killer? “You’re heading there now?” I ask Grey, because if he isn’t, I sure as hell am.
“Yes, but once I get her back, I’m going to need your help.”
I don’t even miss a beat. “Tell me what you need me to do.”
Please let him get to Maddy before my father murders her.
Fuck…
I’m going to throw up. I’m going to pass out. I’m going to break.
No, I can’t do that. I need to be strong for Maddy.
“I’ll explain later. But can you get Noah and meet me at the Royal City Silver Airplane Hanger?”
“Umm… okay?” I’m so utterly lost.
He wants me to meet him at an airplane hangar. Wait… Is he taking Maddy somewhere?
I’d ask, but he hangs up on me.
Cursing, I dial my father’s number, even though I know he won’t answer. As I predicted, he sends me to voicemail.
I blow out a furious breath, then storm down the hallway to find Noah so we can get to this airplane hangar where we’ll hopefully finally get some answers. Like why is my father doing this?
And why the hell kidnap Finn as well?