Chapter Twenty-Three
Hayes
“Y ou mean to tell me you have men out searching for her for a full week now and not a single one can give me any theories on where she could be?” I yell at Alan from my office at Club Rose.
He stands in front of my desk, head down, shaking his head.
“Sir, we have looked everywhere. We have even investigated Ashton’s men from the outside; no one has any idea.”
He looks up. “It’s like she just vanished.”
I pound my fist on the desk. “She did not vanish. She has gone into hiding. How is it that no one knew she was Ashton’s daughter!” I scream so loud I notice the glass of water on my desk ripples.
“No one knew he had a daughter.” He pauses, suddenly thinking of something. “I’ll call Maxwell. He was the one who told me she was one to watch for the night of the auction. He must have been her head of security.”
I stand, grabbing my coat and pulling it on, “No. You call him and tell him to meet us somewhere private. I would like a word.”
Alan nods, grabbing his phone and following me out the door toward the exit where my car is parked.
I woke up from the best night of sleep I have had in a while to Maria knocking on my door sounding worried.
Feeling the bed beside me, I jumped up, realizing I was alone.
Once I got to the door, she held a note to my face, and I don’t remember anything else since, other than trying to find her.
She is Ashton’s fucking daughter and now she is out there alone trying to get revenge on a man who tried to sell her for cash in his pocket.
I have not slept or eaten much since she ran away. Every time I close my eyes; I see her tied up somewhere in someone’s torture basement getting beat and raped.
My blood boils. I will kill every mother fucker who touches her. I will not sleep until she is in my arms again, safe, where she belongs.
“See you in 5 minutes.” Alan’s voice pulls me out of the thoughts racing through my mind as he ends a phone call.
Somewhere between leaving my office and now we have gotten in my car, and I have been driving for I don’t even know how long.
“He is meeting us at the river in 5 mins.” Alan assures me.
“And we trust him why?” I ask, cocking an eyebrow.
“Because he hates Ashton as much as any of us. He only works for him because Ashton has threatened his entire family with death if he moves against him,” he tells me.
“How do you know him?” I ask sternly.
Alan hesitates and then I notice the slow exhale of his last inhale. “He is my brother, sir.”
It feels like someone gut punched me, “I am sorry, Alan.”
He clears his throat, “Let’s just focus on finding Miss Olivia safe.”
I nod.
Pulling up by the river near the marina, it’s deserted with only one lone Black Escalade down by the docks.
I slowly pull my Audi up to it and Alan and I both clip our pistols to our waistband. We can never be too careful when dealing with the enemy.
Opening my door, the Escalade driver’s door opens, too, and a man, who looks a little older than Alan, gets out.
He is alone, and once he stands in front of me, I nod, “Maxwell?”
He nods, “I can’t be here long. Ashton will be needing me back soon and asking questions. What is so urgent?”
Alan cocks an eyebrow, “You don’t know?”
Maxwell gestures for him to explain.
I huff, not having time for this. “Ashton’s daughter Olivia has been under my protection since I raided his auction weeks ago. She never told me who she was until a week ago when she left me a note and ran away.”
I watch as Maxwell’s eyes turn to worry and his cheeks clench. His body language tells me all I need to know; he cares about her safety too, and he knows how dangerous this world is for her.
“I was hoping you could tell me where to find her before her father does.” I try to hide the desperation in my voice.
Maxwell runs his hands through his hair nervously. “Oh, this is bad.”
I step toward him. “What do you mean?”
He looks at Alan and then takes a deep breath, eyeing me again. “Ricci, you do not understand. Olivia was under house arrest her entire life. She was na?ve to this lifestyle until the night of the auction. Her father blindsided her.”
He pauses, “She was supposed to be a boy when she was born. His next heir. Her mother was a sex slave of his. When Olivia was born, her mother wanted to escape and run away, but the morning she tried, Ashton shot her dead. He has kept Olivia as his prisoner since, until the day he could sell her for the billions.”
“Olivia is Natalie’s daughter?” Alan asks, and I look back and forth between them, confused.
Maxwell nods for confirmation and Alan runs his hands through his hair.
“Who is Natalie?” I ask.
Alan turns to me, “Natalie was your mother’s stepsister. She was taken from their home before your mother and father wed. She is the reason your father found out about the sex trade Ashton was involved in and wanted to take it down.”
I think my feet may give out from under me.
“After your mother’s sister was taken, Ashton tried coming after your mother too, but your father intervened. That is why your mom was so passionate about the Hope House. When your mother found out about Natalie’s death, she swore she would do everything in her power to never leave another woman alone again.” Alan explained.
“Why was I not informed about this!” I yell. “Could Olivia know about all of this?” I ask Maxwell.
He shakes his head no and says, “Not unless someone else told her. Her father kept her away from all of that her entire life. He would never allow her to ask about her mother.”
A thought comes to mind, “Would Gloria, the woman who was a slave to Ashton, know about this?”
Maxwell’s eyes widen. “I wouldn’t be shocked. Her mother and Natalie were best friends. Both sex slaves of Ashton’s too. Gloria is not his daughter though. But I do believe Gloria was there when Olivia was born.”
I turn to Alan, “I know who we need to go talk to.”
“Who?” Alan asks.
“Hours before Olivia ran away, Gloria was the last person she spoke with besides me. And she was acting very strange on the ride home.” I say in a clipped tone while walking off to my car.
Turning around, I gesture to Maxwell, “Keep this between us. If you hear of anything you think we need to know, call your brother.” I open my car door and slide inside.
Right before I slam the door, I hear Alan say, “Stay safe bro.”