Chapter 25
Brooks
T wo thoughts when Gracyn walks out of the bedroom.
First, she should stop stealing stuff and become a bathing suit model.
And second, I’ve reconsidered .
“Maybe we should skip the pool.”
We got back to her apartment about thirty minutes ago, and after eight hours in the car and a hike, a swim sounded like the perfect way to unwind. But I’ve since changed my mind.
She glances up as she finishes tying a knot in the flimsy skirt wrapped around her waist. Calling it that is generous. It’s a sheer black piece of material that hides nothing.
I stride over to her, standing so close I’m able to smell the mint from her toothpaste. Reaching out, I give the knot a quick tug, releasing it, and it flutters to the floor in a soft pile.
“Really? This was your idea.”
I glance down at the curve of her delicious body and smirk. “That’s before you came out in that.”
She stares at me. “It’s a swimsuit, Brooks.”
“I see that. A tiny one that makes my dick hard. I can’t walk around with a perpetual hard-on.”
She wrinkles her freckled nose, and her smile grows, stepping backward. “I have something that will help with that problem. There’s always the swimsuit you bought for me.”
I can’t grab her hand fast enough. Why didn’t she throw that thing away? “No. That’s unnecessary. The one time you wore it was enough to leave a lasting impression.”
She bends over and grabs her wrap, then says, “Just think about how your mom is going to love me. I can’t wait to talk to her about teaching.” She flashes a sweet, innocent smile.
She’s evil. Nothing like the thought of my mom to ruin the moment, but I’ll be the first to admit that the thought makes me happy. Gracyn meeting my mom .
“C’mon.” She grabs my hand and pulls me outside. “I’m all sweaty and sticky from our hike. The pool sounds so good right now.”
“As long as you’ll let me make you sweaty and sticky later,” I murmur.
She bites her lip, giving me a teasing glance over her shoulder.
You did it, Handley. Best plan ever.
* * *
As we lie on the couch, sated, relaxed, and wrapped in the long day’s aftermath, I close my eyes and trace my finger down Gracyn’s leg. If it were up to me, I’d be moving her to the city tomorrow, but that’ll only scare her away. Despite my need to have her close to me, I need to take this slowly.
She’s the one making a bigger sacrifice. Putting all her trust in me. In us. For that, I’m willing to be patient. As long as she needs me to be.
The movie Twisters is on in the background, but it’s merely noise to me as my mind plays out our future. Vacations, kids, everyday life with her in my bed. I open my eyes and find her passed out, her chest rising and falling with each breath. I promise, I will make this work.
Gracyn Carmichael is mine.
Three sharp knocks echo through the room, jolting her awake. Our eyes dart to the front door. Who the hell shows up at eleven at night? Jealousy flares in my chest, tight and unwelcome. That’s a move straight out of a guy’s playbook.
“Expecting someone?” I ask, biting back my irritation, as she groans and shifts her legs off me.
She slides her hand through her messy hair and shakes her head. When she looks through the peephole, her body goes still, her gaze snaps back at me with confusion all over her face.
“Who is it?” I push off the couch, moving toward her.
She points to the door. “I think this is for you.”
If it’s paparazzi, I’m going to lose my shit. I swing the door open, ready for a fight, but freeze when I come face-to-face with two familiar figures.
“Mr. Handley,” one of them says, all business. “You’re needed back in New York ASAP.”
I blink, attempting to make sense of the situation. “Come again?” I stare at the FBI agents that followed me last time I was here.
“Can you come outside?” one asks, glancing at Gracyn, who’s standing behind me. “This is a matter best between us.”
I’m sure this is under Aiden’s orders, but this is ridiculous. “She’s fine. Tell me what’s wrong.”
The agent’s hesitation unnerves me. He doesn’t look pleased, but he gives a small nod. “It’s your daughter.”
How on fucking earth does something keep happening to Presley when I’m out of town?
“She’s missing.”
Gracyn gasps beside me.
My mind blanks as I shake my head furiously. “No. There must be a mistake. She’s probably hiding somewhere in the house. She’s a pro at hide-and-seek. That’s all. She’s fine.”
Even as the words leave my mouth, I know how ridiculous they sound. It’s two in the morning over there. I grab my phone off the coffee table and press Addison’s number.
“Brooks.” The second I hear Aiden’s voice on the line, shock slams into me, stealing all my air. “We’ll find her,” he snaps.
“How? And why the hell did you fucking send these guys and not call me yourself? Or Judith? Why didn’t she call me right away?” I shout into the phone. Out of the corner of my eyes, I catch Gracyn shoving my stuff into the bag. I’m having a déjà vu moment. Except this time, Presley isn’t okay.
My world spins under my feet.
“She called us first so we could come over right away. I told her I’d call you. But I knew it’d be faster to have them there to escort you to the plane. It’s ready to take off the second you get there.”
A sick feeling curls in my gut as reality hits me. “I don’t understand. How can she be missing?”
“The agents will tell you everything on the plane,” he says. His voice is tight, and I can hear the strain he’s trying to hide. “Brooks, we have the entire state searching for her. Max and his team are headed here, too.”
Gracyn hands me my bag, tears running down her face. “Go find her,” she says,
I nod, still in shock.
“Are you ready, Mr. Handley?” an agent says, yanking me out of my frozen state of shock.
“Yes.”
Gracyn rushes into my arms for a quick second and then pushes me toward the door. The next few hours are a blur. The agents usher me to the private airport, telling me bits and pieces, but it all feels detached, like I’m watching it happen to someone else.
Reality crashes down on me the moment the wheels hit the ground in LaGuardia. The jarring impact snaps me out of my daze. So far, they haven’t told me much. She was with Judith at my place. Judith put her to bed, then took a bath. While cleaning up after, Judith opened Presley’s door to slip in a toy, only to discover an empty bed.
Poof. She was gone.
I have a million questions pounding into my head. We live in a secure building. Cameras. Doorman. Locked doors. How did no one see her leave?
Unless she’s in the building.
As soon as the doors open, I’m taking two steps at a time down the ramp, my heart pounding so hard it echoes in my ears. I sprint toward the waiting black SUV, spotting Max leaning against the hood. Relief washes over me at the sight of him. My brother-in-law’s best friend, who runs one of the most successful security firms in the country, gives me a nod as I slide in the front seat. He reaches over to squeeze my arm, a silent reassurance that I desperately cling to.
If anyone can find Presley, it’s Max.
“Are we tearing up the building looking for her?” I fire off, clicking my seat belt. “If no one saw her leave, she has to be there somewhere.”
Max doesn’t waste time. He throws the car in drive, the tires screeching as he hauls ass out of the airport. “We got the security tape,” he says, cutting straight to the point. “She’s seen walking out on her own through the building and exiting the side entrance of the building at ten o’clock and getting into a white car.”
All the air leaves my lungs in one sharp exhale. “What white car?” I yell.
Max doesn’t flinch. Despite my panic, Max’s voice stays informative and calm. “The license plates were fake,” he says, taking a hard turn. “But I have Stone reviewing more security cameras. We know she left willingly. Like she knew her.”
Murdering rage fills my veins. “Her?”
“It’s not her ,” he assures me, reading my thoughts. “At least the woman driving the car wasn’t her.”