Chapter 29
Brooks
S omeone give me a butter knife so I can cut off my balls.
It has to feel better than this.
How long does it take for an update? A lifetime has passed since they promised to keep me informed. My gaze keeps flickering to the bustling streets below, scanning the crowd like I might somehow spot her down there. It’s irrational, but the hope of her appearing, that this is all some horrible mistake, is the only thread keeping me from losing it.
Aiden, Max, and Stone left to follow up on a tip the FBI received around the location of where the car stopped being tracked. Hours ago. Where the fuck are they?
The picture of the woman in the car was blurry, but I didn’t recognize her. If Jessie is behind this, she’s working with someone. But how did Presley know her? When did that happen? That’s what’s eating me alive. Presley knew someone that I didn’t. Someone Judith didn’t. And she trusted this stranger enough to get into the car with her. None of this makes sense.
If only there was something stronger than bourbon. Something that could keep me both grounded and aware during this agonizing wait. Inside, I can barely contain my fury, my mind racing with worst-case scenarios, each darker than the last. Addison and Gracyn watch me. Not sure what they think I’m going to do, but they couldn’t stop me from taking matters into my own hands if I wanted to.
I’m desperate, not stupid.
If anyone can find Presley, it’s Max and his team. Also, if Jessie was looking for help, it’d be people who weren’t on the up and up. The ones who operate in the shadows. Which is why I called Travis. When Aiden finds out, he might lose his shit, but there’s nothing I wouldn’t do to find Presley. Nothing . Had it been one of his kids, I’m damn sure Addison would’ve called him too.
Pacing the entire length of the living room like a caged animal, I glance at my watch every few minutes. “Have you heard from Aiden?” I bark, stopping in my tracks just long enough to glare at Addison. I’ve asked the same damn question a dozen times, and it’s always the same answer. Hell, I’m even annoying myself.
She opens her mouth to say no again, but her phone rings, cutting her off. I freeze in place. She nods, confirming it’s them. I double back over to her, and she answers it. “You’re on speaker.”
“We found the car. But that’s it. She might have had another car to switch into. Stone’s already searching.”
My gut twists with the realization that this wasn’t random. Whoever this woman is, she’s planned the whole thing. Every detail, every step. My scowl deepens, my jaw tight with rage as the weight of the situation sinks in.
Ransom. That has to be it. If they knew me, they’d understand I’d give every single damn cent to my name to get her back.
So call already.
More minutes crawl by, morphing into endless, excruciating hours with no new information. Max, Stone, and Aiden are again at the kitchen table, hunched over, speaking in low, clipped tones. Judith stares out the window, wrapped in a blanket. Addison and Gracyn sit on the living room floor, with a deck of cards they found on the coffee table. I stare from the barstool, watching their mindless game of war, the repetitive flip, swipe, flip, swipe gnawing on my frayed patience. They’re barely paying attention to the game, the cards nothing more than a distraction. My eyes drift close for a moment, my mind locking on Presley’s toothless grin. Snarky, I’m coming for you. Just hold on.
Flip, swipe, flip ? —
Addison freezes mid-swipe when there's a knock at the door. My heart jolts, and I’m off the stool in seconds, striding toward the door with Max and Aiden right behind me. When I open the door, I’m surprised to see who’s here. I didn’t think he’d come around with all the law enforcement here. But I’m glad Travis sent his right-hand man.
He nods once and pulls me in for a quick shoulder bump. “Sorry, man,” he says, his voice low but firm. “We’ll find her.”
“Frankie,” Addison says, getting up off the floor. She walks over and gives him a hug. I catch the subtle shift in the air as Aiden steps beside me, his body tensing.
“You called him?” Aiden sneers.
“Don’t start,” I snap, not in the mood for a debate. “If this were your kid, you’d do whatever it took to find them.”
He curses under his breath but nods and extends his hand out, and Frankie shakes it. Frankie’s eyes sweep the room before saying anything. He’s not careless enough to talk without assessing who’s around. Especially the police. They are worlds apart, the good guys versus the bad guys. But I don’t give a fuck. He’s here to help. Aiden might be FBI, and he might hate Frankie because he’s a jealous ass, but in the end it was Frankie who saved Addison, so he earned a debt Aiden could never repay.
Frankie’s eyes land on Gracyn, and he looks at her with a hint of curiosity. She stands up and walks over to where we’re standing.
“You must be Gray? I’m Frankie,” he says, holding out his hand.
She reads the intense vibe between the guys when she hesitates a beat to shake his outreached hand.
“He works for Travis,” I explain.
Nodding in understanding, she slips her hand into his. “It’s nice to meet you.”
“Do you have anything to update?” Max clips, cutting straight to the point.
Frankie shakes his head. “Not yet,” he says, his tone a little too calm for the situation. “But we’re digging. And when we find something, trust me, you’ll want to hear it from us first, not them.” He jerks his head slightly in Aiden’s direction, the subtle jab unmistakable. The bad guys don’t play nice with people who kidnap kids.
Max lets out a dry chuckle and pats Aiden on the back as he walks away. “He doesn’t know you at all,” he murmurs under his breath.
Addison squeezes Frankie’s arm and flashes him a grateful smile before she and Gracyn return to their card game.
Frankie watches her for a moment before locking eyes with me. His chin jerks toward the hallway, and he says, “We need to talk.”
Without a word, I follow him out of sight, far enough away to ensure no one can overhear.
I narrow my eyes, confused. “I thought you didn’t have any updates?”
“I don’t,” he replies, rubbing the top of his bald head. “But I need you and Gray to meet me at Kao’s tonight,” he says.
The fuck I am. It’s the restaurant I used to meet Travis when he was in town. The place reeks of dirty deals and shady alliances. “No way. I’m not taking Gracyn anywhere near Travis.” Considering our fathers’ backgrounds, this shouldn’t come as a surprise.
He hikes a shoulder. “I’m just the messenger.”
I take a step forward, my jaw tightening. “What is this, Frankie? I’m not dragging her on some sort of ambush. I don’t have time for Travis’s petty bullshit.”
“It’s not like that. Trust me, you want to go.”
“Stop with the messenger crap. What. Is. Going. On?”
He exhales and rubs his head again. “I was told not to say.”
I relent with an aggravated sigh, knowing if Travis told him to keep his mouth shut, there’s no way he’ll tell me. “What time?”
“You’ll get a text tonight.”
I stroke my beard, still unsure. On one hand, Travis wouldn’t summon us without a damn good reason. On the other hand, Gracyn should stay as far away from my father as possible.
Gracyn’s warm hand settles on my shoulder, surprising me. She parks herself next to me, her curious gaze shifting between me and Frankie. “Everything okay? I thought I overheard my name.”
I grumble, avoiding her eyes. “Yeah,” I finally mutter. “I’ll explain later.”
“We hear anything,” Frankie says, “you’ll be the first we call.” He then gives Gracyn a single nod before walking out the front door.
The soft click of the door echoes in the room, and when I turn around, all eyes are on me, expecting an explanation I don’t have. I shrug, not having the energy to string together a bullshit excuse.
By the time everyone leaves, the silence in the place is deafening, like it’s holding its breath, waiting for the heart of our world to walk through those doors. My chest twists that we’re at the end of day two and nothing. No leads. Nothing but the hollow ticking of the clock to remind me she’s still missing.
Max and Stone checked into a hotel nearby, prepared to come over if I need them. Aiden and Addison reluctantly headed home. Judith didn’t want to leave either, but I told her she needed a break. It’s hard not to glance her way and feel the sharp sting of blame. I’m trying to push it down, trying not to hold it against her, but it lingers. I have to dig deep to remember that she loves her like her own, and she’s living in hell, too.
Now, it’s just me and Gracyn. With my eyes closed, I lean my head back against the couch, exhausted. And it’s only seven o’clock. The couch dips beside me, and I loll my head to the side, meeting Gracyn’s worried expression. She runs her fingers through my hair. I’ve never been so powerless.
“I’m so sorry,” she whispers.
My phone buzzes in my pocket. Pulling it out, I sigh at the text.
Unknown: 8:00
“What is it?”
I shake my head and drop the phone on the couch beside me. “It’s time to go.”
“Go where?”
“It’s why Frankie was here earlier. I really don’t have any idea.”
“Do you want me to go with you?”
Fuck, no. But it didn’t sound like I had a choice. Rather than tell her we were both summoned, I nod, thankful she gave me an out.
We stop in front of the restaurant doors, and I hesitate, debating whether we should turn around and leave. The only reason I’m here is the hope that Travis found something out about Presley. But why not tell me earlier?
Gracyn tilts her head up, expressing skepticism. If she’s thinking this place looks sketchy, she’s right. Blacked-out windows in a deserted strip mall don’t exactly scream come on in . Rather, this is the place you avoid at all costs.
That’s why Travis likes it here.
Quiet, hidden, and full of people just like him.
I take Gracyn’s hand, the pang of guilt twisting deeper in my gut. I should’ve told her where we were going. “I promise I won’t let anyone hurt you.”
Her eyes widen. “That’s not a promise I want to test. What am I walking into?”
“Travis requested we meet him here.”
“We?”
I sigh. “I wasn’t going to ask you, but then you offered. It better be about Presley,” I add.
She pulls in a deep inhale, exhales, then squares her shoulders, standing tall. She’s calm, composed— everything I’m not . Most women would’ve turned around by now and left me here on the sidewalk without a second thought. But as I’ve learned, Gracyn is definitely not most women.
“Then let’s go,” she says, grabbing the door handle. “Stop stalling and worrying about me. I’ll be fine.”
She swings the door open, and we step inside the dimly lit room with empty tables, save for one in the far corner. Two men stand off to the side, tracking our every move. Travis and another man watch us walk toward them. I give Gracyn a reassuring squeeze, but she’s not looking at Travis. She’s glaring at the man sitting across from him.
Both men stand as we approach, and Gracyn marches straight up to the second guy. “A heads-up would have been nice,” she murmurs, and then surprises me by giving the man a hug. I’m too surprised that I forget to say hi to Travis.
“Brooks, this is Raymond Knight,” Travis says, pulling me out of my stupor.
I scratch my head and wonder if this is what they brought us here for. To prove to us they aren’t at war. But their war is so far off my radar, it only angers me.
“Please tell me this isn’t what I think it is. I could be missing information about finding my daughter because I’m fucking here placating your relationship.”
“Son, that’s not what this is about.”
I’m not a total asshole, so I extend my hand to Raymond and introduce Travis to Gracyn before we sit down.
Travis leans forward, resting his elbows on the table. “Jessie doesn’t have Presley.”
I scoot to the edge of my seat. “You sure? Because that bitch is up to something.”
Gracyn clears her throat, clearly unhappy with my choice of words. If she only knew the real Jessie. I held back . I was going to call her a cunt.
Raymond moves his tented fingers from his lips and leans back. “We are. She’s here if you want to talk to her.”
My chair screeches as I jump up and slap my palms against the table. “Where?”
“She’s in the office,” Travis says, but he grabs my arm before I have time to dart off. “Take Gray with you.”
“What?” she protests, holding up her hands. “I … I don’t need to get involved.”
I agree.
“Jessie said she won’t talk to Brooks without you being there,” Raymond adds.
I swallow my anger, my fists balling at my sides. “What right does she have to make demands?”
“You’re angry, and she knows that,” Travis says, meeting my gaze, unblinking.
“Damn right I am! And I don’t think she’s innocent. Why is it that my daughter goes missing not long after she surfaces? After she tries to worm her way into Gracyn’s life?”
It’s been five years since I’ve seen her. Five years of silence, five years of staying the hell away from us. After they released her from the facility, I flew to California to find out what her plans were. What she thought was going to happen versus reality. I didn’t want her crazy anywhere near Presley. What I wanted her to say was that she’d stay away forever. As Addison pointed out, that wasn’t realistic, so I was prepared to give her visitation rights. Joint custody of Presley was not an option. I had the resources to fight it, and I’d spend any amount necessary to make sure it didn’t happen.
End of story.
But in typical Jessie fashion, she surprised me. Giving me everything I wanted. Full custody. She said Presley was better off without her in her life. Her exact words.
It seems her crazy is showing again.
“Let’s go talk to her,” Gracyn says, her voice steady and way more composed than mine.
I lift a brow, side-eyeing her. Why isn’t she mad? Gracyn doesn’t put up with bullshit, so how is she so calm?
“She has answers, so let’s hear her out,” she says, reading me. “And this isn’t about what she did to me. It’s about finding Presley.”
We make our way to the office. Gracyn pauses at the door, her hand resting on the knob. She glances over her shoulder at me. “You good? Storming in there, all fire and brimstone will not get answers.”
I grunt with a sharp nod, sounding like a caveman who got put in his place by his wife.
I guess it’s not far off base.
As we step into the office, my body tenses like a live wire, every muscle coiled and ready to strike. Gracyn reads me well, stepping in front of me, creating a barrier between us.
Jessie stares at us from a worn leather couch, clutching a crumpled tissue in her hand. She pats her swollen eyes and stands up. “Thank you for coming,” she chokes out. After clearing her throat, she continues, “I know this looks bad.”
“You have no idea,” I snap, lunging forward.
Gracyn squeezes my bicep, stopping me. “Is it true you don’t have Presley?” she asks.
Jessie’s red-rimmed eyes lock onto mine. “I don’t. I swear. I’m just as devastated about this as you are.”
“You don’t have a right to feel devastated!” I roar, my words echoing off the walls. “You gave her up!”
She takes a step forward, her voice rising to match mine. “I gave her to you to keep safe, and you failed!”
The unexpected jab freezes me in my spot, stealing the air from my lungs.
“Okay, enough,” Gracyn chimes in, stepping in between us, holding her arms out like a referee calling a foul. “This isn’t helping. Both of you need to take a breath and calm down.”
The ice-cold stare down between Jessie and me lingers a few more tense beats, the air thick with anger and accusations. I pull in a harsh breath and take a step back.
“That’s better,” she says in a teacher’s voice, calm and commanding. “Let’s start with how we met. Why did you use a fake name?”
Jessie scratches her temple, and when she looks at Gracyn, she releases some of the anger. It’s as if she thinks of Gracyn as a friend. “I found out that you were married to Brooks. I wanted to meet the woman who might be my daughter’s mom.”
You’ve got to be kidding me.
I squeeze the bridge of my nose. “You are so fucking psycho, woman.”
“Brooks.” Gracyn’s eyes bore into me. “Not helping,” she mouths.
Can’t she see that she’s a few screws short? That is the most asinine reason I’ve ever heard.
She turns to Jessie. “That’s a little extreme.”
See! She agrees.
Jessie throws her hands up. “I’m an extreme person, okay? I can’t help it. When I saw that you and Brooks had gotten married, all the better judgment in my head flew out the door. My baby was going to have a new mom.”
“It’s not like that at all. We got drunk one night, made a mistake, and got married in Vegas,” Gracyn says.
The mistake part is debatable.
“It’s more than that,” Jessie says, her gaze ping-ponging between us. “I’ve seen pictures. Brooks hasn’t ever looked at someone like he does you. In every picture he’s in with a woman, she’s just a prop. With you, you’re like the center of his universe.”
Not that she’s wrong, but what the hell? “You haven’t even been around me. How the hell do you know what’s going on in my personal life?”
“Presley told my parents about her,” she deadpans.
I sigh, rubbing my jaw. I can’t argue with that. Yesterday, I was begging Gracyn for a chance to make this work. She is different, and anyone with a pair of eyes could see it.
Jessie continues, “I didn’t plan on working at the hotel. But then you were so nice, and I needed a job, so I took it as a sign of being in the right place.”
Gracyn’s brow arches high. She casts a glance at me, wide-eyed, and I give her a single nod. Yep, like I said, psycho.
When neither of us replies, Jessie fidgets, shifting on her feet, before adding with a tinge of remorse, “I wanted to see if my little girl was getting a good person as a mom.”
This visit was pointless. They could have told me they’d found her or handed her over to the police to be questioned. Anything other than dragging me down here. I blow out a ragged breath as I stare at Jessie, shaking my head. Without another word, I storm out of the office, hoping it’s the last time I’ll ever see her again.
“Son,” Travis calls after me, following me out the exit. “Hold on.”
I spin around. “She didn’t do it would have sufficed. I didn’t need to see her,” I snap. “Instead, you make me waste my time with her pointless explanation and whatever the hell that was!”
He slides his hands in his slacks and leans against the brick wall. “Yes, you did. You needed to hear her side of the story to believe her. Whether or not you like it, she is Presley’s mom, and she’s terrified for her daughter, as well.”
I bark out a bitter laugh. Why are they on her side?
“She’s back to her antics. Who knows what she had planned for Gracyn? Because I can promise you, she had a plan.”
The door swings open, and Gracyn steps out, pausing when she sees us. “I can go back in…”
“No. We’re done. Let’s go.”
Travis straightens and pulls me in for a firm hug. “Whoever has her can’t stay hidden for long.”
I nod, knowing he’s doing everything in his power to help find Presley.
After sliding in my car, I grip the steering wheel, my knuckles white as I stare blankly at the dashboard. The weight of everything with Presley disappearing, Jessie’s bullshit, and the unknown, crashes down all at once. A headache throbs at the base of my neck. I close my eyes and rub the back of my head, trying to ease the tension.
I can feel Gracyn’s eyes on me. “She’s going to her parents’ house,” she whispers.
That didn’t help the throbbing. “I don’t fucking care where she goes.”
She hesitates for a second, weighing her words, but then she adds, “And I told her I would call her if anything happens.”
Well, if Jessie has any more questions about Gracyn’s integrity, that should answer it all. Because she’s a better person than I am.