Chapter 33
CHAPTER 33
I an
“What do you mean, she’s gone?” Disbelief washes over me as torment twists my gut.
I listen as the nurse explains and learn that a man she believed to be Gigi’s father has taken her.
“Do you know where Gigi’s mother is?”
“I don’t,” she answers. “The last I saw her she was entering the stairwell.”
Though every muscle in my body aches with fury, my soul trembles.
“Did you call security?”
“Yes, sir. They’re aware.”
I rake my hand through my hair as I absorb the scale of what’s happened, and it’s the not knowing that’s gutting me. Regardless of what the security team discovers, this incident will remain inexplicable to me.
Disbelief mingles with anger and my heart races. I haven’t had time to fully comprehend that I have a daughter, yet I feel the gut punch of loss. That sweet little girl— MY sweet little girl—and her mother deserve better than me, but I will find them. I don’t know where my relationship with Savannah is headed but I don’t want to lose them.
Desperate thoughts take hold as revenge stokes a fire within. With each tortured thought my inner rage intensifies. I have an appetite for payback. Someone has stolen something of mine. Something I never dreamed to have.
Though I can’t compare what I’m feeling to that instantaneous love I’ve heard of when a mother first gazes upon her baby’s face, what I’m feeling is equally as powerful.I love Gigi. I think I’ve loved her from when we first met. She’s independent and strong but, seeing things through her eyes gives me a new appreciation for life. I can only hope for more such opportunities.
Horrific possibilities corrupt my thoughts as I pace from one side of the hall to the other. There’s a purpose behind Savi and I reconnecting, I’m sure of it. I’ve done nothing to deserve grace in this life but, if there is a god, Momma said he loves little children. I can only hope that’s true.
I look around and feel the need to act. The first thing that comes to mind is to call Sam. He answers with his usual, teasing tone.
“Hey, Amigo. What’s shakin?”
“Gigi’s missing.”
“What the fuck?” His tone instantly changes as I blurt out the news. “How?”
“She was taken from the hospital. Savannah’s missing, too.”
“Where are you?” He demands.
“I’m still at the hospital but the nurse said Gigi’s father took her.”
“What more do you know?”
“Hold on a minute.” I approach the nurse and put the phone on speaker. “Can you describe the man who took Guiliana?” The nurse trembles nervously and her chin quivers. Her eyes are red-rimmed and it’s obvious she’s distraught. I must hold back my anger and frustration. No matter my personal feelings, I can’t lose my shit. Making this woman feel any worse than she does won’t serve any good purpose.
She lowers her eyes. “I spotted an ID badge on him, but the image of his driver’s license was blurred. Tall, but not too tall; maybe five-foot-ten. Nice suit. Dark hair. Dark eyes. Darker skin than Ms. Grace.”
Her body trembles with nervous energy and she gives me a sorrowful look. Her bottom lip shakes. “I’m sorry I don’t remember more. He had a badge … He gave her a stuffed animal.” Her helpless tone fades away.
The woman beside her, who is also a nurse, makes a protective move and wraps an arm around her. Gigi’s nurse turns her face into the woman’s shoulder and the woman gives me a stern, tight-lipped stare.
“Sir, we’ve notified the security team. They’re doing everything they can.” She tips her head as her brow pinches. “Aren’t you Ian Stanton?”
I trudge away, unwilling to answer questions. All I can think about is Savi and Gigi. I’m determined not to lose any more people I love.
Love?
I freeze. Do I dare love anyone?
My mistakes haunt me, and I fight with myself on the days I want to give up, but the idea of losing Savannah and Gigi makes clear the realization that I love them. Although I know it’s irrational, I have this fear if I love anyone, I’ll jinx it.
My mind races with doubts. Negativity creeps in with thoughts like ‘good things don’t happen to people like me’. Old habits are hard to break, and old mindsets even harder. I shove the thoughts away. This is no time for a pity party. My immediate concern is protecting my two blue-eyed girls.
* * *
As I wait for Sam my hands clench into fists. My knuckles burn with the strain and my fingernails dig into my palms. My thoughts race as I think about the bastard responsible for this. As I piece everything together my bones ache and every breath I take burns with revenge. It’s Drake who’s responsible for this, I’m sure of it. If I get to him before the cops do, it’s almost a certainty I’ll go to jail.
Another code rings out through the speakers. Everything seems surreal and I’m impatient. It’s like I’m moving through quicksand. I don’t know what to do with the rage inside of me and once the elevator doors close, I punch the metal door. Goddammit!
I pull my hand back for examination and see bloodied flesh. Dismissing the minor ache, I wipe a few weeping knuckles against the side of my jeans. I’ve never felt so helpless and when the elevator door opens at the lobby, I feel a pinch of relief as I spot Sam.
He comes towards me. His eyes travel from my face to my fist, and a sober nod silently tells me he understands.
“C’mon.” He turns and I trail him to an exit door where an officer stands as a sentry. “Hank, let us through. He’s with me.”
“Sure thing, Sir.” The policeman moves aside.
Sir? The man addresses him with a reverence I’ve not heard before. My brain squirms for information and a question claws forth as I follow behind him. “Who the fuck are you?”
Sam shakes his head. “Not now, Ian.”
Everything blurs as we sprint across the parking lot in silence toward Sam’s truck. Once we’re inside we quickly fasten our seatbelts. My cell rings and, when I pull it from my back pocket, Savannah’s name comes up on the screen. I punch the speaker button.
“Where are you?” My tone is low and grave, then I hear her voice.
“—made a big mistake doing this. People will be looking for us.”
“Shut up.”
“Where are you taking us? Why are we headed toward Discord?”
“I said shut up!”
I hit the mute button. Somehow, Savannah connected the call undetected and is now attempting to give clues.
“Why is my daughter unconscious? What did you do to her? She’s shivering.” A pause. “If anything happens to my baby, I’ll ? —”
“Whose baby?”
It’s Drake, and his ominous tone bristles the hair on the back of my neck. Urgency rises inside of me. I’ve gone from Rock Hills to Discord Flats and remember where the highway turns to back roads. The uptick in home sales that Rock Hills is having doesn’t reach that far out, so I concentrate on sounds that might lead us to them faster. So far, all I hear is humming tires, indicating a smooth road. That tells me they’re still on the highway.
“Drake, I need you to listen to me. This is a mistake. We can turn around and head back. I’ll figure out a way to help you.”
I look over at Sam. His face is so tight it’s a wonder his jaw doesn’t snap. In the silence, we exchange a look as we detect the graduating sounds of a smooth road to gravel.
“You’re such a stupid bitch. I don’t need your help to stay out of jail, Savannah. My father’s a fucking Senator—but that isn’t what this is about. Even you, with all your fancy words, can’t act as mediator between me and The Brethren. The kid is part of an exchange.”
He pauses, then chuckles.
“What? You didn’t think I knew about your kid? There’s a market for blue-eyed blondes. I don’t care about you, and I don’t give a shit about that kid. You said it yourself; I’m a monster. Right now, you two are currency, and I’ve got a debt to pay.”
The phone goes dead.
Sam’s brow furrows as his eyes shift between me and the road. “He’s been on the move for an hour. Discord isn’t a mining town anymore, but a ‘disposal’. Lots of empty holes in the earth and it’s where The Brethren store guns before they run them. I never heard of them trafficking humans, just guns and drugs, but nobody just strolls in and out of Discord. Not even a Senator’s son. There are consequences for trespassing. You got to know where you’re going. Some old mines are shut up or caved in, but some are filled with product.” He pauses to give me a grave look. “Let’s just say nobody goes there after dark with good intentions.”
“Jesus Christ.” I shake a horrific mental picture from my mind and stare out the window. “I went there once to get the bike fixed. I didn’t know.”
“Yeah. They have legitimate businesses for cover. Gun runners and drug dealers will use just about anywhere, but the mines are just as good a place as any to hide shit you don’t want found. Discord’s the perfect place. Kind of hidden. Kind of out in the open. The Brethren know what they’re doing. His voice drops as he gives me a quick glance. “And so does the ATF.”
“What kind of shit do you think Drake is into that he’s using people to pay a debt?”
“I don’t know but, I doubt it involves The Brethren. They’re some seriously tough motherfuckers, but they don’t use kids for currency.”
“How do you know about all this?”
He doesn’t answer, just keeps his eyes on the road.
Fatigue and frustration overwhelm me. It combines with anger and impatience and the toxic mix swirls in my blood like a cesspool. My chest tightens as the idea of something happening to Savi and Gigi makes it hard to breathe. There’s a rage inside me and the unfamiliar emotion spins thoughts of death and destruction.
“I don’t give a shit what happens to me, Sam. I’m going to find them, and I’m going to kill him; I swear it.” The bitter words are ashes in my mouth.
Sam’s expression is hard as stone. His tone is as deep and calm as the depth of the ocean, and just as deadly. “We’ll find them, and we’ll be cautious. Not for him, but for them.”
He’s right. For their protection, it’s important to have a plan. Hasty actions could seriously jeopardize their safety but of this, I’m sure; I’d gladly trade my life for theirs.
We approach Discord’s outskirts and Sam kills the headlights and parks the truck behind an abandoned building. He hands me a gun.
“You know how to shoot?”
I nod. “Yeah, but I don’t know how much I trust my shots. I went to the range twice with Dash. I won’t hesitate to shoot. I’m sure I can hit the mark but can’t guarantee exactly where.”
“Don’t matter, as long as we get the girls.”