Chapter Twenty Three
Four Months Later
I’m going to lose my goddamn mind if we don’t get to her soon. I’m trying to maintain everything at the Institute, but I want Ayla back. All of us are losing our minds without her.
Dad has confirmed what property she is at, but there’s literally never any movement there. Josh never leaves the house, so we don’t know much. We know Declan got himself in trouble with gambling, so he is quite possibly being held there also, so I am praying that he is helping her.
More than likely, Josh has figured out who my family is.
That might be why even he isn’t leaving.
He’s not stupid, and he knows what will happen if my father gets a hold of him.
He doesn’t know much about me because I have separated myself in that life, but I can’t help but feel guilty.
Maybe Declan would be in a better place if I hadn’t walked away.
Maybe I could be running things, and Dad could finally retire.
Could I even maintain that I am Meridian?
None of that matters until I get Ayla back.
I am lying in bed with Reid and Giovanni.
I know they are awake. We are just staring into the dark, not speaking.
Not touching. We miss her so fucking badly; we don’t even really do much besides look for her, talk about her, or discuss what we will do when she gets back.
We know she will get back, but we don’t know who we will get back when that day comes.
There’s no telling what he’s been doing to her.
“I miss her,” Giovanni says, breaking the silence.
“Me too,” I say.
“Can you imagine how she would have doted on you after the shooting?” Reid asks.
“Does she even know I’m alive?” Giovanni asks.
“It will be a nice surprise,” I say.
My phone suddenly screams in the room, and we all jump, not expecting it. Reid tosses it at me. I see it’s an unknown number, but answer anyway. There’s no real good reason why someone should be calling me at two in the fucking morning.
“Hello,” I grunt.
“Thane…” he says breathlessly. “It’s Declan.”