Chapter 17
All I wanted to do was sleep, but I couldn’t. The tiny human had been taken.
My tiny human. The affront had me livid and I wasn’t alone. My female servant alternated between hysterics and rage while she related what happened to Bruce as he drove, not in the direction of the chalet, I noticed.
“Apparently Joseph showed up at the church with a court order giving him custody of Zaza. That bastard!” Nicky cried, her voice choked with emotion.
“The staff just let him take her without contacting you?”
“Joseph didn’t really give them a chance. He walked out with Zaza as they were calling. According to Mona, who runs the daycare, he didn’t show up alone. His people didn’t directly threaten, but they made it clear they would act if anyone interfered.”
“This is my fault,” Bruce stated. “I never realized the pic of me and Percy circulating included you and Zaza.”
“Turns out they were after Zaza all along,” whispered Nicky.
“I’m sorry.” Bruce’s apology emerged on a gravelly note. “I fucked up. I should have never left either of you alone.”
“This isn’t your fault. We both knew Joseph was looking for us.
I just never expected he’d find us so quick.
” Nicky began sobbing. “My poor baby. What if he hurts her? She must be so frightened.” The tears transitioned to a growl.
“That bastard. How dare he pretend to show an interest in Zaza when he could never be bothered before.”
“He won’t have her for long. I will find Zaza and bring her back to you. And once she’s safe, I’m going to make sure that fucker never comes near either of you again.”
I loved the deadly promise in that claim. I totally approved, although this couldn’t have occurred at a worse time. I was on the cusp of molting and wanted nothing more than to nap, however, the tiny human had to be saved.
As Bruce peppered Nicky with questions— “What does Joseph drive? Where would he stay if he wasn’t heading home right away?
Does he own any properties nearby? When you visited the chalet, did you go anywhere else?
”—I wanted to tell them to both calm down.
They kept forgetting the obvious. Something so basic even a dragon could see it.
Apparently, their panic blinded them so I ended up blurting, “You do realize the miscreant is going to use Zaza as leverage to get Nicky back in his clutches?”
Silence descended in the front seat.
Nicky broke it. “Percy’s most likely right. Joseph knows I’ll do anything to protect Zaza, including return to him.”
“You can’t go back,” Bruce barked. “You know he’ll beat you for daring to leave.”
“I’m aware I’ll be punished. I’ll heal. I always do.”
“Not if he kills you,” Bruce snapped.
“What other choice do I have?” she murmured softly. “I can’t abandon Zaza.”
“We won’t. I will get her back, Nicky. I just need to know where the bastard is hiding and then I’ll take care of him.”
“No. I won’t lose you, too,” Nicky wailed.
“Have a little faith,” Bruce replied. “Taking out the enemy is what I’m good at.”
“Only if you can find him. Joseph could be anywhere,” she reminded.
“Do you know his cell number?”
“Yes, why?”
“Because I’m going to track his phone.”
“You can do that?” Nicky asked with surprise.
“Not me, but I just so happen to have a buddy who owes me a favor. I’ll give him a shout soon as we’re checked in.”
“Checked in to where?” Nicky asked. “Where are you taking us? This isn’t the road to the chalet.”
“The chalet’s compromised, meaning it’s best we stay elsewhere for the moment.”
We ended up at a hotel away from the main resorts. It took him a few minutes to check in, during which time Nicky sobbed quietly. It bothered me, but at the same time, I didn’t know what to say. It wasn’t as if I could swoop to the rescue, especially not in my current lethargic state.
Once Bruce returned with a room key, he had me tuck into the duffel bag before carrying me inside.
Soon as he unzippered, I crawled out and immediately found a comfy spot to curl up in.
The couch. Nicky noticed my shivering as I entered the intense part of my shedding—and expanding—and threw a blanket over me.
I appreciated it, especially given her current state of emotion.
In the grips of my own trauma, I only partially listened as Bruce made a call to his friend. Nicky sat beside me, shaking, pale. If she weren’t human, I’d have wondered if she’d be splitting her skin too.
It took less time than expected for Bruce to get a location.
“We’re in luck,” he grunted. “The fucker’s actually not that far.”
“I don’t know if you going after Joseph is a good idea,” Nicky stated in a tight voice. “What if Zaza gets hurt in the crossfire?”
Bruce knelt in front of Nicky and grabbed her hands. “The whole point of a sniper is to minimize close-quarter fighting. All I have to do is pick off Joseph and his goons one by one. Once they’re handled, I can retrieve Zaza.”
“Promise?” A tremulous query that had tears brimming again. The woman possessed an obscene amount of the salty fluid.
“I’ll die before I return without her.”
He’d better prevail. I still had need of him.
There were a few more whispered promises along with some kissing noises before Bruce departed.
Not that I really noticed. The molt was upon me and I slept.