Page 118 of The Reborn

“She took everything from us,” he continued, the sound of water splashing making me rush on. “She took everything from me!”

“I know,” she said. “You’re right—”

Before she could say more, I stepped out into the light beyond the path, my eyes temporarily blinded by the sun on the water, so much like my dream, it was startling. “Christoph!” I shouted, making them both turn to me in surprise.

But I was the one shocked into silence.

Because it wasn’t Christoph wading out into the water with my terrified daughter in his arms.

Thirty

Justin

“Where’s Olivia?”

I glanced up from the security plans on Kade’s computer screen to her mother’s concerned face. “She went to her room to clean up.” I suddenly realized that had been a while ago. “Maybe she decided to lie down for a bit?”

She was shaking her head before I could finish my words. “She’s not in her room. She’s not anywhere in the house.”

I snapped up straight. “What do you mean?”

“Just that,” she said as her husband and Camden rushed up behind her.

“Her car’s gone,” Camden said.

“What?” I bolted to the front window and peered outside to see for myself. Sure enough, her little blue sedan was no longer in its spot next to my truck.

She’d sneaked out on me and gone... where? More importantly, why?

“Mr. Ashford?” The lead detective walked over. “Is something going on?”

“I have no fucking idea,” I said, my cool very much rattled.

I turned to find Kade standing behind the laptop, his expression silently asking me how he could help.

I yanked out my cell phone and dialed her number. It rolled to voicemail.

“Baby, it’s me. Where are you? Call me back. Please.” I did not care that I sounded desperate in front of all of these people.

I texted her a similar message, then called again. Still no answer.

“Damn it!” I raked a frustrated hand through my hair, desperate and unable to think for the first time in my life. I was no longer professional, I was all man who was lost in that moment, his woman and little girl’s lives on the line. I needed to get it together, but I was having a hard time grasping that line.

Her father turned to the detective to explain the situation while Kade approached and pulled me aside.

“Justin.” He shook me by using my given name. “Think. Where would she go?”

“I have no idea, man. She wouldn’t leave here unless it was for Elizabeth.”

“You think he contacted her? Arranged a meeting without the cops or something?”

If he had, she probably would’ve gone along with that, if she thought it was the only way to guarantee Elizabeth’s safety. But why wouldn’t she have found a way to tell me first? Surely she knew I’d protect her.

“Maybe. How long to get her call history—wait!” I pulled out my phone again and opened the app that would show me her current location, praying she hadn’t turned it off.

She hadn’t.

“Got her.”

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