Page 19 of Beautiful Vows

“Fucking hell!” I explode. Anger consumes me like a massive wave of fury. “You claimed you’d look after her.”

“You went fucking underground. Don’t you dare put this on me,” Rafe retorts, pushing back against my accusation.

I take a deep breath, struggling to rein in my emotions. Blaming each other won’t bring her back. Lia is missing, and I have to act. “Where was she last seen?” My voice is much quieter but still laced with urgency.

“We don’t know yet. Cade is still looking through the cameras. He’s checking her apartment again,” Rafe replies.

“I’ll be there in ten minutes,” I state firmly. “We have to find her, no matter what it takes.”

“Hopefully.” Rafe sighs.

“Get Cade looking over the street cameras around her apartment.” Just in case she realizes she’s got cameras in her home and done something about it. “And also check the garage at her apartment. We know she has a motorbike hidden there.”

“He’s already doing it,” he replies.

Cade being on the task brings a glimmer of hope. If anyone can find her, he can.

“Good,” I respond, my voice strong. “We can’t waste any more time.”

Silence hangs heavily for a moment. The situation is dire.

“I’m heading over now.” I grab my car keys and leave my apartment. “Keep me updated with any leads.”

Fifteen minutes later, I'm watching Cade as he sits at the computer. His finger scrolls down the touch pad.

“She left this in plain sight,” Rafe says, holding up the tiny bugging device we left in her cell. “But hid her phone.”

"Fuck! How the hell did she know?" I hiss as we watch the footage of her in her bedroom before she leaves the apartment.

She wipes tears away before she places her hand on her belly. “It’s just us now. I’m not letting you grow up among people who only wanted you born for their selfish reasons.”

I squeeze my eyes together. Opening them wide. “We need to fucking find her before she gets herself killed.”

"She's just going to hide," Rafe says. "She's scared and vulnerable right now. She was shot, for fuck's sake. I get it. She wants to protect her babies."

“She was better protected here. There must be another reason she left.” I try to keep an accusation out of my tone.

“She’s going to kill Antonio, Eduardo, and your father,” Cade says as he watches me closely.

His words take the air from my lungs.

I suddenly exhale. “How the hell do you know that?” I say through gritted teeth.

“Because she’s already killed Leonardo and Giuseppe,” Cade says. "I probably should have mentioned it, but I promised her."

"You fucking promised her!" I yell. "She's going around killing Syndicate leaders and you think that's something you should've kept to yourself? What the hell, Cade. What's she fucking doing to you?"

"She threatened to kill me."

"She did?"

He shrugs his shoulders. "Well, she implied…"

I nod. I don't even question him. It makes so much sense.

And I hate the jolt of lust zipping through my veins, causing my dick to come alive at the thought of my wife being a fucking badass and getting rid of her enemies.

“Have you found her?” I ask half an hour later.

---