Page 111 of Silver Linings

“We need to find her. I can’t,” he swallowed thickly. “I can’t do this without Lily. I can’t raise Sage without her.”

“You’re not going to. We’re going to figure it out.”

Hank stood in the doorway of the small room.

“Lily would never leave our daughter behind, Hank. Never.”

“I believe you. I’m going to call this in and get my deputies out there looking for them, okay?”

“I want to see if I can track Lily or Sloane through their phones, but I have to be at my computer to do it.” Gage looked at the door.

“Go. The sooner we locate them, the sooner we can get them back.”

“Sage looks fine, Reap,” Stone said as Gage left the office.

“Thank God.” Gunner held her back against his chest and kissed the top of her head.

He turned to Stone as they walked outside. “Take Sage. Give her to Mae for me and help Hank with whatever he needs. I need…I need a second.”

Stone nodded, taking Sage before he left with Hank.

He couldn’t breathe.

Not without her.

Not without their family being whole.

He was going to lose her.

He was going to find her lifeless body.

Or he wasn’t going to find her at all.

The Santoros had sent someone to warn him.

He knew this could happen.

And he still let Lily out of his sight.

He didn’t protect her.

He didn’t keep her safe.

He couldn’t fucking breathe.

Gunner stumbled past the door to Montgomery Defense and down the small alleyway that led to the back parking lot. His body leaned into the brick before his legs gave out.

He didn’t know how much time passed as the tears fell down his face. All he knew was that it felt like his whole heart had been ripped from his chest and he still couldn’t fucking breathe.

A hand pressed down on his shoulder. “Deep breaths, buddy. You’re no good to her if you spiral out now.”

He wiped the tears from his eyes and looked up at Hawk. “She’s my everything. I can’t lose her. I can’t raise our daughter without her. I fucking can’t.”

“You won’t have to. We’re going to get your girl back, and Sloane, too. But I need you to be one hundred percent focused here, Reap. You need to cry for a few more minutes so that can happen? Let it out. You need to punch someone to get your mind clear? I’m right here. But you gotta do whatever you need to right now because once Tracker finds them, you’re the biggest asset to getting them back. You going to be ready for that?”

“Of course I will be.” He stood, taking in a deep breath and forcing his fears into the darkest shadows of his mind. “I lost it for a second, but I’ve got it under control.”

“Actually, you lost it for about ten minutes there, big guy. And as much as I want to tell you I came out here for emotional support and to give you a big hug, I actually came to tell you that the fuckers who are trying to get custody of Sage just walked into the office and they’re demanding that Hank gives her to them.”

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