Page 14 of Marked

“Thank you. I appreciate that,” she conceded. At least he hadn’t tried to defend Willow. Sophia would tolerate a lot of things, but his calling Bella a liar wasn’t one of them.

Thankfully, Bart knew better.

“All right. Tell Bella I’ll FaceTime her before bed.”

“’Kay.” She wouldn’t bother telling him about the hotel yet. She’d save that conversation for another day, when she had more energy.

They hung up and Sophia rocked in her chair. It was 3:00 p.m., which meant Bella’s sitter, Natalie, would have picked her up from preschool by now.

Fatigue pulsed her facial muscles. She needed sleep more than she needed her next breath, but she’d have to leave work early, get their belongings, and find a place to stay for the next few nights. Taking Bella to the apartment first wasn’t ideal. Not until this was settled.

She reached for her phone to tell Natalie to keep Bella out of the apartment, but a text was already on the screen.

Hey, I have Bella at the park. Do you still want to pick her up from my place this afternoon or should we wait at your place?

The message had been sent an hour ago. Sophia quickly typed a response.

Sorry, got tied up at work. I’m leaving a bit early and will pick up Bella from your place at 4:30. See you in a bit.

After sending the text, she shut down her computer, pushed up from her chair, and gathered her things. In her head, she flicked through the hotel options close to Bella’s preschool and landed on one that had a great pool with waterslides.

Every muscle in her body vehemently rejected the idea, but it’d make Bella’s day. Pizza and waterslides and then maybe she could get Bella to bed before 7:30 p.m.

She locked her office door, waved at a couple of coworkers on her way out, and stepped into the parking lot behind the station. The warm sun hit her face as she walked to her car. Her legs wobbled with every step even though she’d opted to wear flats over her usual high-heels.

Her encounter with Cole the previous night had done a lot more than shake her mentally. It’d rattled her soul. She’d never felt that vulnerable. That violated. She was paying the price physically as well. Her muscles ached as if she’d just done a HIIT workout, despite the scuffle being relatively minor.

Sophia opened her car door, tossed her purse inside, and slid onto the leather. A shrill ring sounded from her purse, and she stretched her arm to fish her phone from the pocket.

Natalie.

“Hey,” she answered.

“Ohmigod. Ohmigod.” Natalie’s panicked voice filled Sophia’s ears.

Angst squeezed Sophia’s gut. The key hovered at the ignition, frozen in her hand. “Natalie? What’s wrong?”

A sharp wail came next. “She’s gone! Bella! I don’t know what happened. One minute she was on the slide and—”

Panic rumbled through her body, but she needed to do her best to stay calm and remain sharp. “Where are you?” She jammed the key in the ignition and started the car.

Natalie gave the name of the park—one of Bella’s favorites.

Slamming the gear shifter to reverse, Sophia raced out of her parking spot. “Have you looked everywhere? Bella makes a lot of friends, but she wouldn’t stray.”

Natalie’s broken gasps came through the receiver. “I have everyone looking, Sophia. All the parents are searching. It’s like she just—she just vanished.”

Sophia pulled her car onto the road and sped toward the park, her brain steering the vehicle on autopilot.

No.

There had to be a mistake. Not missing. Not her Bella.

Police statistics hammered through her mind. The longer it took to find Bella, the slimmer the chance she’d be found alive.

Her head spun, a myriad of scenarios saturating her imagination. Tears blurred her vision and her heart pumped against her chest, driving her blood pressure to a breaking point.

Bella’s scared little face filled her mind’s eye. She was probably terrified. Possibly injured. All she’d want was her mommy and—

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