Page 29 of Marked

Her blood turned cold. There was no way word would have gotten out that she’d secured a mole within Lionsgate Kinship. She’d made contact with the person only a few days ago—right before her planned drink at O’Talley’s Tavern. The night Cole murdered Arson.

All the moisture left her mouth as she weighed her words. Giving up the informant would crush the little progress she’d made on the case over the last few months. While many of the ringleaders were in jail awaiting trial, there were more players in the child-trafficking sector who needed busting.

The informant would be killed, no question about it. But at the end of the day, it was Bella’s life on the line and that was all that really mattered. “Yes,” she said. “I know what you’re talking about.”

“Good. Maybe you’ll be more cooperative than your daughter—”

“Please. Let me speak to her,” she said again, desperation gripping her soul, the ache so deep that she’d give anything just to know that Bella was breathing.

Cole’s hand closed around her elbow, easing the shakes that were overtaking her body. She didn’t even try to prevent herself from leaning into his heat. He was the only solid thing in this nightmare right now, and as royally fucked up as that was, she needed to cling to whatever kept her focused.

“I want his name.”

“And you’ll get it. But I want my daughter returned first, and before we can agree to a trade-off, I need proof that she’s alive.”

“Fine.” There was a rustling, and then the sound of a door opening.

Sophia squeezed her eyes shut and covered her lips with her fingers.

“Go away!” Bella’s scream reached her ears, and all the air was suctioned from her lungs.

She’s alive.

“Say hi to your mom.” The man’s clipped, angry voice directed at Bella was enough to set Sophia’s teeth.

“Mommy!” Bella’s helpless cry tore at her heart.

“Bella, yes, it’s me.” Anguish swelled inside her throat, and she fought to keep her emotions in check. Bella would sense her energy. Nevertheless, her voice pitched on the words. “Baby, are you hurt?”

“My hands are tied up. And they had tape on my mouth.”

Rage attacked Sophia’s senses. She locked her kneecaps and pressed her thighs together so she wouldn’t sink to the floor.

Now that she knew Bella was alive, she could do this. Had to do this. She’d barter for her daughter’s life.

“I’ll ask them to leave the tape off. I’m coming for you, sweetheart. We’ll be together soon.”

“When?” Bella wailed. “I want you. I want to go home.” The last word was dragged out on a helpless moan, and Bella’s destroyed bedroom entered Sophia’s mind.

Home wasn’t the same now that Bella’s space—their space—had been tarnished. But she’d do whatever necessary to bring happiness and normalcy to Bella’s life again.

“Soon, honey. I need to make a deal with the man who has you. Just try to be patient and keep to yourself, okay?” It was the nicest way she could ask Bella to keep her temper in check. She was a strong-willed child. Although she was likely scared out of her skin, she had no concept of what harm the people who had her could do.

“Okay,” Bella said, her voice small.

“That’s enough.”

Bella let out a grunt of annoyance. Sophia pictured the man ripping the phone from her daughter’s little hand. Her bound hands.

A wave of disbelief hit her once again. But now, there was hope. She could end this nightmare if she played her cards right.

“I want the name and photo of your informant. Bring that to Clayton’s Cliff at 10:00 p.m. tomorrow. Just you. If we see another cop or a squad car anywhere nearby, we’ll put a bullet in her fuckin’ head.” He hung up.

The phone went dead in her hand and she stood still, her brain working at warp speed. Tomorrow night? That was too far away. Almost twenty-four hours, for God’s sake.

Cole took the phone from her hand. “You did well.”

He must have taken his palm from her elbow at some point because her skin no longer held the warmth of his contact.

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