Page 87 of Alpha Bait

"What do you mean?"

My hands trembled again. The rush I'd been expecting hadn't come and I grew impatient to leave the office and find out Jamal's true location.

"I suspect it is also about my daughter."

She threw the words out there suspiciously. I gave her nothing to hold onto.

"Your daughter did not deserve to die," I said, hoping that my words would do nothing to betray my true feelings.

"I heard the rumors. I heard what they said about your brother and Indie."

"These rumors were unfounded," I growled.

She smiled then, a sparkle in her eyes but now glowed the color of blood oranges.

"But there was a bit of truth to them, wasn't there?"

"I don't have a damn clue what you mean," I growled.

I must've appeared more flustered than I realized because her eyes glimmered with a recognition that indicated I had betrayed my position.

"Spare my son, I will help you find her. I will prove that she is alive, Richard."

I wanted to believe her. I wanted to take Gail up on her offer and believe that somewhere out there, Indie lived. I wanted to believe that we would get a chance to see each other again. I wanted to believe that our family feud would come to an end and there would be a chance at happily ever after.

The war between us had grown so bad that I couldn't believe that such naïve fantasies would ever come true. Despite Gail Holloway's promises, I needed more to hold onto the hope that Indie lived.

"I'm sorry Gail. I can't do that. I'm going to leave today knowing that you will probably tell your son that I have come here. This will make it much harder to kill him, but rest assured the next time I see him will be the very last time."

I tried to sound tough like she hadn't come close to changing my mind.

"And there's nothing I can do to convince you otherwise?"

"No," I replied

"If my daughter is alive, how do you think she will react when she finds out you have killed her brother?"

"Leave me to fight my own demons," I replied.

I left the office and walked back to my aunt Bryn's place.

Jamal could wait another day. I didn't worry about finding him again. I'd find him even if it took ten years. It wouldn't be that long. I could sense that.

And while I could not admit it to Gail Holloway, she had given me the faintest glimmer of hope that perhaps, my love was still alive.

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