Page 89 of Stolen Love

His gaze lands on West and his jaw drops. He places a hand to the middle of his chest. “Well, this is… hold me, baby Jesus, I think I’m seeing triple.”

West assesses Adira with a critical eye. He takes the queen in from head to toe. “You must be Adira.”

Adira arches one perfect eyebrow. “Uh, do I know you?”

“Dizzy talks about you,” West says. “I’m West.”

“That girl better bring back my bestie,” Adira says before he tips his head toward Nathaniel. “You. Explain.”

“We read him wrong,” I explain. As the night has progressed I’ve become more certain that he has been trying to do what he says. “This whole time he’s been trying to keep Ivy safe.”

“And looking for evidence to prove Nicole killed Richard, amongst other things,” Nathaniel adds.

“Well, I guess he can stay then.” Adira prances past him and drops his oversized bag on the bed. “I have news.”

We all grow silent in anticipation.

“Marty’s editor has started a hotline to gather any and all information about the Hawthornes. They’re offering a reward for legitimate information. And the rest of the media outlets are scrambling to be the first to find the truth.” Reaching inside the bag, he withdraws a tablet. “Her boyfriend and the team at Hollywood Juice are fact-checking every tidbit that comes in.”

West’s features have darkened with every word. “This is why I tried to keep Dizzy away.”

“Rebel, call them and tell them we’re sending Nathaniel to help fact-check.” I turn to the lawyer. “You know the history better than anyone.”

He nods and walks to the door. “You find her…”

“I’ll let you know.”

The door closes behind him.

“Okay, we might have a lead.” Adira does something on the tablet. “I have the location data from Richard’s last days.”

We crowd around him as he pulls up Google Maps and starts at the top of the list of places Richard visited. A hotel. A bank. Restaurants.

“None of these mean anything to me.” Adira chews on his glossy lip. “These are places he would go anywhere he went.”

“We don’t even know where Dizzy would take Ivy.” I clasp my hands behind my head as I walk away. “We’re losing time.”

“There.” West points at a screen. He grabs his jacket and shrugs it on. “I know where she’s going.”

“Where?” I grab Rebel’s keys from his hand.

“Poppy told us stories when we were growing up… they always started in a pink doll house. That house.”

Chapter Thirty-Nine

Ivy

“Wake up.” Dizzy shakes me by both shoulders. “We’re home.”

“Where?” I smack my lips. My mouth is dry and my tongue feels too big.

“Home.” I look around as she drags me across the back seat until my feet touch the pebbled driveway.

In front of us a three story pink doll house towers over an emerald lawn. Pretty lights cast a glow across the yard. A pink stone fountain sits in the middle of the driveway, and a stone wall surrounds the property as far as my eye can see.

Through the gates I catch a glimpse of desert and rock. “This is the house in your story?”

“In our story.” She crouches in front of me. “I’m going to take off the tape. Promise not to try and kick me, or I’ll have to hurt you. And I don’t want to do that.”

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