Page 550 of Dark Love

That idiot. “Barb is safe at the moment. Marlie isn’t.”

Shock shakes his head. “What? Maddox had her in a safe house, I thought.”

“According to Maddox, she’s too smart and slipped away without him knowing.”

“That’s stupid. You need me to findher.”

“Yeah.” Before Plant makes her disappear. “Here’s the safe house address. Find her. Every minute counts.”

Shock nods and turns back to his computers.

Now all I have to do is wait for Dyce.

Tomorrow, Dahlia and I are staying in bed and not answering the phone.

Ten minutes later, my office door swings open.

“Dyce, what a surprise.” I let the sarcasm drip off my tone.

Axe steps in beside her. “Sorry, short of restraining her, we couldn’t stop her. And we didn’t—“

The exasperation on his face mimics what I’m feeling. “You did fine. Miss Locke had an appointment.”

Axe nods and leaves, closing the door behind him.

“Marlie ran.” Dyce sets her bag down on the coffee table and starts to pace. “She snuck out and ran. I thought I got through to her, but she ran.”

“Yes, I know.”

“She’s smart.”

Everyone keeps saying that.

Dyce stops and turns to face me. “Wait, how do you know?”

“Maddox called me.”

“Oh.”

I watch as emotions fly across her face as she processes what I said. Dyce doesn’t get flummoxed often, and this needs to be savored. It’s the second-best part of my day. Waking up with Dahlia in my arms will always be the best part.

“Why are you just standing there? You should be out there finding her.”

Out there? “You expect me to wander the streets looking for her?”

“Not quite wander the streets aimlessly—You have too many skills for that—but hunt her down. If we don’t find her, Plant will. And once he gets her, she’s gone. Why aren’t you doing something?”

This is Maddox’s cousin.

Dyce does good work even if she irritates the life out of you.

“Do something. A woman’s life is at stake.”

My office door slams open and Shock stalks in.

People today! “You knock.”

Shock freezes. “Sorry, I didn’t think you had company.”

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