Page 47 of Her Redeemed Protector

“And say what?”

“Make something up about your business with him. Keep it casual. And for God’s sake, don’t let on that Kayla’s missing.”

“Okay. I’ll call him right now.”

“Hold on, not yet,” Huxley commands. “Wait until we’re with you at your house.”

I can tell he doesn’t trust Fabian to handle the call without making things worse.

Soon, Hux is on the phone with his partner Chase Samson, a Red Mark contractor based in Bozeman. Chase’s bass-like voice fills the car, calm and methodical. “I’ll sweep the perimeter,” he asserts, indicating that he’s already on the property. “The place’s massive, Comet. We might have to call in reinforcements.”

Comet.I remember the other nickname his comrades at Red Mark coined for him. It sounds sharp and menacing. I’m glad I get to call him Hux.

Huxley’s next words are decisive, setting a time limit before involving the authorities. I nod, whether out of genuine concurrence or reflex, I can’t tell. My mind is mired in worry.

“Appreciate the help, Hux,” I murmur.

“For a child, and for you, Sav, always,” he responds without missing a beat.

I find myself pondering aloud, “To think a business squabble could lead to this. Does the guy despise Fabian enough to take a child?”

“Money is the root of evil.”

I counter, “It’s not just money. I think it’s humans themselves who are the real root of evil. Desperation, needs, envy—these emotions can drive anyone to commit unthinkable acts.”

Huxley nods thoughtfully. “Our best hope is to find Kayla before we even need to untangle the kidnapper’s motives. Fornow, we’ll keep an eye on Mr. Monterey. But we deal in evidence, not speculation.”

Changing course, I express my curiosity. “I can’t wait to meet Chase. What’s he like?”

A chuckle warms his response. “Chase is more ‘Samson’ than anything else,” he jests with a glimmer in his eye.

“Ah, so less swift-footed cheetah and more formidable grizzly?” I suggest, trying to draw a mental image of Chase Samson.

His smile persists. “Precisely. Though remember, a grizzly can charge at speeds up to forty miles per hour.” Our laughter melds together. “The man’s a retired Navy SEAL. Sailed the globe solo before anchoring down in Bozeman.”

“Sounds like a real adventurer.”

“He is.” His smile wanes as if something troubling has just struck him. “Now, tell me about this Juliet. Kayla’s mother?”

My lips curl without humor. Juliet and I have always been like oil and water, yet beneath her overt unfriendliness, I sense uncharted layers. “Juliet’s the type to nurse a grudge along with a bottle. But now she’s in rehab, probably eyeing the custody odds. As Fab told me, she went all out, picking one of the top-notch clinics in California.”

“How about Fabian? Does he care for Kayla? Truly care?”

“He’s an insufferable son of a bitch. But Kayla is his world. He’ll do anything for her. Not always wisely, though,” I admit, remembering his manipulative tactics.

Hux understands the subtext. “Does Kayla see you as a mother figure?”

“I’d like to think of myself more as a guardian angel than a replacement. Kayla deserves that much,” I say, sincerity in my voice.

Hux makes a turn, steering us smoothly into the more affluent sector of Bozeman. The streets here are lined withhouses that appear like resorts surrounded by lush landscapes.

While observing the grandeur, I reflect aloud, “Honestly, though, the court’s decision to grant Fabian custody for now was a relief.”

“But he clearly thinks his wife’s chance of overturning that decision is high.”

“Juliet remains a formidable contender. She’s Kayla’s mother, after all, and the court tends to take that into consideration,” I reason. “Particularly if she parades her newfound sobriety. Besides, she can marshal a legal brigade to fight for Kayla. Coming from a wealthy background, Fabian’s downfall and their divorce haven’t touched her.”

Hux’s nod carries a wealth of understanding. He’s seen enough of humanity’s spectrum in this line of work, every shade of love and neglect. And when I share my unease about Juliet’s lack of maternal affection, his frown tells me his protective instincts have flared as fiercely as mine.

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