Page 58 of Daddy Devious

“Judging by the look on your face, you haven’t found her.” Evander’s tone is grim, matching his ever-present scowl.

“No. Tell me you brought men with you.”

“I did,” he says with a curt nod. “I have them out searching the grounds in case she managed to slip outside. Don’t worry, Maxwell. We’ll find her.”

“It’s getting dark.”

The corner of Evander’s mouth twitches. “It’s hours still to dusk, Maxwell. Your Little girl will be safe in your arms by dinnertime, I promise.”

Before I can snap at him that he can’t possiblyknowthat, a sound reaches my ears and I hold a hand up. “Did you hear that?”

“I did.” Yanking his phone from his pocket, Evander taps out a message. “It’s coming from inside the house somewhere. I’m calling my men back.”

“Victoria!” Desperation tears at me as I run, shoving past my friend, the need to have my Little girl in my arms blinding me to anything else. “Victoria!”

Pausing in the hallway, I listen. And I hear it again, still faint but a bit louder now. “Daddy!”

“The east wing!” Caleb shouts, running at me from the opposite direction, pointing toward the curtain hiding the work still being done on the other half of the house.

Now it’s hope and fear both beating at me as I head for the curtain. Hope, because I’m one step closer to finding my sweet Little Victoria Rose.

And fear because with every scream, a hundred images of her, hurt and bleeding fill my mind, each more gruesome than the last.

“Victoria!” I roar, standing in the middle of a room, or at least the bones of a room. Cocking my head, I listen again, my heart leaping at the sound of her screams, so much closer now than they have been.

“Daddy! Daddy I’m in here!”

I spin around, my eyes locking on the closed door behind me as it rattles. Relief floods me, nearly driving me to my knees. “Victoria! I’m right here, baby.”

“The door is stuck! Daddy, please, I don’t like it in here!” Panic and fear have made her voice even smaller, younger than usual, and the sound of it pierces my heart.

Sure enough, when I jiggle the handle, it sticks, keeping me from rescuing my Little girl. Just as I’m about to kick the door in, Evander appears with a small case in his hand.

“Back up, Maxwell. I’ll get her out.”

It feels like an eternity, watching him fiddle with the doorknob. I might have been impressed with what are clearly excellent lock-picking skills if I wasn’t so fucking terrified.

And then, finally, the door springs open and Victoria tumbles out, tears streaming down her cheeks as she falls to her knees. “Daddy!” she cries, reaching for me as I step in to scoop her up in my arms.

“I’m right here, little one.” I can barely speak past the tightness in my throat. “Daddy’s right here. You’re safe.”

“I’m sorry!” she wails, wrapping herself around me as the sobs wrack her body. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’ll never be naughty again! Please don’t send me away!”

At her words, the conversation with Catharina comes rushing back and I clutch Victoria even more tightly against me. “Shh, little one. You aren’t going anywhere.”

“But-but-but?—”

“Hush, Victoria Rose. We can talk when you’ve calmed down a bit.”

Letting out a shuddering breath, she lets her head fall against my shoulder. “Yes, Daddy.”

“There’s a good girl.” Turning, I send Evander a grateful look before carrying Victoria toward the entryway. “What would you say to a slice of Chef’s chocolate cake and some cold milk?”

“I don’t deserve cake.” Her voice is so painfully pitiful I can’t help but smile. “I was naughty.”

“Are you really going to argue with your Daddy right now?” I put as much steel in my words as I can muster, and the question earns me a heavy sigh.

“No, Daddy.”

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