Page 124 of Packed in the Fire house

“I’m Officer Hilton. Look, I’ll be frank with you, Mr. Landry. We received a call from Gregory Frankbert’s lawyer this morning. They made it clear that he is the father of the child and has rights. If he is the biological father, this isn't a kidnapping.”

Isn’t a kidnapping?

Did he seriously have the fucking audacity to say that?

My blood boiled with rage, and I had to restrain myself, otherwise I was going to launch myself at him and make him regret those words.

Calling the police beforehand seemed like just the kind of underhanded tactic Gregory would use. Had he thrown his money around to ensure he got what he wanted?

“Luka is my child, not his.”

Officer Hilton shrugged. “I think this is a civil matter for the family courts and not a police matter.”

I stared at him, utterly dumbfounded. “Someone that wasn't permitted to remove a child from a daycare removed a child from the daycare, and you don't think it's a police matter?” I asked, unable to comprehend the level of stupidity coming out of this idiot's mouth.

If it hadn’t been for Rune standing next to me, his hand on my shoulder holding me back, I probably would have launched myself at him.

It would have been worth a night in prison.

“Go home, Mr. Landry. We’ll be in touch once we’ve spoken to Gregory. You’re blowing this way out of proportion. We are looking into it, which is more than we should do at this point, honestly. The Frankberts are a good family, and you should think twice before falsely accusing them of such things.”

I needed to take a step back, or I was going to punch him in his stupid face.

Pacing the kitchen, I wasn’t interested in food, nor did I want to stay still.

Pack law was crystal clear—Luka was ours, and Gregory had no claim whatsoever. Officer Fuck Face was either prejudiced against packs or wanted in with Georgy’s rich-ass family.

Either way, the police assistance looked like it was going to be minimal.

My eyes wandered over to the back door, where several of Luka’s little shoes sat. Even though he was hardly toddling around, Sunny had bought him many pairs.

His backpack hung from a peg. Cocking my head to the side, I looked at the backpack in confusion. “Sunny!” I shouted, unable to look away from the shoes.

“Yes?” She padded into the kitchen. Her eyes were red-rimmed and puffy from crying, and all her usual color had left her face.

“Why is Luka’s backpack here?” I asked, pointing at the back door.

Sunny looked at the backpack, then to me. “He took his new one. The one you got for him?” She spoke calmly, almost devoid of emotion. It was horrible to see. She had admitted she knewthat Gregory wouldn’t hurt Luka, but that didn’t make us feel any better.

Luka was ours, and he needed to be home and in his mother’s arms.

“What do you mean?”

“It was just sitting on the kitchen counter this morning, so I assumed it was for him and sent him to daycare with it.”

Relief, pure, unadulterated relief, washed over me.

“Sunny, you fucking genius!” I shouted in glee, pulling her into my arms and spinning her around.

“W-what,” she stammered, looking at me in confusion as I grinned like a lunatic, and my pack mates trailed into the kitchen, alerted by all the noise.

“The backpack is special. I didn't tell you, because I was planning to give it to you over the next day or two. Sunny, that backpack contains a tracker!” I exclaimed, holding her by the upper arms.

Several emotions flitted across her face. Panic, worry, and hope. “W-what do you mean?”

“It's this online company that makes special backpacks and shoes for kids. You can always track the location of the backpack via your phone! If he took that backpack to daycare today, we can track it!”

“Why didn't you tell us?” Rune asked, his face cautiously optimistic.

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