Page 39 of Ethan's Command

The description matched the vehicle from the school. Ethan cursed under his breath. Whoever had taken Liam had planned this well.

“Stay still,” he said. “We’ll get you help. Did they make you call the school and say you were sick?”

Harry started to shake his head but winced. “Email from…computer. Tried…stop them but—” He moved his hand and that’s when Ethan realized two of the man’s fingers were broken.

Brooklyn had stepped away to call for help and then appeared in the doorway, her eyes wide with fear.

“Is he okay?” she asked, her voice trembling.

“He’ll be alright.” Ethan had no idea if Harry would make it. The head injury was obviously more severe than it looked, but telling Brooklyn that wouldn’t help. “But we need to get him to a hospital. And we need to move fast.” Again, he wanted to say something reassuring but what could he say? The reality was the kidnappers, most likely the Yakuza, had Liam and knew their time was limited before everyone realized he was gone. None of it boded well for Liam. He was on the clock too. If they didn’t find him in time, the Yakuza would kill him. Ethan knew he had to make it in time. He could not let that little boy die.

CHAPTER 15

Brooklyn sat stifflyin Ethan’s truck as they sped toward Dave’s Café. The low growl of the engine matched the tension humming in her chest. She stared out the window, her mind racing as she tried to piece together the puzzle of Liam’s disappearance. The scenery blurred past, but she didn’t register any of it—her thoughts were trapped in the memory of Tuesday.

She’d gone to the café to pick up Liam like she had dozens of times before. But now, as she thought back, an uneasy feeling crept over her. Who had been there that day? She pictured the café in her mind.

Dave had been behind the counter, his apron spackled with flour as he worked the espresso machine. He’d smiled at her as always, but had there been something off about it? She couldn’t be sure. Her focus had been on Liam, who was chatting animatedly with one of his friends at a corner table.

She’d known they were going to argue about him having to leave. He had to work on his science fair project. That’s what she’d been thinking about at the time. His science fair project. It seemed ridiculous now, but it had seemed so important at the time.

Then there was Lily, one of the baristas. Brooklyn’s jaw tightened at the thought of her. Lily was always flirting with every man who walked through the door, her bright laugh and exaggerated smiles impossible to miss. Brooklyn had dismissed her behavior as harmless before, but now she wondered. Could Lily have said something to the wrong person? Given away too much information without realizing the danger? Or, more likely, she’d shared the fact the boys were there with some male who had struck her fancy, never dreaming there’d be any consequences.

“A penny for them.”

Ethan’s voice broke into her thoughts. His hands gripped the steering wheel, his knuckles tight, but his tone was calm. Reassuring. She’d been so angry when she’d come out of the bathroom this morning to find he was already gone. She ignored his call earlier but now she was so incredibly grateful that he hadn’t ignored hers. His quiet strength and reassurance helped her keep it together. Without him to lean on she was sure this would be so much harder.

“I’m trying to remember who was there when I picked up Liam on Tuesday,” Brooklyn admitted. “Everything’s blurred together, and now I’m second-guessing everything.”

Ethan nodded. “Start with what you know for sure. Who stood out?” He rubbed the back of his neck.

“Dave was there, of course,” she said, biting her lip. “And Lily. She’s always there. She flirts with everyone… maybe she said something to the wrong person? Or even called someone who asked her to keep an eye out?”

Ethan glanced over, his expression unreadable. “We’ll figure it out.” He ran a hand over his face.

Brooklyn frowned. “Are you feeling okay?” She’d been so caught up in everything that she hadn’t even noticed Ethan looked like he was uncomfortable.

“Just a headache,” he said dismissively but then winced when a truck next to them honked the horn.

“Are you sure?” Panic gripped her. She needed Ethan’s help. He couldn’t be sick. Not now.

“Ah…I was in a car accident a while ago and got a concussion. It flares up every once in a while. I’ll take something for it when we get to the café.”

“Oh my God. When did that happen?” How had she not known this? Easily, was the answer. After he hadn’t bothered to call her their one night together, she’d avoided him.

“Do you remember that huge rainstorm six months back? It happened early that morning. It had rained all night and the retiree driving the other car just didn’t see me through the drops.”

Heat flew up into her cheeks and then drained again. He was talking about the night they’d been together. The morning when she woke up to find him gone. Just like today. “Were you hurt? Other than the concussion, that is?” Sweat broke out across her back.

“No,” he said shooting her a brief smile. “I was not too far from your place actually when it happened, or so they tell me. I have no memory of it. I lost about twenty-four hours, but other than that I’m fine.”

Brooklyn wanted to scream. All this time, she’d been thinking he ghosted her, and instead, he’d been in the hospital. He didn’t recall them being together. Heat filled her cheeks again and she turned to look out the window. She’d been a royal bitch to him this entire time and he’d done nothing to deserve it.

She bit her lip, turning his words over in her mind as they pulled into the parking lot. She owed him a huge apology. She closed her eyes. Thinking about all that now wasn’t going to help. She pushed it from her mind as a detail to address after this ordeal was over.

Dave’s Café looked the same as ever, its quaint brick façade and hand-painted sign beckoning patrons inside. But today, it felt different. Menacing, almost. She shivered as she climbed out of the truck, Mojo’s leash in Ethan’s hand as the dog hopped down and trotted at his side.

The bell above the door jingled as they entered. The familiar scent of coffee and cinnamon didn’t bring the usual comfort. Dave stood behind the counter, wiping down the surface with a damp cloth. He looked up as they walked in, his face lighting up with his usual friendly grin.

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