Page 11 of Vengeful Lies

No matter what had gone on in his life, he’d always had an amazing family at his back.

Gabriella had no one.

Well, she used to have no one. But now she had him and his family.

Before he even realized what he was doing, his feet carried him over to the bed and he snatched up the ragdoll and held it and Essie’s teddy against his chest as he headed back into the hall.

There were so many things he wished he’d said to Gabriella when he had the chance. Had he ever made sure she knew how much he valued her and what she brought to Essie’s life? Had he ever actually said the words to her rather than assuming she knew? Had he made sure that she understood she wasn't just his employee, she was a part of his family, and his daughter loved her like a mother?

Had he ever let on that the feelings he knew she had for him but never let on that he was aware of weren't as unreciprocated as he allowed her to believe?

That one he knew the answer to.

He hadn't.

He’d always been content to let her think that it was one-sided, that he wasn't even aware that she was infatuated withhim, because if he acknowledged it aloud, he might have to give into his feelings.

That was something he couldn’t allow himself to do.

He’d already lost one woman he loved, and he had a little girl, letting himself get involved with someone else wasn't on the table.

Not even the woman he’d fallen asleep thinking about more nights than he should, who’d starred in more dreams than he could count, who loved his daughter like her own.

It made him a jerk, but it also kept him safe.

Safe, but as he held Gabriella’s doll beside his daughter’s teddy, he knew he’d also cost both of them a chance at happiness.

September 2nd

5:06 A.M.

Literally, the only reason she wasn't panicking was because of the little girl sleeping restlessly in her arms.

Without Essie’s presence and her desire to do her best to keep the child as calm as possible, Gabriella was under no doubt that she would be a sobbing, hysterical mess.

But she couldn’t fall apart.

Because if she fell apart then Essie would follow.

Yesterday, after Essie’s trip to the bathroom, they’d been locked up in an empty room. There were no windows, no furniture, nothing for them to do but sit and wait. For what she wasn't sure yet. They’d been taken for a reason. Well, Essie had, she’d been taken more than likely to provide a littleentertainment for the men who had abducted them, but so far, no one had asked anything of her.

No food had been delivered, and she would have been tempted to think they’d been left alone and all the men had gone, only when Essie next decided she needed the bathroom, she’d hammered on the door and called out, just to see what would happen. Her calls had been answered, and she’d been allowed to take the little girl to the toilet again.

This time, she’d gone as well, and they’d both drunk some water from the sink because she wasn't sure if the men were going to feed them. It turned out to be a good idea because no one had dropped off any food or water for them.

Since she was wearing her watch, Gabriella knew they were approaching the twenty-hour mark of when they’d been taken. Honestly, she’d expected something more to have happened by now.

Wasn't the point of kidnapping his daughter supposed to send Cade crazy and make him compliable?

Cade.

Her heart ached for him.

He’d already lost so much and now his little girl was in danger.

It was her fault. She should have listened when he said it was too dangerous for Essie to be out and about. She’d been too focused on trying to make sure Essie didn't realize what was going on and didn't develop fears and anxieties because of being locked away.

What she should have done was trust Cade.

---