Page 54 of Knot Letting Go

“You’re not claimed, are you?” Lorenzo scrutinized me, and no matter I turned my face from him, determined not to say a thing, he didn’t need me to. “You’re not. Excellent. Whoever the Alpha is that triggered such a beautiful Omega and let her out of his sight should feel like a fool.”

“What’s Nonno talking about, Aubrielle?” Lillianna asked softly. He tilted her head to look at me, and like an angel, she gently wiped away my tears.

“Nothing for you to worry about, sweetie.” I should be comforting her, not the other way around. “Know that I love you so much. And so does your daddy.”

“I know. I love you too.” Lillianna snuggled into me and closed her eyes, but I didn’t feel her body relax. I couldn’t even make myself stop trembling to give her any peace.

We traveled through town and went farther inland. I didn’t ask where we were going. It wasn’t in the direction of Seattle or Portland. A million escape plans ran through my head, and every single one of them ended with me dead.

Lorenzo didn’t say anything for a while. He didn’t seek to comfort Lillianna or even make conversation with her. He didn’t truly care for her. I hated him all the more for it. If I thought he might have been a grandfather missing his granddaughter, there could have been some hope for him, but no, not this bastard.

After fifteen minutes, he regarded me with his sharp, pale eyes. “You’re very good with Lillianna. She needs a proper Omega in her life to nurture her and teach her her place in our world. Perhaps I will keep you on as her nanny.”

God, I hoped he meant it. If we couldn’t escape now, there would be chances later. I could protect her from all the horrors which lay ahead, keep her safe and loved.

“Of course, I’ll only be able to trust you if you behave, Miss Smyth.” Lorenzo smirked and there was a gleam in his eyes as I paled. “I think a little re-education may be in order once we get to Italy.”

The way he said ‘re-education’ made me shudder. The word itself was full of blades. I would endure whatever it took for me to stay with Lillianna. I would never abandon her, even if that meant losing myself in the process.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE - Konstantin

I would tear down every building in the city until I found them. My daughter and my Omega. There was no life for me without them.

Quill hit the wall of the museum security office again, snarling as he shook out his hand. “We’re wasting our fucking time here! They’re out there somewhere. We need to get in the car—”

“Calm down.” Talis’ tone was hard and even. He straightened from looking at the computer screen over Levi’s shoulder and folded his arms. “If you can’t restrain yourself, we will escort you out, Quill. I know you’re worried. We all are.”

“Worried? Oh, I’m way fucking beyond worried.” Quill paced the small room, hands fisted and hair wild.

When we’d arrived at the museum, they had just discovered Lillianna and Aubrielle were missing. Levi swore he was watching the women’s restroom door and didn’t see them exit. There was no other way out, though. So what the fuck happened?

They’d found Aubrielle’s cell in the bin of the restroom. There was no way she would lose it. It had to be purposely placed in there, but by whom?

“Okay. I’ve got a shot of them going into the restroom.” Levi gestured to the screen. The camera was at the other end of the hall, but it was clearly Aubrielle holding Lillianna’s hand heading in. I gripped the back of Levi’s chair, staring at the screen as he slowly played them entering.

Quill stomped over to stand beside me with the head of museum security behind us. Talis leaned forward on the other side. “Keep the feed going, but at half speed.”

The corridor in the recording was packed full of people. Lots of kids running around, parents with strollers, and families laughing and hugging. That’s what I wanted for us today. All of us just out doing what normal families did together. No worries about insane in-laws ripping your very heart from your chest.

It felt like it took forever. Five minutes in the feed passed. Ten. “There’s no way they were in there that long.”

Levi rewound the recording and started it again after they entered the restroom. This time at five times slower. We all leaned in closer to the screen.

My heart hammered and I barely breathed.

Just after the five minute mark, Levi paused the feed. “Look!” He pointed at two women, one who was pushing a stroller. “That’s Aubrielle. You can’t see her face, but that’s the flowery skirt she was wearing.”

I could barely see the figure’s skirt amidst the crowd. Squinting and focusing on that one spot, there was a glimpse of blue with pink flowers. Now taking the whole woman in, she was leggy with generous hips. The bulky jacket hid everything else, but the way her hips moved as she walked told me that was my Omega. “Yes! That’s her.”

“But if it’s her, what the fuck is going on?” Quill growled.

Levi tapped on the keyboard and entered in a few commands which closed in on Aubrielle. We couldn’t see the child in the stroller to know if it was Lillianna or not, and I didn’t recognize the woman beside Aubrielle. She walked very closely beside her. Neither of them said anything to one another.

“Fuck.” Talis cursed and hissed through his teeth. “That woman has a gun in her pocket. She made the girls put on disguises and took them out at gunpoint.” He turned to the older man in uniform. “Call the authorities. Amber alert.” Then to my brother and I, “Konstantin, Quill, text him any pictures you have of Lillianna so he can send them in.”

He was taking charge of the situation and acting fast, but this shouldn’t have happened in the first place. If they had been protecting Lillianna and Aubrielle the way they should have been…

I shouldn’t have let them come to the museum today. Not only was Aubrielle still in heat, but the threat of Lorenzo doing something was still hanging over us. And I didn’t doubt for a second the kidnapper was on his payroll.

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