Page 92 of Royal Beast
Dariy.
“We surrender, Brannagan,” Dariy says, his voice laced with mockery. “But don’t think for a second that this is over. Your precious girl is still ours.”
“Where is she?” I demand, adrenaline coursing through my body, ready to beat this man to death to save my little girl if I have to.
“You think you’ve won, but she’s hidden away in one of these containers.” He gestures toward the sea of old shippingcontainers that stretch out in front of us, towering high, casting deep shadows across the space. “There are hundreds of them, Brannagan. You’ll never find her in time.”
He turns his back on me, his men trailing behind. The trap was right in front of us all along. They might have lost the fight, but they’ve left me with a mountain of containers and no way to know which one holds my daughter.
43
DARCY
Ican’t sit still. I’m pacing the hallway outside Clary’s room, my hands shaking as I try to hold myself together. The rhythmic beep of the machines attached to her is the only sound filling my ears, and it feels like it’s slowly driving me mad. Every time it beeps, I imagine something else is wrong with her, and my heart drops all over again.
I try to calm my breathing, but it’s no use. Every second that passes feels like an eternity, and the longer I stay here, the harder it is to control the rage and fear building inside me. They’ve done this. Whoever took Rose—they’re doing this to us, to me. I can't just wait any longer. I can’t.
Clary needs me. But Rose needs me more.
I turn on my heel and walk down the hall, past the nurses’ station, past the sterile white walls and fluorescent lights. I know where I need to go. I’ve been avoiding it, hoping I wouldn’t have to face him, but there's no more time for hesitation.
Liam is standing guard outside Max’s door, his posture rigid, like he’s just as on edge as the rest of us. His gaze flickers to me, and for a moment, he doesn’t say anything.
But I don’t have any more patience left to give.
“Liam,” I snap, my voice sharp, echoing down the hallway.
His expression tightens like he’s trying to keep something from spilling out. I know he doesn’t want to tell me anything more than he has to. I know it’s been hard on him too, staying here while his brothers go to fight their enemy. But I can’t wait. Not anymore.
“Where is she?” I demand. “Where’s my daughter?”
He looks hesitant, his jaw clenched. But I won’t let him off the hook.
“Liam,” I say, this time quieter, but no less intense. “I need to know. Now.”
After a long, unbearable pause, he exhales a shaky breath, his eyes darting to the door behind him, like he’s checking for anyone who might overhear. Finally, he meets my eyes again, his own filled with guilt and frustration.
“We think we know where she’s been taken.”
I feel my heart slam in my chest. “What does that mean? Where is she?”
Liam shifts uncomfortably, but he doesn’t look away. He’s trying to protect me, but I don’t need protecting anymore. Not from him, not from anyone. I need answers.
“They’re keeping her at the old shipyard,” Liam says, his voice low. “The one on the edge of town. We didn’t know for sure until just now.”
I freeze. The words hit me like a punch to the gut. “I need to go there. Now.” I don’t care that he’s looking at me like I’m insane. I don’t care that there’s a part of me screaming to stay safe and wait for backup. I won’t. Not when I know where Rose is.
Liam opens his mouth, likely to try to stop me, but I don’t let him. “I’m not asking, Liam. I’m not going to sit here and wait anymore. I need my daughter.”
He looks torn, like he knows I’m right but is still trying to keep me from rushing headfirst into danger. Finally, he relents, giving a sharp nod.
“I’ll get you the exact location,” he says, voice tight. “But Darcy… this isn’t something you can handle on your own. It’s too dangerous. They’ll kill you without a second thought.”
“I’m not asking for your permission,” I snap, cutting him off. I don’t care. The only thing that matters right now is getting Rose back. Whatever it takes.I’m coming for you, Rose. And nothing is going to stop me.
Taking off, I drive like hell to get across town in record time. Once I get there, I slam my car door behind me and barely take a second to breathe before I’m moving toward the shipyard. My hands shake, but I can’t focus on that right now. All I can think about is Rose, her little face twisted in fear. Wondering if she’s been hurt, if they’ve done something to her.
The place is eerily quiet. I don’t see or hear any of the Russian men anywhere, but the signs of a recent fight are everywhere. Crates are broken apart, bloodstains smeared on the dirt, and too many signs the fight didn’t end well for anyone. My heart skips a beat, panic rising in my chest, and I call out for Rose before I even realize I’m doing it.
