Page 35 of Finding Solace
Frantically shaking her head back and forth while having a death grip on her phone Bella explains. "I just got a call from them. They said they tried calling Mila first, but her phone kept going straight to voicemail, so they called me since I'm one of Ava's emergency contacts. Mrs. Sarah said the new girl they hired let her grandparent pick herup."
I feel my gut twisting with every word leaving Bella'smouth.
"What do you mean her grandparent? They can't just release a child to justanybody."
I don't try to stick around and wait for Reid to finish his statement. I've heard all I need to, and now I'm going to find my daughter. Because of some incompetent moron, my baby is in the hands of evil… my parents. The same parents who didn't give a second thought to hiring someone to kill theirdaughter.
On autopilot, I turn away from Bella and Reid and start sprinting across the lobby of the courthouse and out the door. I faintly hear Reid calling out my name behind me. Reaching the sidewalk, I come to a complete stop as I realize I haven't a clue as what to do or where to even start when it comes to finding mydaughter.
"Mila, baby, look at me," Reid coaxes with both his hands cupping my face. It's at that moment with his face a breath away from mine that I suddenly snap out of myfog.
"I don't know what to do," I admit in an almost robotic voice I don't recognize. Latching on to Reid's cut I repeat myself, only this time when the words leave my mouth, I feel my legs give out from underneath me. "My baby is gone, Reid, and I don't know what to do. What do I do?" I wail at the same time I'm lifted into Reid's strongarms.
The next thing I know I'm being placed in the front seat of Bella's car. "Bella is taking you back to the clubhouse. I want you to stay there. Blake and Austin are going to follow behind," Reid orders. "Look at me, baby." When I do, I see nothing but fierceness and determination on his face. "I'm going to bring her back to you. You have myword."
With his parting words, Reid shuts the car door and walks back towards his brothers, who through my clouded vision I see mounting their bikes as Jake shouts his orders. With Bella driving in the direction of the clubhouse, I watch helplessly as Reid's tail lights disappear in the oppositedirection.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
REID
Ihated leaving Mila in the state she was in, but I need to find Ava. I'm not sure how they got tipped off to the fact that the feds were waiting to arrest them. I suppose they haven’t gone this many years doing what they’ve been doing, not to know how to keep a step ahead of the law in some form or fashion, but kidnapping their granddaughter is desperate andlow.
I don’t know what their endgame is by taking Ava, but without a doubt, I know what ours would be if it weren’t for the fact the law is out looking for them as well. In a matter of minutes, this town will be on lockdown. The Kings may be a sorted bunch, but one thing you don’t fuck with is family- our family. The feds tried pushing their weight around, but they should know demanding a bunch of bikers to stay out of it was not going to fly. They have their way of doing things, and we have ours. All of us have a common goal, and that’s finding Mila'sdaughter.
After searching with the rest of the guys and coming up empty, I decided coming back to my place and doing some digging would turn up a clue to where they might have gone after leaving the preschool, but it hasn’t done a damn bit ofgood.
"Fuck!" I roar slamming my laptop closed. Prez has several of the guys on the roads looking for the car they were last seen in while I try to trace down their whereabouts by looking up any recent credit card activity. I've found nothing. Nothing because all known accounts belonging to the Vaughns were frozen. Where the fuck could they have gone with no financial means to get there? I get up and pace the floors. I stop and let my head fall back and look up at the ceiling letting out a frustrated breath.Fuckin' think,I chastisemyself.
Deciding to get back on my bike, I turn around to grab my key from the top of my desk. I pause a moment to stare at a picture of my brother and I standing side by side. The photo was taken the day I earned my cut and sitting to the right of the frame- Ava's teddy bear. The one she gave me to hold on to, hoping it would make me feel better. Picking the toy up, I study it. A moment of clarity hits me. I can't explain it, but I just know where she is. With the bear in hand, I get to my bike as quick as I can. Before I turn the engine over, I tuck her teddy securely inside the bike's left sidesaddlebag.
Fifteen minutes later I cut my engine and let my bike coast, stopping two houses down from Mila's Grams. With all the chaos, no one thought to come here including me. As soon as I swing my leg over, getting off, I hear a vehicle pulling up behind me. Looking over my shoulder, I watch Officer Jenkins stop and open his car door.Shit.I should have known they'd have someone with a badge try and follow usaround.
Apparently waiting for me to let him in why I'm here, I decided to clue him in. Only because I don’t want to take the chance on fuckin' anything up. "If my hunch is correct," I lift my hand and point towards the house, "They have Ava inthere."
"I need to call it in," He informsme.
He can do what he wants, but I'm not waiting to find out. I turn my back to him walking towards thehouse.
"Mr. Carter," he calls out. Pausing, I give him a chance tofinish.
"Remember, there may be a four-year-old child in there, so actaccordingly."
I'll take whatever measures are needed to make sure she is and stays safe. I don’t say a word. While Officer Jenkins mumbles a god damnit and calls in our location over the police radio, I keepwalking.
Intent on answers, I carefully make my way to the front door with a purpose. Checking the knob, I turn it. Surprisingly, it isn't locked. Not taking the risk of Ava seeing me with a gun, I keep it inside my cut. She was just taken by two people she has never met before. By desperate people—people who even though she is their own flesh and blood have proven family means nothing tothem.
Slowly, I make my way inside. Not wanting any surprises to spring up behind me, I close the door. Upon glancing around the living room, there are no signs anyone has been here since yesterday, so I cautiously take my time crossing the room. That’s when I hear it. A soft little giggle. Ava's little laugh is coming from down the hall. The further I get down the short hallway, the clearer the sound gets. Stopping right outside Ava's bedroom door; Just before grabbing the handle andlisten.
Holding my breath, I open the door. Sitting on her bed next to Mila's mother is Ava. Bouncing off the bed with excitement as if nothing is wrong, Ava skips towards me and I scoop her up into my awaiting arms. She may not be anything to me by blood, but I feel she is every bit mine and I will protect her. While I hug her, Mila's mother watches on with a muted stare. As if she's longing for something that’s just within her reach but she can't touch it. The distant sounds of sirens fill the air alerting both of us to the nearby presence of thepolice.
"She is a sweet little girl," Mrs. Vaughnmurmurs.
I narrow my eyes at her. "Where's your husband?" I askher.
She drops her shoulder and turns her head to peer out the window to her right. "Tookoff."
"Why? Why her daughter?" I askher.
