Page 60 of Property of Max
“There’s something you need to see,” she says. “Follow me.”
Max doesn’t take his eyes off Chris. “Bones.”
Bones steps closer, cracking his knuckles. “Got him. Go with your ol’ lady.”
“What is it, Heidi?” I ask as we step into the kitchen, fear tightening every word. “Do you know where Bree is?”
“No,” she says, shaking her head. “But I know who has her.”
She presses a folder and a thumb drive into my hands, her fingers trembling.
“Mr. Campton’s business partner.”
“Business partner?” My mind races. “You mean his dad?”
“You misunderstand.” She gently takes the folder back, pulling out a stack of papers and a glossy print. “Campton Shipping was sold last year. Mr. Campton Sr. wanted to retire, so he cashed out. But your ex-husband stayed on…with the new owner. At first, I thought it was just business. But then he started to change. Distant. Angry. And about three months ago, I overheard a conversation that made me realize why.”
Her voice lowers, urgent. “You have to believe me. I didn’t know what they were really doing until just days ago.”
She lays the photo in my hands.
“Who is this?” I ask, staring at the image. Chris, standing in his own living room. Beside him, a young man I don’t recognize…his smile sharp, his eyes cold.
“I pulled that from the security cameras the first day he visited,” Heidi says. “I had a bad feeling then, so I saved it. There are more on the drive…including today. I saw him leave the house with Bree. With Chris standing right there, letting it happen.”
Her gaze hardens, full of quiet defiance. “I was gathering everything to take to the police when you showed up. That’s why it’s all ready for you now.”
“Let me see, baby,” Max says, taking the photo from my hands.
“Who is he?” I ask again, desperate for an answer.
“I don’t know his name,” Heidi admits. “But I know what I heard. They were talking about terrible things, Lila. Unspeakable things. Whoever this man is, he doesn’t have good plans for Bree.”
Max’s jaw clenches, his knuckles whitening around the photo. “Un-fucking-believable.”
He storms out of the kitchen, and a moment later, I hear Chris’s high-pitched cry as Max slams him against the wall.
“Get off me!” Chris squeals.
“Damián fucking Cortez,” Max growls, his voice shaking with rage. “Where is he?”
Chris’s eyes go wide, panic flickering as I rush into the room. “How do you know Damián?” he demands, his voice trembling.
“Where the fuck is he?” Max snarls, shoving him harder. “Do you have any idea the kind of depraved shit this man does? To women. Tolittle fucking girls?”
“He’s not going to hurt her,” Chris cries out, his voice cracking. “He gave me his word. He was just going to take some pictures. That’s all.”
Pictures?
The world tilts, sickening images flashing behind my eyes…Bree standing in front of a camera, terrified, frozen. My stomach lurches, bile burning my throat.
“Easy, doll,” Bones says, an arm wrapping tight around me. I’m leaning so hard into him that I don’t even feel my own legs anymore.
“Spike, get everyone together,” Bones barks into his phone, his voice sharp and cutting. “We have a fucking problem.”
“I can’t… breathe…” The words rasp from my chest as the darkness creeps in, heavy and merciless.
“Dammit, Max, switch me spots. Your woman needs you,” Bones growls, shifting me toward him just as my vision tunnels.
