Page 36 of Her Billionaire Hero
“Yes.”
“So, if she was angry about that, why didn’t she press charges?”
I didn’t know what to say to that. I’d wondered about that myself. “She told me that I didn’t understand things where he was concerned. He was her first everything. They share a bond. And she didn’t want to bring more down on him with him being accused of murder.”
Nodding, Patton took a drink of this beer then said, “She could’ve felt sorry for him. Hell, he might’ve asked her to leave the country with him or something like that.”
“She did say that he wants her back.” My chest deflated. “That’s why he went to her place.” I didn’t want to think that Sloan would go to these lengths to leave me. “She could’ve told me how she felt. It would’ve hurt but at least I would know she’s alive.”
“Maybe she doesn’t want you to know that.” Patton took a deep breath. “Some people hate confrontation so much that they’ll do anything to avoid it. Maybe Sloan is like that. Have you two ever argued?”
“No.”
Has she really left me in such a brutal way on purpose?
“And you said her mother went missing, right?” he asked.
“Yeah.”
“So maybe it runs in her blood to run off instead of facing the music.”
I didn’t want to believe that. “We love each other. She couldn’t have faked that. She glowed, man. Her eyes couldn’t have lied about how she feels about me.”
“I don’t know, bro. People can be shady as shit.” Leaning back, he laid his arm out along the back of the couch. “I’m not saying not to report her missing or anything like that. I mean, I adore Sloan. I really do. But you’re going to have to prepare yourself for the fact that she might’vewantedto leave.”
“Who the hell goes through the trouble to disappear during a fire?” It was too much. “He took her. I know he did. And I can’t wait two days to start looking for her. Maybe I can hire someone to look for her.”
“I’m sure you can.” He chewed on his lower lip as he contemplated their options. “You said something about her father. Can you find him and ask him what he knows about her whereabouts? Maybe you don’t have to hire anyone. Maybeyoucan do all the legwork.”
“I can go see if he’s at his office in the morning.” I didn’t know what I’d do that night, as I was sure I wouldn’t get a wink of sleep until I knew where Sloan was. “I don’t know if he knows anything about me. And I don’t know if he would tell me anything if his daughter told him not to.”
“Yeah, you’re right.”
“You know, she did say something about her father not liking her being with Preston. So, maybe he would tell me what he knows if he thought she might be with her ex again.”
“Do you think Sloan would tell him anything, since he doesn’t like her and her ex being together?”
“I don’t know. But I have to ask, right?” I took a long drink of the beer, hoping it would calm me down enough so my brain would start working in a rational manner.
No matter what Patton said, I knew Sloan loved me. She wouldn’t leave me. And she wouldn’t pull something so dramatic. This wasn’t just the start of a relationship with me, this was the start of her career. She wouldn’t fuck it all up over that man. She wanted to make something of herself. She no longer wanted to be taken care of. At least that’s what she’d told me.
Chapter Twenty
Sloan
“Mom?”
Floating in a golden glowing orb of light, my mother looked at me. Moving closer, she leaned over, stroking my hair.
“Am I dead?”
Shaking her head, she smiled at me as she put her hand on my cheek. It felt warm, as if she were alive. Although her mouth didn’t move, I heard her say, “You’re not dead, honey. But you’re in trouble. You’ve got to be careful. Watch what you say.”
“Mom, what happened to you?” I had to know the truth. I couldn’t stand not knowing anymore.
“I made bad decisions because I got bored. Don’t let boredom sway your judgment in life, Sloan. I let that happen and it ruined me. I’m so sorry that I left you the way I did. It wasn’t your fault. It wasn’t your father’s fault. It was all mine. In life, we all have choices. I didn’t have to sit home and do nothing all day, blaming your father for me feeling stuck in monotonous life. But I did that anyway. And I sought excitement in places that I shouldn’t have.”
“Did he kill you?” I had to know. “Did Preston kill you?”
