Page 105 of Love Bleeds Red
She nods. “I can understand how that would happen. He’s a master manipulator.”
“Exactly,” I say.
“But would he hurt her?” She voices the question that’s clawing at the front of my mind.
I wish I could give her the answer we both want to hear. “I wish I could say no, but I can’t. Not with certainty.”
“Then let’s go find her.”
I smile despite the situation, at the strength in her voice, the certainty, despite everything she’s endured. That’s the Bailey I fell in love with shining through. I love all parts of her but seeing that glimpse of fierce determination gives me hope.
“Together,” I agree.
CHAPTER THIRTY
BAILEY
Leon’s phonebuzzes against my thighs as we idle at a red light. He answers through the Bluetooth helmet. The one that actually fits him, not the spare he was trying to wear. I wouldn’t have any of that. He answers, and the voice comes through loud enough for me to hear.
“Sorry, mate. I checked around and no one’s seen your old man anywhere. Wish I had better news for you.”
Leon utters a quick thanks and ends the call by the time the light turns green.
That’s the third dead end in an hour. First his half brother, then some contact named Abel, and now whoever that was. I can feel the tension radiating through Leon’s shoulders as he speeds through the intersection.
His phone buzzes again almost immediately. This time it announces Falin’s name through the caller ID.
“Tell me you have something,” Leon says without a greeting.
“I do, actually.” Falin’s voice crackles loudly through the helmet speaker. “I was able to track them through a bunch of traffic cameras heading southeast from your mum’s place. I’lltext over the address where I lost them. Maybe the area will look familiar.”
“Good work,” Leon says, sounding relieved for the first time today. “Send it through.”
His phone vibrates again almost immediately, and he pulls over at the next safe spot. With his bike balanced, he checks the message.
“Ring any bells?” I ask.
He shakes his head. “Not the address, but maybe once we get there something will stand out.”
“Worth a shot,” I say. We’re running out of options.
I hold on tight as he pulls back into traffic, navigating through the busy London streets with ease.
As we ride, I try to enjoy the scenery of this new city, but anxiety is a bitch. I keep thinking about what we might find. There’s no way to prepare myself mentally for the possibilities, so counting each road sign while enjoying the breeze on my exposed skin, helps to keep it at bay. Leon needs me to be focused right now, and I’ll be strong for him. And oddly, being focused on finding his mom is keeping me from thinking about my own situation. It’s exactly what I need right now.
Twenty or so minutes later, we reach the address Falin gave us. It’s a quiet residential area. The streets are lined with gorgeous newly renovated Georgian-style townhouses, their perfectly painted white facades gleam in the afternoon sun.
Leon slows, winding through street after street, all looking almost exactly the same. Until I see the park. It’s small—just a few benches situated under lush green trees. But directly across from it is a row of townhouses with identical black doors. The golden knockers set off an alarm bell in my mind.
“Leon, stop,” I say, loud enough for him to hear me.
He immediately pulls over, flipping up the visor on his helmet to study my expression. “What is it?”
I stare at the familiar iron railings around the park’s perimeter, then the small stone fountain in the middle. The memory comes back, clear as day. I’d watched the people in the park going about their afternoon through the car window, hoping someone would see me and offer help. “I know this place. He brought me here once. With Polly. There were other men with him… and King.”
He cuts the engine and removes his helmet. “Do you remember anything else about the exterior?”
I try to remember. There was the park out my window… but how far away was the entrance? Where did we park the car?
