Page 66 of Forbidden Secrets
His dad, his sister, his partner, they’d all died.Each ripping a gaping hole in his heart.He couldn’t imagine surviving another blow like that.Not again.
But lately, another voice had started to make itself known.The quieter one.The one that askedWhat if nothing bad happens?
What if Melanie was the real thing?What if he got to raise Addy, not from the outside looking in, but as her dad?What if he and Melanie could grew old together, side by side?
That voice was getting harder to ignore, and it was beginning to sound a lot like hope.
Gage was about to suggest they grab lunch before Melanie’s appointment when her phone rang.
“It’s the school,” she murmured, swiping to answer.
She pressed the phone to her ear.He went on high alert when her voice sharpened.“How can you not know where she is?”
Alarm shot through him.Without a word, he cut across a lane and took the turn toward Mill Creek Elementary.
She listened for a beat, then turned to him, her face pale.“Gage, the principal says Addy’s disappeared.”
Just like that, the air went thin.His worst fear—not again, please not again—roared to life in his chest.
“Put your phone on speaker,” he said, hands tightening around the steering wheel.
Melanie tapped the screen.“You’re on speaker so my friend can hear.”
“Hello, this is Susanna Majors, principal of—”
“Have you contacted the sheriff’s office?”Gage cut in, his voice clipped.
“No, we wanted to inform her mother first.We don’t have any reason to believe Adelyn left campus.We’re currently searching the school.”
Gage gripped the wheel tighter, his mind already racing through protocols.But the only thing he could hear was that whisper from earlier:What if you lose her too?
“Were there any reports of unfamiliar adults on or near campus?”Gage asked.
There was a pause.“I’m sorry, who am I speaking with?”
“Gage Landry.I’m with Melanie.Former FBI agent.We’re on our way to the school now.”
“I see.”The principal’s voice lost a bit of its edge.“No, there have been no reports of unidentified adults, and no visitors signed in within the past hour.”
“How long has Addy been missing?”
“She didn’t come in from recess so about twenty minutes.”
“Call 9-1-1,” Gage ordered.“Melanie will give you a clothing description for dispatch.”
Melanie sat straighter, her voice steadier.“Addy’s wearing black leggings and a purple sweatshirt with a unicorn on the front.She has on shearling boots and a puffy pink coat.Please check if her backpack is still in her classroom.It’s pink and green.”
“I need to inform you, Miss Brennan, there was an incident on the playground involving Adelyn and another student,” the principal said, clearly flustered.“I know we’re scheduled to meet this afternoon about the same student.I’m putting you on hold to check if her backpack is still in the classroom.”
The cheerful hold music was jarring.
Melanie’s hands fisted.“Liam is still bullying her.”
“Yeah, that’s going to stop.”
“What if she’s been kidnapped?”Her voice wavered.“What if whoever made the child neglect complaint grabbed her during recess?”
“Mel, listen to me,” he told her firmly.She looked pale, but her jaw was set.“The school is fenced, and visitors have to check in at the front office.There’s supervision on the playground.This sounds more like Addy got fed up with the little fucker hassling her.”
