Page 91 of The Doctor's Twins

“I still can’t believe this is happening,” Alyssa said while she and I were outside on the porch, drinking yet another cup of coffee. “I should have been with her. What the hell was I thinking, leaving her alone? I’m so glad you’re here, Ben.”

“I’m going to kill that bastard,” was all I had to say.

“Promise me you’ll make that Mateo louse suffer. He’s taken so much from Peyton—from all of us—he has to account for his wickedness,” she said with a shaky voice. She looked up at the sky and then whispered, “Oh, God, please let her be alive!”

“Don’t allow your mind to go there, Alyssa. Peyton is a fighter, and she’s smart. She will do what she has to do to stay alive. I believe that and so should you.”

“You’re right. I’m sorry,” she said and wiped away a stream of tears.

“How are Madison and the baby?” I asked, hoping the subject change would temporarily distract the poor woman who was terrified at the prospect of losing her best friend.

“Madi’s a wreck. Imagine it. This should have been one of the most exciting and happiest times in her and Craig’s lives. She’s just given birth to a baby girl, and now her sister is missing, kidnapped by a psychopath, no less.”

“I’m going to get her back, Alyssa, or die trying. I promise.”

“Thank you, Ben. I’m so sorry. I haven’t even asked you how you’re doing with all of this.”

“Honestly, I’m as terrified as everyone here, but I intend on putting my training as a soldier to good use. I’m focusing on getting Peyton back home. Period. That’s the only thing that’s stopping me from coming apart at the seams.”

“Peyton would be so proud of you, Ben. She’s crazy about you, you know. I can see why.”

“I love her very much.”

“I know you do.”

We stood there for a moment, neither one of us talking, looking out at the night sky.

“This is a beautiful place,” I said.

“Yeah, it’s peaceful, isn't it? Peyton loves the outdoors. She’s always wanted to live on a ranch or somewhere in the mountains.”

I remembered the conversation she and I had when we were at the cabin.

“Yes, she told me.”

“A small-town doctor,” she said. “That’s what she dreams of being.”

“Peyton is going to be a fine surgeon one day. Perhaps I can give her her dream. I’m certainly going to try.”

My phone rang. It was Sam.

“We’ve just landed, Ben. See you soon.”

Sam had access to a private jet, so there were no issues with flight delays. I was never more grateful for his contacts than I was at that moment.

“Okay. I’m on my way.”

“Are they here?” Alyssa asked me once I’d ended the call.

“Yeah. They’ve just landed.”

“Good. I’ll take you to them.”

“Mateo has a few hours of traveling time on us, so we’ll leave as soon as possible. Feels like we’re crawling toward Peyton’s rescue. It’s so fucking frustrating.”

Alyssa brought the car around to the front while I said goodbye to the family.

“Bring my baby back to me, please, Ben,” Millie pleaded.

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