Page 8 of Daddy Reed

Without warning, I fling open his door, ready to tear him and Raegan each a new asshole. Except, when I scan the bed, it’s just Ronan. He jolts up with a terrified yelp and then grabs for his glasses on the table. Once they’re on, he relaxes at seeing me.

“Dad? What’s wrong?”

Guilt burns hot in my gut. My kids are good kids. Me and Devon are just paranoid, is all.

“We can’t find Raegan,” I say with a sigh. “Get dressed and help me look for her.”

While he dresses, I step out and head next door. It’s a long shot to think she’ll be here, but I check anyway. Ryder is sprawled out on his stomach, buck-ass naked and lightly snoring.

“Where’s your sister?” I bark out.

The kid sleeps like the dead and doesn’t even flinch at my intrusion. I pick his jeans up from the floor and toss them at him. This finally wakes him, and he groggily looks my way.

“Get dressed, Ry. Raegan is missing.”

He rolls his eyes and pulls the pillow over his head, grumbling about that being a good thing. At least I know she’s not here.

There’s only one other son’s cabin she could be in, though they don’t exactly have a close relationship. Still, I would be remiss if I didn’t at least check.

Twenty minutes later, I’ve left our property, gone down the cliffside stairs, and hiked over to me and Devon’s old cabin where Rowdy lives. Our oldest needed his privacy and has it. However, if I find my damn daughter in his bed, heads are going to roll. Privacy will be a thing of the past.

His door is barred closed from the inside, so I beat on it with my fist until I hear heavy footsteps thudding my way. The wood-on-wood scraping sound can be heard as he removes the blockade, and the door opens.

I’m greeted with the barrel of his shotgun. He immediately lowers it when he registers that it’s me.

“Dad? What are you doing here?”

Grunting, I shoulder past him into his space. This small home is where we raised the older kids before me and Atticus built the big house. It’s where I took Devon’s virginity and made her mine. It’s also where I had to watch strangers assault her. Where I killed men for touching her and trying to take her away from me. Rowdy’s cabin holds both good and bad memories for me.

I scan the entire space, including the cave inlet at the back of the cabin. Nothing.

Where the fuck is my daughter?

Annoyance and frustration begin to melt away as pure panic takes over. Did she run away? Did someone take her?

“Raegan’s gone,” I croak out, voice shaking with fear. “Help me find her.”

I leave my stunned son to dress and hoof it back up to the big house, where I find a worried Ronan and a cranky Ryder standing by the gate.

“Did you find her?” Ronan asks, brows pinching together. “Mom said she’s not in the house.”

“No,” I bark out. “I want you two searching everywhere. The equipment barn, the animal pens, the gardens, the orchard, the smokehouse, the—”

“Everywhere,” Ryder interrupts. “Got it. We’ll find her, Dad. Don’t worry.”

But I am worried.

With each passing moment that she’s gone, my stomach sours, and the worst imaginable scenarios start playing in my head like some kind of fucked up horror show.

What if she decided to go hunting and got attacked by a wild animal?

What if she’s dead?

I stop near the fire pit on the way to find Devon and dry heave. I can’t lose her. I can’t lose my daughter. Losing Devon’s brother Drew nearly killed me. My heart is too weak to go through something so horrific again.

Devon bursts out of the front door, Dawson in her arms. Her eyes are teary, and her cheeks are red. Seeing the pure panic in her expression has me dry heaving again. Kota and Declan pop up behind Devon and gape at me.

This time, acidic bile makes it up my throat, and I puke into the grass. All three boys begin to cry along with their mother, her sobs growing the loudest.

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