Page 52 of The Enforcer

He placed a kiss on top of her head.

So do I, little one, so do I.

CHAPTER 17

MARY

Waiting for Hector to show up with Zoe was torture. Mary paced a hole in the carpet, her eyes focused on the front door, trying to will Zoe and Hector to appear through it.

“Can I get you anything?” Jazzy asked.

She shook her head. No, she didn’t want anything. Anything she’d eat would taste like ash anyway. Hector would find Zoe, she had total faith in him. It was the aftermath that worried her. Zoe had been gone for less than twenty-four hours, but damage didn’t need hours for it to happen. It could happen in the blink of an eye. One wrong touch, one wrong look, and she could be scarred for life.

“I can’t believe this is happening.”

When Tess had told them who’d abducted Zoe, it had taken her a second to recall who Ivan was. Then she remembered, and her fear for Zoe increased tenfold.

“They are going to find her, and then that beautiful little girl is going to find a home with you. I know it. Gio and Jackson are working on that part, you have to keep faith.”

Tired of pacing, Mary plopped onto the couch. “I feel so useless.”

“I know. But there’s really not much else we can do. So just try to concentrate on the stuff you have to get done once Zoe’s back. You know, like readying her room. Positive thoughts.”

“Right. Positive thoughts.” She had a million things to get ready. They had just moved in here yesterday. The house was delivered totally furnished, but there hadn’t been any time to do any decorating or get Zoe’s room ready. She tried to make a list in her head of all the things she had to get, but it wasn’t working. What if they couldn’t find Zoe? What if they found her body?

“My mind keeps going to what could happen to her,” she admitted. “What if—”

“Stop it. It’s no use torturing yourself with what-ifs. Whatever happened, you will get through it, together.”

Then she heard the front door open. She jumped up and ran into the hallway.

“Zoe!”

The little girl was plastered against Hector’s massive chest, making her look even smaller than she already was.

“She’s okay,” Hector said gruffly.

Mary slowly walked up to the girl, not wanting to spook her. Zoe turned toward her, her eyes peeking through a curtain of blond curls. When their eyes locked, the little girl launched herself into Mary’s arms.

“It’s okay, baby girl,” Mary said soothingly while taking her over from Hector. “It’s all going to be okay.”

“I called a doctor,” Hector said. “He’s on his way over.”

Mary carried Zoe to the couch, settling down with her on her lap. She couldn’t stop shaking.

Zoe was covered in a big jacket, and they sat in silence for a while as Mary stroked her hair. Her breathing eventually slowed, and the shaking stopped. It took a few minutes before Mary realized Zoe was sleeping. She held out her hand to Hector, urging him to come sit next to her. Jazzy scooted over.

“So, what happened?” her cousin asked.

As Hector began to unfold the horrors of the night, probably heavily censured, Mary shivered. Hector put an arm around her and she leaned in to him.

“So, how did you find this Pachenkov guy?” Jazzy asked. “Tess told us about Ivan, but other than that, she didn’t have a clue where to find Zoe.”

“We’ve had some help.”

Jazzy groaned. “Please don’t tell me Gio knows that man. I don’t want to think about my guy knowing monsters like that.”

“Actually, it was Kristoff who found Pachenkov and helped us get to Zoe and the other kids.”

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