“Of course. Ping me your location.”
“Yeah. O-okay.”
My phone chimes and I glance at the pin on the map. “I’m coming for you right now. Just stay exactly where you are. I’ll be there soon.”
“Okay.”
Reluctantly ending the call, I turn to Cian who’s quickly dressing. “My sister’s in trouble. I have to get to her right now.”
“I figured as much.” He tosses me my dress. “Send me her location. My men will provide backup.”
Relief washes over me. He doesn’t ask any questions, just does what needs to be done. A cage of butterflies opens up in my stomach.
Dressed, shoes on my feet, and phone in hand, I follow Cian to his garage. He opts for a luxury SUV with blacked out windows. Wolfe and some of his other men meet us there, get into vehicles of their own and follow us out of the compound.
The navigation system directs us to Elena’s location deep in Brooklyn, as my heart thunders and I scan the dusky streets for my sister. A million questions crown my consciousness. He shoved her out of a van.Who?It sounds like she was kidnapped.Why?
Has she been held captive the entire week I was enjoying my honeymoon in Key Largo?Oh my god.If that’s what happened, then she didn’t run from her arranged marriage, she was taken, and no one bothered to go looking for her. Papa and Mama just assumed she ran away. I did the same, for the most part.
Guilt pumps through my veins like a toxin.
All of us have let my sister down. We abandoned her when she needed us most. How can I ever make this up to her?
Did this strange man only hold her captive, or did he do other things to my sweet, innocent sister?
My throat tightens, making it hard to swallow. My palms grow clammy.
“There!” I point out the window as soon as a glint of dark auburn hair catches my eye. “That’s her. Pull over.”
Cian pulls up to the curb where my sister stands under a street lamp in a soiled dress. The same dress she wore on what was supposed to be her wedding day over a week ago. The vise in my chest cranks tighter.
As soon as the vehicle stops, I’m out of my seat, rushing toward Elena. Cian follows, but he’s not looking at her, his attention sweeps the area for threats.
“Wait—!” Cian’s command comes too late. I’m already at my sister’s side, pulling her into my embrace.
She buries her face in my neck as her body wracks with sobs. She clings to me. I hold her tight and move toward the open car door. This could be a trap. Whoever took her could be waiting to ambush us.
I have to get her to safety.Now.
Cian’s suddenly right beside me, practically shoving us into the backseat. He slams the door and returns to the driver's side. As soon as the SUV starts to roll, I focus my full attention on Elena.
“Elle, talk to me, tell me what happened. I’ve been worried sick about you.” I buckle her in before securing my own seatbelt. “Where have you been? Did someone take you? We thought you ran away.”
She shakes her head, more tears spilling down her pale, grimy face. “They did. They took me. I don’t know where?—”
“Who? Start at the beginning.”
She shakily inhales and nods, eyes closed as she calms herself down. “I went to run a last minute errand. I don’t even remember what I needed now, but something for after the wedding. I d-didn’t even make it back to the car.” Her whole body crumples with a sob. “They put a h-hood over my head and I think I was in a van…” She wraps her arms around her middle. “They kept me in a c-c-cage.”
“Who arethey? Did you see their faces?”
“No. They wore m-masks the whole time. Two men, I think.” She sniffles, wiping at her bloodshot eyes. “Only one of them ever spoke to me. That was a man for sure. A big, scary man.” For the first time, her gaze takes in Cian. She flinches. “Big and scary like him.”
“Do you remember anything else? Any details that might help identify them?”
“I… I don’t know.” Her voice drops to a whisper. “I was so scared. The big man killed the other guy. He just… shot him. There was so much blood. It kept c-creeping closer and closer to my cage.”
I’m not sure what to make of her story quite yet. Why would one of them murder the other? But she’s obviously traumatized. I hate to do this, but while it’s fresh in her mind, I need to press for details.
