“You’re an asshole, you know that?”
“I’ve been told.” Swede laughed. “But listen, I have some new information for you. I’ve been doing some digging into Otis and his group. I found out seven years ago his sister gave birth to a little boy she named Lilo. After she gave birth, Otis killed her.”
I held my breath to pressed down my anger. “Go on.”
“But the child is still alive, I think.”
“How do you know?”
“I found an account he’s been using to pay a nanny service. He didn’t sign up for the nanny using his name though.”
“Then how do you know he’s the one using it?”
“The bank account is his,” Swede explained. “The person who hired the nanny wasn’t Otis.”
“Then who?”
“Mariana.”
I tilted my head. “Did he get careless?”
“No. I think he believed we wouldn’t be looking for any movement on his sister’s name.” Swede looked down and began typing away. “This might mean we know where the kid is.”
“Yup.” Swede replied. “I just sent the address to your phone…Damn.”
“What?” I asked.
“Turn around.”
With an arched brow, I did as Swede suggested. “Damn…” I managed.
Ellie picked at the corners of her fingers as she stood there, looking good enough to eat. I wanted to take her back up the stairs and tear every piece of clothing from her body except the corset. That I wanted to use my teeth on, to watch as her breasts slowly popped from the neck and come free for my mouth.
“Cobra…” Swede’s voice was far away. “King?”
I swung to look at him.
“Down boy.” Swede teased in a soft voice. “Do this first before you ravish the lady, please?”
Ellie giggled.
“You’re an…” I began.
“Asshole.” Swede laughed. “Got it.”
His face disappeared from the screen and I closed the computer. “You look…wow.”
“Thanks.” Ellie smiled. “But why do I get the feeling we have some bad news.”
“You should sit down.”
“Just tell me.” She frowned. “I already know it’s going to be horrible. Seems to be going around so, um—like a band-aid. Let’s do it.”
For a moment, I watched her, debating if I should insist on her sitting. But after a second I merely shrugged. “We believe we found your brother.” I told her.
“A brother…” Ellie blinked and sat. “I have a brother—is he…”
“He is seven and his name is Lilo.” I continued. “We think he’s alive and we know where he is.”
