“My son!” He fell to his knees in the gravel drive, cradling Clover against his chest. “Please be careful of my son. I’m the head of security at The Merveille De L’art, and my son was kidnapped from the museum during the gala earlier. The badge on my belt will prove that, and we need your help.”
“Stay down!” the officer yelled as a second cop approached.
“Daddy, I’m scared,” Clover sobbed.
“I know, sweetheart.” Cash hugged him tighter. “Please, lower your guns. I’ll stay down, but you’re scaring my son. Please.”
“Check his badge,” the officer said to his partner as he lowered the weapon slightly. Cash remained frozen as the cop fished the badge from his belt, but he didn’t miss the swarm of police raiding the mansion. They aggressively arrested thieves and hired thugs, and he hoped his identification was enough to clear his name.
“He’s telling the truth,” the cop said. “But we got a call earlier from the museum. Precieux’s Egg went missing, and security claimed this man drove off with a woman. His son wasn’t with him, though.”
“That’s because my son had been taken,” Cash said, desperate for them to believe him. “I did not steal the egg. I’m here for my boy.”
“Daddy…” Clover trailed off.
“It’s okay,” He brushed his boy’s hair back. “It’s going to be okay.” He silently pleaded with the officers to help him keep his word.
“Cash?” a familiar police officer jogged over, and Cash recognized him as one of the officers who had arrested the thief outside his house.
“Let him up. I know him.” The man grabbed Cash’s biceps and helped him to his feet. “These thieves have targeted him before.” He guided father and son away from the chaos and sat them in the front seat of his squad car.
“Are either of you hurt?” He glanced pointedly at Cash’s bloody knuckles.
“No,” Cash said. “He’s just scared.”
“It’s okay, buddy.” The officer ruffled Clover’s hair. “You’re safe now. We’ll take good care of you. I promise.”
“Thank you.”
“Of course. I have to keep you hereso we canget your statement, but I wouldn’t worry. You’ll be home soon.”
“Thanks.”
“If you need anything, find me.” The officer left to receive his orders, and for the first time since they’d exited the mansion, Cash scanned the arrested criminals, searching for one brunette in particular.
“Dad, where’s Sable?” Clover asked in a tiny voice.
“I don’t know, sweetheart.”
“Why did she run after the egg? Why didn’t she come outside with us?”
“I don’t know,” Cash repeated. “I guess shereallywanted the gold.”
“Is she a thief like my mom?”
“Yes.” He couldn’t lie to his son. Not after he’d witnessed the woman abandon them for the prize.
“Will she be okay?” Clover asked, surprising his father with his concern. He had expected his boy to be angry, but instead, he was worried about Sable’s safety.
“I hope so,” Cash said. As betrayed as he felt, he wanted her to be safe. He hoped she was far away from these arrests.
“Are we ever going to see her again?”
“I don’t think so,” Cash said, the words bitter on his tongue. “I think she’s gone.”
“Well, maybe she’ll come back.” Clover settled on his dad’s lap so he could watch the mansion for signs of her. The police arrested The Ombra and her associates. They arrested dozens of thugs and thieves, but no one ever found Sable or the golden egg. She was gone, and the prizealongwith her.
Here’s your water.” Cash set the bottle on the bedside table. “Do you need anything else?”
