“Do you have other injuries?”
He brought his arms out from under the covers to show her that his wrists were wrapped in gauze. “They held us with zip ties that cut into my skin. That and the ribs kinda hurt, but otherwise, I’m okay.”
“Who held you?”
“Brecken and his father, but his dad was really mad when he found out I’m the president’s nephew. He was screaming at Brecken for being so stupid as to get a kid who’s related to the president. He was so mad that I was afraid…”
“Of what, honey?”
“That’d he kill us, so Tomas and me… We used my knife to cut ourselves free, but it took forever because it was dark, we were both tied up, and we couldn’t reach. While they were sleeping, we ran away.”
“Was Luna there, too?”
“I didn’t see her. Is she missing?”
“She is.”
“Oh God… Brecken is obsessed with her. This was all about her.” His eyes brimmed with tears. “We told him we didn’t want to be part of it, but he said we had to do what he told us, or he’d kill our p-parents.” The quiver of his chin broke her heart. It’d been years since that’d happened. “She’s such a nice girl. I really like her, and she likes me, too. I didn’t want to help him get to her.”
“Don’t say anything to anyone until we talk to Sam. She’s on the way over now and so are Dad, Brooke and Nate.”
“Brooke is here?”
“She and Nate came home yesterday when we couldn’t find you. We’ve been so upset.”
“All I could think about was how mad you were going to be at me—and at Dad.”
“I’m not mad at you. I’m just so, so grateful to have you back. Nothing else matters right now except that you’re safe and so is Tomas.”
A police officer Tracy didn’t recognize entered the room. “I’m Captain Ruiz from the MPD, and I’d like to have a word with Ethan if I might.”
“He’s… he’s not ready to talk about it yet. Maybe in a little while.”
“We’re still looking for Luna Ahern, and as you can imagine, every minute counts.”
“I understand.” Tracy returned her attention to Ethan. “He’ll talk when he’s ready.”
“Ethan,” the captain said, “Luna is counting on you and Tomas to do whatever you can to help her.”
“I don’t know where she is. I never saw her.”
“That’s enough for now,” Tracy said, resisting the urge to snap at her. Until she saw her sister, he wasn’t saying anything to anyone. She was certain that’s what her dad would’ve told her to do if he’d been there. As she held Ethan’s hand, she wished more than anything that her dad could walk her through this unprecedented situation. Thank God she had Sam to do it.
A few minutes later, a rustling sound outside the curtain alerted her to people approaching. Tracy sat up, wiped her face and turned to see Sam coming around the curtain. She stood to hug her sister.
Sam released her and went to Ethan, weeping as she hugged him. “Very happy to see you, buddy.”
“I’m happy to see you, too.”
“A female captain was in here wanting to talk to him, but I waited for you to tell us what he should say.”
“I just saw her in the hallway. She’s talking to Tomas while I talk to Ethan.”
“Oh, okay,” Ethan said with a hesitant glance at his mother.
“First of all, are you hurt?” Sam asked.
He ran through the list of injuries he’d already told Tracy about, and Sam made a note of each one in a notebook she pulled out of her back pocket.
