Ellie sits by my legs, dropping her chin onto my knees. I sink a hand into her fur, and she lets out a soft whine at the contact. I'm so fucking glad she's okay—herandCéline. They were at the house when we made it back. Sick with worry, but alive and unharmed.
But Ellie…she didn't understand. She kept looking around us, past us, sitting by the door, tail wagging as she waited for Sev and Aurora. Eventually, her tail stopped wagging. Then she layby the door instead. Barely moving to eat or drink or ask to go outside to do her business.
She knows something is wrong.
It's why we had to take her with us. The only person she'll eat for is Atticus right now.
I didn't think it was the best idea. It's bad enoughwe'rethis close to the old house, but his nurse said he couldn't be taken far in his current state. Which doesn't exactly bode well for what we need.
"Anything from Sev?" I ask, and Atty checks his phone and shakes his head. "Nothing since his last check-in a few hours ago."
Turns out the lead was legit. Coyoteisin Spain, and Sev found some of his associates, but last we heard, he was no closer to finding the man himself.
"It's still looking like Coyote's gone completely dark," Atty adds.
"Well, that's what happens when you leave a trail of bodies to tip the guy off that he's being hunted."
I know Sev won't find him now. Coyote's probably halfway around the world. Atticus would have a better chance of locating the guy using his military contacts.
That's where Attyshouldbe. Doing what he does best. But he wouldn't let me come here alone, and now we're wasting even more fucking time.
I take a shallow breath and let it out through my nose as my teeth grind.
"Call the house."
Atticus cocks his head at me. "What?"
"The nurse isn't answering your text, so call the house. We can't just sit here."
Not while she's…
My throat stings with bile, and I throw the thoughts—the images that accompany them—far,faraway.
I can't go there. It's been mental gymnastics every waking moment. I know if I let myself think too hard—imagine what could be happening to my angel right now—I won't be able to function, and Ineedto be able to function.
She needs me.
She needs all of us.
None of us has said it out loud, but we all know…
There's only one reason why he would've taken her. But then why hasn't he made his move? He has us in checkmate. We're right where he wants us. So why the silence?
I rub the ache in my palm, and Ellie licks my fingers. When my knee starts to bounce, she puts a paw on it as if she can stop the tic, but not even I can.
The hole in my chest only seems to grow in size by the hour. Filling with more hopelessness and dread and despair than any one person can hold.
She brought me back to life, and without her, it's like…
Like I don't even have a soul.
It's just empty.
Hollow.
I chew the inside of my cheek. Every damn second that passes is like a personal attack.
"Hey," Atticus says in an uncharacteristically calm tone, sitting next to me. "Focus on right now, E."
