He emits a pained groan and turns away to pack his own bags.
“What are you doing?” I demand as I pull on the one pair of comfortable leggings I allowed myself to bring. “You’re staying here.”
“I’m preparing to leave, Erin. As soon as I have what I need, which is going to be today, I’ll be right behind you.”
My chest swells with gratitude for this man. He doesn’t have to do this—help me find my daughter—but he’s insistent.
I can’t imagine what Gerard would have done in a similar situation but I know for a fact he wouldn’t have stuck around. He’d have gone to work, like he always did. Nothing could ever compete with work.
I pause, my hands trembling, and a weak sob chokes its way out of my chest.
Augusto is in front of me in an instant, and his voice cuts through me.
“I will not let him take her from you, okay?” he says. “You’re not fighting this on your own. Not anymore.”
I hesitate, taking a lip between my teeth, biting back tears. Then I nod.
“The car will be here in ten.”
Augusto returns to packing while I pace the room, my body buzzing with helpless energy. I replay every conversation I’ve ever had with Gerard, every manipulation, every subtle threat. I should have known he’d go for Paige. I should have protected her better. I should never have left her to do this job.
Time stretches painfully while my brain compresses to thinking only one thought: how am I going to get my daughter back? Once Gerard has her in his clutches, God knows what he’ll say to her. What he’ll make her believe.
My phone rings and my heart leaps.
It’s an unknown number but I answer anyway.
“Well, hello Erin…” Gerard’s voice slithers through the device, freezing me to stone. “I didn’t expect to be speaking to you again so soon.”
“Where is she?” I snap.
“We’ll get to Paige in just a moment, darling. Why don’t you tell me about your vacation? Are you enjoying the lodge?”
Every part of my body plummets by several degrees and I shiver. His voice sounds eerily calculated. I swallow hard before speaking again.
“How do you know where I am, Gerard?”
Augusto looks up sharply and our eyes lock.
“Paige told me, of course. You’ve got some kind of hospitality job at Winter Pines. It’s very enterprising. I’m proud of you.”
He sounds anything but proud. He sounds like he’s reveling in something. Like he’s about to end my life for daring to divorce him.
“Where is Paige?” I try to keep my tone level but everything is shaking—even my voice.
Augusto steps up to me, his gaze intense.
“She’s just arrived.”
“Where? At the house?”
“Notthehouse, Erin.Myhouse. You left us, remember?”
I have a horrible, sinking feeling he isn’t going to put Paige on the phone, even though she’ll want to speak to me. He’s using her to afflict me with bruises inside and out.
“What do you want, Gerard?”
There’s a long pause.
