The back door hung off its hinges, the glass panel in the top half shattered. I raised my gun, the one I always kept in my car, and nudged the door open with my foot. It creaked as it swung open, and I tentatively peeked around, prepared for some kind of ambush.
My eyes widened at the chaosthatgreeted me. Glass covered the kitchen floor, cupboard doors and drawers had been flung open, and the contents from inside scattered everywhere. My gaze landed on a trail of blood, and creeping forward, I tracked it behind the kitchen island.
“Kiki! What the fuck?”
Not giving a fuckthatthe glass would likely cut me, I fell to my knees in front of her. She’d propped herself against the island, congealed blood covering her forehead caused by a gashthatdisappeared into her hairline, one eye swollen shut, the other badly bruised. Dried blood crusted under her nose and onto her chin.
“Jackson,” she whispered, wincing.
An array of emotions crashed into me as I took in her battered form, but none as clear than the rage. Whoever had done this—and I had a damn good idea who was responsible—was a dead fucking man.
Guilt joined the party at the memory of the bruise on Kiera’s face when I’d arrived for dinner. I’d intended to find the footage of Alec hitting Kiera to use as proof, but with everythingthathad happened between us, and helping James uncover Willow’s past, it slipped from my mind.
Fuck. I could have prevented this if I hadn’t been so damn wrapped up in the way Kiera made me feel.
“What happened?”I asked, stroking a bloodstained strand of hair from her face.
Tears filled her eye.“Alec. I told him my dad had died and he…went beserk.”
“Over your dad dying?”
She nodded, her face twisting in pain.“It’s a long story. But he…he’s taken Billie.”
My brows shot up, the anger pumping through me turning to white-hot fury.“He’s taken Billie?”Kiera grabbed my hand and tried to pull herself up, groaning in agony as I stopped her.“Don’t move, Kiki. What are you doing?”
She continued her attempt to stand.“I…I have to. He’s got Billie…and I need to get her back.”
Hearing the distress in her voice, I lifted her into my arms and sat her on top of the island.“You need a doctor before you do anything.”
“What I need is to find my daughter,”she replied, desperation coating her voice.“He knows, Jackson. Alec knows, and I think he is going to do something to Billie in revenge.”
My heart leaped into my throat.“Knows about us?”
Her pleading eye found mine.“No. He knows about Legion. My father promised him a place in Legion when we got married, but now my father is dead, he knowsthatwon’t happen. That’s why I think he’s taken Billie. I think he’ll use her as a way to secure his place, or he’ll…he’ll hurt her.”
Blood swirled down the drain as I gently swiped the sponge over Kiera’s battered body, careful to avoid the colorful bruises marring her ribs.
She’d begged me to help her find Billie before breaking down into wracking sobsthathad made her entire body violently shake. Of course I was going to help her; Billie wasn’t only her daughter, but she was my best friend’s niece, and I too had grown fond of her.
But first, I needed to clean Kiera up and assess her injuries. Only once I had satisfied myselfthatshe didn’t need further medical attention could I sit her down and probe her about Alec. The more I knew about him, the more chance I had of finding where he’d taken Billie.
Soft moans flowed from Kiera as the two of us stood naked under the hot running water, although I didn’t think it was from the injuries Alec had caused. It was from the pain in her heart at knowing her daughter was out there somewhere, but she didn’t know where.
And fuck, did I want to stop her torment.
Whatever it took, I wouldn’t give up until Billie was back in her mother’s arms.
With most of the blood cleared from Kiera’s skin, I ditched the sponge and turned her, moving her so her hair was under the stream. Her tits pressed against me, but for once, my cock didn’t stir. Not at a time like this.
When her hair was wet enough, I squeezed the shampoo into my hand, spinning her again so I could lather it into her hair. Her body slumpedhelplessly against me; her back to my chest as I massaged her scalp, careful to avoid the gash so it didn’t start bleeding again.
Kiera released another sob, and I couldn’t help but lower my lips to brush against her shoulder. Rightthen, right atthatminute, nothing else mattered. Not the past, not the future. NotevenAlec.
Only her.
“We’ll get her back, baby,”I whispered, grazing my lips against the shell of her ear.
Her body shuddered.“What if it’s too late?”
