“Look, I getthatEt…”I closed my eyes, acid burning my throat at having to sayhisname.“I get you have to deal with him, but he can wait. Billie can’t. I need my baby back.”
The hole in my heartthathad been present since learning Alec had taken her was getting deeper with every passing minutethatshe was out there somewhere, probably scared out of her mind.
“What have you found?”James asked, his question directed at Jackson.
“I managed to get into his computer, but it was as clean as a whistle. His car is fitted with GPS, but when I hacked into it, it looked like he had abandoned his car shortly after collecting Billie from the school. Same with his personal phone, and the one he used to contact Kiera yesterday, neither of them are on the network any longer. He hasn’t used his bank account, and I’m running facial recognition software across the country, but so far, there’s been no trace. He’s gone to ground. Where, though? I don’t know.”
I gaped between Jackson and James, fascinated by how the two of them had gone from plotting murder to full business mode to track someone down. I’d always known the two of them were involved in contract killings on behalf of Legion, but I’d never witnessed them at work.
Until now.
James focused back on me.“You said something about Dad having plans for Billie. Did Alec say anything more?”
“No, that was all.”
Nausea roiled in my stomach at the insinuation in Alec’s words. My father was an abhorrent man, capable of unspeakable evil. Not for the first time, relief rolled through methathe was dead, and I wouldn’t have to constantly worrythatone day, he’d take Billie from me.
Butevenin his death, my worst fear had come true.
“How long do we have until he makes contact again?”
I glanced down at my watch.“Six hours.”Six hours left out of my twenty-four-hour grace period, and I still feltjustas hopeless as I had when I first hung up on Alec.“Please, James. Give him what he wants so we get Billie back.”
“Kiera, you know Legion doesn’t work likethat-”
A powerful rage swept through me, propelling me to my feet.“Fuck Legion, James! I don’t give a damn about your fucked up society, I want my daughter back.”
“You should care about Legion,”James replied, his tone cool despite my obvious anger toward him.“Like it or not, your daughter is an heir to Legion.”
The wind was knocked from my sails.“What?”
“He’s right, Kiki.”Jackson stood, grabbing my hand and turning me to face him.“As much as I hate it, my father is one of the heads of Legion. His children, regardless of how many he has or who their mom is, become heirs. Billie might never sit on the board, not if I have my own children, but if something were to happen to me, she’d be expected to take her place.”
My lip quivered. Not solely at the thought of Billie being involved with an organization responsible for murder and who knew what other crime, but because of what Jackson had said.If I have my own children.
Something I couldn’t give him.
“I don’t want Billie being a part of Legion,”I hissed, ignoring the painful way my chest had constricted.
“You’re looking at this all wrong, Kiera,”James said, sliding Willow—who hadn’t said asingleword this whole time—from his lap as he stood, and crossed to where Jackson had pulled me into his arms.“Legion failed you because of ourfather, but think of the protection it could offer Billie. Who helped her get on the medical trial? A Legion member. If, and hopefully it won’t happen, butifshe gets sick again, she’ll have access to the best medical care in the world because of her links to Legion. She’s at a good school now, but as part of Legion, she could go to the best fucking college and get an amazing education. Kiera, Legion opens up a whole new world to Billie. I know the society failed you, but it could help Billie.”
I scrubbed a frustrated hand down my face.“How doesthathelp her now, James? We can discuss all this shit when she’s home and safe.”
A muscle twitched in his jaw as he glanced at Jackson, unspoken words passing between them. Before I could ask what, though, James sighed.“If Alec was in contact with my father, there’s a possibilitythatwhatever device they were using to communicate is still at my father’s house. We start there.”
Jackson nodded his agreement.“We also need to get into Alec’s office in the city. His computer at home was clean, but his work one might not be.”
“Agreed. Let’s go.”
“I’m coming with you,”I said, standing in front of Jackson with my arms crossed as James turned to head to Willow. From my periphery, I saw him pull her into his arms, cup her face, and slam his mouth against hers, almost as if he were angry with her.
Jackson swiped a stray tear from under my eye.“Stay here, Kiki. You need to rest. Plus, you’re safe here, James and I will be able to get through things quicker if we’re not having to worry about you.”
“He’s right,”James added, stomping past me toward the door.“Stay here with Willow.”
He disappeared before I couldevenattempt to argue, but they were both right. Not only was I exhausted, having been awake for nearly thirty-six hours, and my body ached worse than anything I had ever felt before, but there wasn’t a single thing I could do but get in their way.
The two of them were good at their job; Ijusthad to trust them to bring my daughter back to me.
