I glanced down at Alec, blood pooling around his head, his face caved in, and his chest still. I turned back to her, forcing her gaze away from the dead body.“You did, but you saved me, Willow. He would have killed me if you hadn’t.”
Thick tears streaked down her face as I pulled her shaking form into my body, soothing a hand down her hair and comforting her. Gratitude flowed through my veins. If it hadn’t been for Willow, Alec would have undoubtedly killed me. Possibly her, too.
She saved us.
But in doing so, I hadevenless chance of finding Billie.
Chapter 30
Jackson
James drove like the devil was chasing us on a motorbike. Furious didn’t come close to how the two of us were feeling. Not only had Alec somehow bypassed James’ security, but he’d attacked Kiera and threatened Willow.
Alec had better hope he was dead; if we arrived at the house and discovered there waseventhe slightest beat of his pulse, we would have done what we could to bring the fucker back to life,justsothatwe could take our sweet time in killing him again.
Kiera had only given the highlights to James; Willow was distraught, and Kiera hung up on him so she could calm Willow down. Of course,thatmeant with only half the story of what had happened, James and I were left to fill in the blanks, which ultimately led to the two of us fearing the worst.
James didn’t bother stopping at the security gate as he turned into the entrance to his house. He hadn’t said it aloud, but I suspected he thought the same as me; at least one of his men had betrayed him by allowing Alec access to the house.
They wouldn’t live long enough to regret it.
Squealing to a halt, James and I leaped out of the car and rushed inside. Kiera and Willow were in the living room, sitting on the couch as Kiera hugged Willow to her side. Hearing us enter, Kiera’s head whipped up, relief filling her teary eyes.
“Fuck, Mouse, what the hell happened?”James growled, pulling his wife to her feet and cupping her face so he could examine her forinjuries.
I crossed to Kiera, needing to reassure myselfthatshe wasn’t hurt, but the second I caught the bruises forming across her throat, a murderous streak slammed into me.
“I’m…sssorry, James,”Willow sobbed, falling against his chest.“It’s my fault we won’t find Billie.”
James wasn’t known for being soft. I’d known him all my life, and I couldn’t remember a time when he’d shown any kind of tenderness toward anyone but Kiera and Billie. Untilthatmoment.
He lifted Willow into his arms, her legs wrapping around him as he sank down on the couch. She straddled him as he held her against his chest, rocking her gently as he placed little kisses along her jawline, and whispering sothatonly she could hear what he was saying.
I nodded to Kiera, indicating for her to follow me. Leaving James to console Willow, Kiera trailed behind me as I made my way to the kitchen. My gaze instantly dropped to the body on the floor.
Alec was definitely dead, if the dent in his face was anything to go by, andthatwas without mentioning the hole in his skullthatleaked a shit load of blood.
“Christ. Who knew Willow had it in her?”I said, kicking Alec’s body.
“She saved me. If she hadn’t done…that, he would have killed me,”Kiera replied, her voice breaking.
I spun to her, a grimace twisting on my lips as I stared at the marks on her neck. Like James had done to Willow, I pulled her into my arms, tilting her head back so I could get a proper look at the damage Alec had caused.
“I wish there was a way I could bring him back to life so I could take my time in murdering him for what he’s done to you.”
Kiera placed her hands against my chest, her palm resting against my heart as her eyes fell closed.“Please tell me you found somethingthatwill help find Billie.”
Her tone was thick with anguish, her despair visible on her face. I brushed a strand of hair behind her ear before placing a chaste kiss on her delectable mouth.“Not yet. But we will, Kiki.”
When her eyes opened again, a tear slid down her cheek.“Ijustwant her back. My heart hurts so much not knowing where she is, and now,”she broke off, glancing down at Alec’s body.“I don’t know if we’ll ever find her.”
“Kiki, look at me.”Pressing two fingers under her chin, I lifted her head.“We will find her. I promise you, I won’t stop until your daughter is back where she belongs.”
The dam broke, emotions overpowering Kiera as she fell against my chest. Fucking hell. She’d been through so much these past few days, and still, we were no closer to finding Billie. At least I could give her some newsthatmight comfort her.
“My father is dead.”
“What?”She pulled back, gaping up at me without blinking.
