“Then, why are you here? Really?”
“To make sure you were doing okay.”
“Okay?” he said sarcastically. “The woman I love is out there somewhere, hurt and afraid. Some asshole took her and is doing God only knows what to her because of a decision I made nine years ago. And the worst part is, I have no idea how to find her.”
“Jake told me the man who took her said she had six hours.”
Trevor looked down at his watch for what had to be the hundredth time in the past two hours. “Four, now.” He swallowed against the emotions clogging his throat, and on a broken whisper, he turned to her. “He’s going to kill her in four hours if I can’t figure out a way to stop him.”
Reaching across the small table positioned between the two chairs, Olivia took Trevor’s hand in hers and squeezed.
“I know it’s hard, but you’ve got the best team in there right now, doing everything they can to find her. Don’t give up on her, now.”
“I’m not giving up on her,” he said shortly. “I’m being realistic.” Pulling his hand from hers, Trevor stood and walked over to the balcony. “Other than knowing this is related to an op I went on with Delta nearly a decade ago, we’ve got nothing.”
Standing in the same spot her husband had earlier, Olivia smiled sadly. “You have faith and determination.” She put her small hand on his taught forearm. “And you have love. That’s not nothing.”
“It’s not enough!” he nearly shouted, acting exactly like the ass he’d been trying so hard not to be. “Shit, I’m sorry, Liv.”
She simply gave him a crooked smile and said, “Don’t be. Emotions are high. Trust me, I get it. It wasn’t so long ago I was in the same spot Lexi is.”
“I know,” he said, feeling even worse for yelling at her. “You’ve been there. What...what do you think she’s thinking about right now?”
“I can’t say what’s going on in Lexi’s head for sure, but if I had to guess, it’s probably a lot like what went through mine.”
“Which was?”
“How I wasn’t ready to die. I didn’t want to leave the people I loved behind. I kept telling myself not to give up hope. I also remember praying that Jake, and you, and the others wouldn’t ever give up on me.” Tears fell from Trevor’s eyes as she talked, but he did nothing to stop them. “Most of all, I remember praying with everything I had that Jake would know how much I loved him.”
Trevor drew in a stuttered breath. “I never got to tell her I love her,” he whispered, his bottom lip quivering. “I...I was going to tell her tomorrow at the picnic.”
Olivia swiped a hand at her own damp cheek. “I knew it was going to be a special moment for you two.”
“I wanted it to be perfect for her. Everything’s been such a crazy mess with us as far as dates go...I wanted to create a day she’d never forget. She works so hard, and deserves so much. And now”—a sob broke loose—“Ah, God, Liv. I can’t lose her. Not now. We just found each other.”
With a hand to his face, Trevor physically tried to keep more tears from falling. A set of small arms reached around him and held him tightly as his shoulders shuddered and his breath hitched again. After a few minutes, he slowly began to regain his control.
Pulling back from Olivia’s embrace, he sniffed and ran that same hand down the length of his face. Clearing his throat, his voice came out rough when he muttered, “Sorry.”
Olivia shook her head. “You’ve more than earned a few tears after a day like today. Don’t worry. Despite what he thinks, I don’t tell my husband everything.”
Letting out a weak laugh, Trevor grabbed hold of his friend and gave her a real hug. “Thanks, Liv.”
Patting his back, she whispered, “You’re going to find her, Trev. I know you are.”
“Uh...sorry to interrupt,” Derek’s regretful voice cut through the sweet moment between friends. Both Trevor and Olivia turned toward the door. “Trev, you got another message.”
Steeling himself, Trevor released himself from Olivia’s embrace and followed Derek back into his apartment.
He was surprised to see Derek’s brother among those gathered in the living room. Homeland Agent Jason Ryker had also arrived and was in the far corner talking to someone on the phone.
Eric immediately came to stand by his side. With a hand to his shoulder, the detective asked, “How you holdin’ up?”
“Honestly? Right now, I feel sort of...numb.”
“We’re doin’ all we can to find her, Trevor. You just gotta hang in there.”
“I know. I appreciate it, Eric. Thanks.”
