Something in his tone had me sitting up a little straighter, tension twisting my gut.
“After I saw what was likely a bribe for the doctor, I went looking specifically for another trail that would lead to a cover-up. Found one that leads to a shell company.” Jax’s voice dipped dangerously low. “One owned by a group suspected of involvement in human trafficking.”
The implications stole my air and practically stopped my heart for a moment. Then fury scorched through my veins, but the control I’d mastered in my life—though it often disappeared when it came to Hadley—kept me from completely losing my shit.
“And Flint called,” Jax added after a beat, quieter. “He gave me a couple of names of surgeons who might’ve done the botched surgery on Hadley. There’s one in particular he flagged as most likely, an asshole who’s been investigated multiple times for unethical practices. Eventually lost his license altogether.”
I pressed a palm to my forehead, fighting the murderous rage that had my whole body shaking from the effort to contain it. “Any ties between this surgeon and the trafficking group?”
“I’m digging into that right now, but my gut says yes,” Jax replied. “Connections like this don’t happen by chance. These people deal in desperation. They all know each other’s business.”
My mind locked everything into place with painful clarity, pieces finally fitting together to reveal a picture darker than I ever imagined. “You see it, right? Same thing I am?”
Jax exhaled sharply. “Yeah. Hadley was probably kidnapped as a baby. Sold on the black market to a wealthy, image-obsessed family.”
“It would explain why they removed a birthmark,” I gritted through clenched teeth. “From the scar, I’d say the size and placement were significant. It would have been too recognizable. They’re commonly used as identifiers in missing child cases. Especially since there are usually hospital records and early photos documenting it, they wouldn’t want to run the risk when their lives are splashed all over the media.”
The reality of that hit me with a force that nearly knocked the breath from my lungs. My woman had been taken. Bought as a baby. Hidden behind a perfect family facade her entire fucking life.
But that wasn’t what had me worried. It was the people who’d facilitated the kidnapping, the surgery, and the sale of a little baby. Hadley was living, breathing proof of their crimes. If anyone found out that we even suspected the truth, they’d want her taken out.
Protectiveness burned through me, coupled with a possessiveness so strong it felt primal. Hadley was mine, and I’d do whatever it took to keep her safe.
“Find everything you can,” I told Jax, my tone lethal. “Get me the proof we need to bury them. All of them.”
“On it,” Jax agreed without hesitation. “I’ll let you know when I have something solid on the others involved. But I already built a case against the parents in case Hadley decides she wants?—”
“Fuck,” I groaned, dropping my forehead onto the desk. “How do I tell her?”
“You haven’t told her?” Jax asked, his tone incredulous.
My head snapped up, and I glared at my phone. “You gonna tell me you would have told Lark she was kidnapped and sold to the people she thought were her parents for her whole fucking like before you had proof?”
Silence.
“That’s what I thought.”
Jax sighed. “You’re right. But it’s time, brother. She deserves to know.”
“Yeah. Just get me what I need to make sure she’s safe.”
“You know I will.”
Ending the call, I forced myself to my feet, pacing once around my office to calm the storm raging inside me. I’d almost forgotten what it felt like to be tossed into a situation where I wasn’t the one pulling all the strings. Now, I knew I needed to tell Hadley at least some of what we’d found, and I had no idea how she was going to react.
I decided to go ahead with my plan to take her to dinner, and then I’d ease her into it. I would make it very clear that I would protect her because she wasn’t going anywhere—not now, or ever.
I padded down the hall, steadying myself before I stepped into my bedroom to change. The scent of her lingered in the air, wrapping around me like a sensual promise as I stripped out of my clothes and pulled on fresh jeans and a button-down shirt before shrugging on my cut once more. My pulse quickened as Iglanced toward the bed, remembering how she’d looked cuddled against my pillow this morning.
Hadley belonged to me, but I hadn’t claimed all of her yet. That was gonna change real fucking soon. The possessiveness of that thought sent another jolt of arousal pulsing straight to my cock, making me ache painfully.
Fuck, I wanted her.Needed her with an intensity that threatened to snap my control completely.
Taking a deep breath, I forced myself back to the living room where Hadley waited, curled comfortably on the couch, her e-reader resting on her knee. She’d changed into jeans and a pink, strapless top that looked beautiful against her sun-kissed skin. Her slightly wild dark-blond locks that I loved running my fingers through were cascading down her shoulder. She looked up, her eyes widening slightly when she caught me staring. Her cheeks flushed a pretty pink, and the hunger in her gaze made my blood heat in response.
I reminded myself that we were about to head out in public, so I needed to get a handle on my desire. After drawing in a deep, steadying breath, I walked over to her and held out my hand. “Ready for dinner?”
Her eyes lit up, sparkling in a way that warmed me straight through. “Absolutely.”
