Our daughter.
“Cillian,” Emma called and whispered something in his ear. I watched Cillian’s jaw clench, his entire body going rigid.
“What is it?” I demanded. “What did she say?”
Cillian met my eyes and said, “We found him.”
Derek
I wasn’t letting Cillian and the cops go alone. Not a chance in hell.
We had found Jack hiding at his old house. The one he inherited from his grandmother, the one he used to talk about selling but never did. The drive felt endless and every second was another second Lily was with that lunatic. Another second she might be scared or hurt or worse.
The plan was simple. I would distract Jack while the cops got into position to extract Lily and arrest him. Let him focus on me, on his hatred for me, while they got my daughter to safety.
The house was exactly as I remembered the one time I had been there. It was old and rusty, with an overgrown yard. The kind of place that looked haunted in the dark.
Lily. I have to save her.
I approached the front door alone, aware of the officers positioned around the perimeter, of Cillian watching from his position by the trees.
I knocked.
Once. Twice. Thr?—
The door flew open, and Jack’s hand shot out, grabbing my shirt and yanking me inside. I felt cold metal pressed against my temple before I even caught my balance.
There was a gun pressed against my head.
“Are you here alone?” Jack’s voice was maniacal. He smelled like whiskey and sweat. He looked older, with an unkept beard.
“Of course, dumbass,” I said, keeping my voice steady even though my heart was hammering. “Did you really think I’d bring the cavalry?”
His fist connected with my jaw before I saw it coming as pain exploded across my face, and I tasted copper.
Fuck.
“Stop being a smartass,” Jack growled, dragging me further into the house.
I coughed, spitting blood, and looked around desperately. The living room was dark, but there was no sign of Lily. No crying or sounds from deeper in the house.
“Where’s Lily?” I asked, trying to keep the desperation out of my voice.
Jack ignored me, shoving me into a chair. He pulled out the rope and started binding my wrists.
Shit. He knew I’d come to save her.
“Where’s Lily?” I asked again, louder this time.
Nothing. Just the sound of his heavy breathing.
“Jack, where the fuck is she?”
He jerked the rope tight enough to make me wince. My hands were secured behind the chair now, leaving me helpless and vulnerable.
Exactly where he wanted me.
“You know,” I said, forcing my voice to stay calm. “If you had asked me for money, I would have given it to you.”
