Every muscle in my body tightens. “What?”
“I have him.”
The world stops, and ice runs through my veins. “With you?”
“On the phone. He wants to talk to Eli.”
My grip tightens around the phone. Deck had taken Eli’s phone days ago just in case Adrian tried to make contact.
“We’re tracing the call,” Deck adds.
My breathing slows. “Keep him talking. You know the drill. I’m heading to you now.”
I’m already moving back toward Eli. “Give me one minute.”
* * *
I step back into the bedroom, and Eli looks up. The moment he sees my face, he knows something is wrong.
“Baby.” I kneel beside him. “Baby Boy… Adrian’s on the phone.”
Eli’s face changes. “Adrian’s on the phone?”
All color drains from his skin.
“He’ll only speak to you.”
Eli shakes his head rapidly. “I can’t.”
My chest caves in at the sheer terror in his eyes. It’s so raw it feels like a physical blow.
Finn immediately grabs his hand. “Yes, you can, El.” Eli looks at him, eyes wide. “We’re right here.”
I squeeze his other hand. “You’re not doing this alone.”
His eyes move between us. Then slowly, he nods. “Okay.”
I pick up the phone. “Deck.”
“Ready.”
I put it on speaker, and the call connects. Then I hear it: the voice I never wanted Eli to hear again.
“Hello, Elijah.”
Eli bolts upright, the blankets falling away. Every trace of color drains from his face.
“No.”
One broken word, and something inside me turns savage. Deck’s voice stays calm and controlled over the line: “Adrian.”
A quiet laugh echoes through the speaker. Deck is completely ignored.
“Mr. Palmer,” Adrian says, addressing me, sounding amused, as if this is all a game. I suppose to him, it is. “I was beginning to wonder if you were looking for me after I sent my little gift.”
“We received it.”
Another low laugh. “Did you? You were always so photogenic, Elijah.”
