I watch us. I watch Kit’s small hand in mine. I watch the way he looked up at the entrance with that wide-eyed wonder, the shy little smile tugging at his lips when Selina teased him. I watch him glance at me, cheeks pink, like he couldn’t quite believe I was really there with him.
My chest tightens painfully.That smile. I didn’t know it then, but that might have been the last time I ever saw it, the thought hits like a fist to the ribs. I lean forward, elbows on the desk, staring at the frozen image of his face on the screen… soft, hopeful, and trusting. My throat burns.
I keep watching. Three different strangers in the space of ten minutes barge straight into him like he doesn’t exist, like he’s just an obstacle in their way because he’s small. Kit’s shoulders hunch every single time and his face drops; that bright little spark vanishing for a split second before he forces it back. He never complained, not once; like he was used to being invisible.
It pisses me off instantly. He’s fragile. Today was already hard for him and I let him walk through that crowd like he was nothing. I should have noticed; I should have kept him closer. I should have…
“FUCK!”
The word tears out of me like a roar. I stand so fast the chair slams backward into the wall. My arm sweeps across the desk, sending papers, pens, and an empty glass crashing to the floor, shattering. I kick the side of the desk hard enough that pain shoots up my leg, then drag both hands through my hair and pull, the sharp stinggrounding me for half a second before the rage boils over again.
I’m breathing hard, chest heaving, vision tunnelling. He wasrightthere, holding my hand, smiling at me. And now he’s gone.
I storm over to the cabinet in the corner, yank it open, and grab the first bottle my fingers touch, expensive whiskey, doesn’t matter. I don’t bother with a glass. I twist the cap off and take a long, burning pull straight from the bottle, the liquid scorching down my throat. I lean against the cabinet, bottle dangling from my fingers, and stare at my laptop still playing the footage on loop.
Where the fuck are you, Kit?And what the hell am I supposed to do if I can’t get you back?
Chapter Sixteen
~ They’re Back ~
Soren
I’ve been sitting in this chair for hours. The study is dim now, late afternoon light bleeding through the heavy curtains in thin, dusty shafts. The laptop screen is the only real brightness in the room, casting a cold blue glow across my desk.
I’ve watched the footage on repeat so many times the timestamps have started to blur together. I keep rewinding to the same moments: Kit’s small, genuine smile when we left Harrods, the way his eyes flicked up at me every few steps like he was checking I was still there, the shy little glances he stole when he thought I wasn’t looking. Then the bastards who shoved past him, treating him like he was invisible.
My chest feels like it’s being crushed from the inside. If I get him back…fuck…whenI get him back, I’m never letting him use a public toilet again. I’d rather he’d had an accident in the car on the way home.Anythingwould’ve been better than this.
I drag both hands down my face, trying to organise my thoughts, but they’re spinning too fast. My world doesn’t stop for anything, not even for this. I still have people to take care of, businesses to run, deals to close. But right now, none of it feels real.
I don’t do this; I don’t carethisdeeply about people. If one of my men went missing, I’d be pissed, I’d want blood, but it wouldn’t burrow this deep, thissharp, like something vital has been ripped out of me.
A sharp knock at the door brings me back to reality.
My voice comes out raspy and worn when I finally speak. “Come in.”
Ray steps inside, carrying a large steaming mug. He sets it down carefully on the edge of my desk. “Lorraine told me to get this to you.”
I nod once, the motion feeling mechanical. “Thanks.”
He sits down in the chair opposite me without being invited. He looks tired, the kind of tired that comes from running around all day with no answers.
I haven’t even spoken to Lorraine yet. She was the closest thing to family Kit had here… the one person I actually let him spend real time with. She’s probably taking this worse than anyone.
I clear my throat. “How is she?”
Ray hesitates. “Not too good, boss. Selina and Aria are trying to distract her, but…”
He doesn’t need to finish the sentence. She’s probably imagining the worst right now, and she has every right to.
Ray swallows and starts again. “I’m sorry I didn’t come back sooner, boss, I…”
I hold up a hand to cut him off and shake my head. “The world doesn’t stop just because one kid goes missing.”
The words sound cold even to my own ears. Ray winces slightly, but he doesn’t argue. It’s the truth, no matter how ugly it feels right now.
Ray leans forward, elbows on his knees. “There’s something more important you should know though.”
