Celia met Knox’s gaze. “Theo believes Jade is somehow the key to his life working out. That if he gets her back, he’ll manage to stay with the Rockets. He’ll have a family. He’s really out of his mind, Knox.”
“He told you all of this?”
Her eyes filled with tears as she nodded. “I never would have become involved with him if I thought he’d get so out of control.”
Knox ran his fingers through his hair. “At least he told you his plan and you did the right thing.”
“I tried to call Jade but she hung up on me.”
Shit. Did that mean Theo had already gotten to her? Knox’s stomach twisted painfully. “What else did Theo say?” he asked Celia. “Think. Did he mention where he wanted to take her?”
Celia swallowed hard. “He read Jade’s messages to Holly and knew she had an early appointment this morning. When I spoke to him, he was on his way to her apartment to wait for her to come outside. I tried to call you, but you’d blocked my number. All I know is, he said he was going to take her somewhere they could be alone. That’s all I know. I swear.”
“Why didn’t you call the police when you couldn’t reach me?” he asked.
She looked away. “Theo has enough problems. I thought… I don’t know what I thought, okay? But I’m here now.”
He scowled at her. Hands shaking, Knox pulled out his phone and looked up Asher’s number, then tapped the screen. He put the phone to his ear and waited for Jade’s brother to answer.
“Hey. What’s up?” Asher asked.
“Have you heard from Jade this morning?”
“No, but she had her therapy appointment,” Asher said.
“Then we have a problem. I think Theo has her.”
Asher let out a curse. “What the fuck? How? Why?”
“Later, okay? I’ll call the cops and–”
“No,” Asher bit out. “Zach is a computer genius and has connections. He knows how to find people. He’ll get to her faster than bringing in the police, who’ll waste time asking questions.”
Knox swallowed hard, trusting Jade’s brother. “Fine. Call Zach and you two get over to the stadium. Now.” He disconnected the call and turned to Celia, who’d grown pale. “Do me a favor? Just sit there and think. Maybe Theo said something else that’ll give us a clue as to where he’s taken her.”
She nodded.
Knox walked to the door, opened it, and stuck his head out. “Olga, get Holly in here, please?” Maybe his sister would have some idea where Theo would take Jade.
A few seconds later, Olga stepped inside. “Your sister is meeting with advertisers and is expected in later.”
Shit. “Thanks, Olga. Make sure you leave a message for her. I need to talk to her as soon as she gets here. It’s an emergency.”
Knox pulled up Holly’s number on his cell and tapped the screen. He listened but it went straight to voicemail and he left a message instructing her to call him back as soon as possible. Knox began pacing again as they waited for Jade’s brothers or Holly to arrive. He used the time to text Asher and fill him in so they wouldn’t waste precious minutes when they got here.
They sat in silence. Knox had nothing to say to his ex, though he appreciated the fact that she’d come to help. Without her, he might not have known what had happened to Jade.
Finally, Holly walked into Knox’s office. She looked from Knox to Celia and her mouth opened wide.
“Don’t ask. I just need to know if you have any idea where Theo might take Jade.”
“What do you mean?” Holly lowered herself into the seat next to Celia. Neither said anything to each other.
Knox picked up a pen and began rolling it between his palms.
“Think of a place he liked to go when he was growing up, somewhere he mentioned often,” Zach answered, entering with Asher behind him. He had a laptop in hand and walked over to where Knox sat.
Zach stared, brows raised, until Knox got the message and vacated the chair. Zach slipped off his ever-present leather jacket and settled himself behind the desk.