Maybe her room?
As I walk out of the room, something catches my eye from the bedside table. I squint and see the sun reflecting off a small corner of the table, bright against the rich wood. My brows crease and a sick feeling swirls in my gut. My heart pounds harder the closer I get, because I know exactly what it is.
Her engagement ring.
Next to it, is a piece of paper. My stomach drops with dread as I snatch up the note.
Ren,
Please don’t be mad, but I have to do this.
No!
I fall on the bed at the first line and my eyes well on their own. Roughly, I run my hand over my face, not wanting to read the rest, not wanting to confirm what I know is happening. But I look down and continue to read, as my heart rips open.
I never knew what a real family was until I met you.
Never dreamed of being in one.
That’s why I can’t let anything bad happen to your sister.
And I can’t watch your family suffer more loss.
Not when I can help.
Because I know you will find me and bring me home.
I trust you, so please trust me that I will be okay.
But just in case.
Thank you for not giving up on me.
Love Lilly
She went back.
I crumple the note in my fist, and a guttural feral scream tears from my throat. Grief threatens to consume me, but anger propels me off the bed. I charge out of the room and down the hallway.
I need to stop her. Maybe she hasn’t gotten too far.
The men must have heard me because they all appear in the doorway, just as I’m turning into the foyer.
“What the fuck?” Dante asks, his panicked and focused eyes looking down at my hand holding the paper.
“She left. She’s gone to trade for Amari. I’ve got to stop her.”
I feel the blood pounding in my ears as I head straight to the office to get my keys. I can hear my men behind me, boots stomping on the floor, racing after me as I burst through the front door, but I come to a complete stop. Amari is walking up the steps, and when she sees me, she bursts into tears, her eyes red and puffy from crying.
“I’m so sorry. I tried to stop her,” she wails, and her words are a sucker punch to my gut.
Running forward, I lift her into my arms and hold her tight, relieved that she is safe.
“Are you hurt?” I let go, eyes darting all over her, needing to see for myself.
“No. He didn’t hurt me. But Ren…” She chokes back a sob. “He said horrible, horrible things.”
Her face is full of anguish, her eyes tortured. I can only imagine the things he’s said, the things he’s planning to do to Lilly.