“I sent a drone over the house,” he starts. “And the entire property is in an absolute upheaval. There are about thirty men currently searching around the property. Half are in the woods behind the house, and the other half are walking the road.”
Right when he finishes, two black SUVs fly past me, and I spot several men
on foot up ahead.
“Shit,” I mutter, slowing down until I come to a stop right beside a man. “Jay,
let Michael know what’s going on and keep a drone on us.”
I roll down my passenger window, and the guy bends at the waist, eyeing Daya and me with impatience.
“Everything okay, sir?” I ask.
“Everything’s fine, nothing you need to worry about.”
“Looks like you’re having a search party. Do you need help?” I push.
“Nah, just looking for my dog.”
I arch a brow, and Daya gives him a look. “You must really care about this dog,” she remarks.
“Yeah, the bitch is priceless,” he retorts. “Now keep it movin’, you got cars
behind you, dickhead.”
But I’m already rolling my window up and pressing hard on the gas.
“Hear that, Jay?” I ask, my chest tightening.
“Yep. Do you think it’s Addie?”
I shake my head, my thoughts racing faster than my car.
“Jillian mentioned other girls in the house, so it could be any one of them, but
there’s a really good fucking chance. I don’t think they’d have a massive search
party like this for a regular girl.”
“It sounds like Addie. She’s brave.”
I bite my lip, a plethora of emotions rising in my chest—excitement, fear, and
pride.
I make a quick decision to head towards the train. I have no idea what direction she’s gone in, but I know she’s too smart to take the road. Too many possibilities to get caught and brought right back to the house. But there’s a chance she found that train, and is using it as a guide out of the woods. Or seeking refuge in it.
Daya’s phone buzzes for the millionth time, and she sighs as she taps on it.
“Her mother again?”
“Yeah,” she says softly. “She’s been a wreck since Addie went missing, and I
think she’s told every police officer in the state about themselves and their momma because they haven’t found her yet.”
“She knows we might get her today?”
She nods, “Yeah, I probably should’ve waited, but I’ve just never seen Serena
like this before, and I guess I just wanted to give her a little bit of hope, ya know? It’s been over two months, and I think she was all but convinced Addie’s dead.”
I flick my gaze to Daya. “She’s going to get her daughter back today. Call me
psycho, but my girl is close. I can feel it.”
Before Daya can respond, Jay’s voice cuts in. “Oh, shit.”
“What?” I snap.
“About two months ago, there are a couple satellite images of a massive
gathering at the house. I looked to see if there was an influx of flights and hotel
bookings, and sure as shit, there was. I mean, dozens and dozens of high-profile
men from all around the world flew in and stayed in surrounding hotels. One of
them was Xavier Delano; he has booked into a hotel forty-five minutes away every week for the past month.”
Just like Jillian had said—he’s been visiting her often.
“Fucker,” Daya mutters.
White-hot fury builds in my chest, an ever-present volcano ready to erupt at
any second. And it has, many times. Resulting in a lot of traffickers dying and a
couple of buildings burnt down. I try to concentrate, otherwise I’ll go blind with
rage again, and my car will go careening off the side of the road.
I come up to a dead end, my only option being to turn left or right.
“Jay, is the railroad line up ahead?”
“Yep, a few hundred feet,” he confirms a moment later.
“We’re going to search on foot, but I have a few men on standby, and I want
you to send them to the house just in case. I don’t want anyone to leave.”
“Got it.”
I turn left and drive for a few seconds before coming across a hiking trail.
There’s a small lot, so I quickly whip into a parking space.
“Put your Bluetooth in,” I tell Daya, sticking my own in my ear. Michael has
pulled in the spot beside me, and the four of us exit the cars.
“Is it Addie?” Michael asks immediately.
“We don’t know for sure, but I think it is, and she can’t be far.”
Ruby gasps and puts a hand over her heart, always one to be theatrical. “Oh!
We best hurry then. She’s probably so scared, poor girl.”
Michael nods, a small hopeful smile tipping up his lips.
“Help direct us to the railroad line,” I tell Jay after calling him on the Bluetooth while pulling out a cigarette from the pack.
“Those will kill you,” Jay complains. I look up, noting the drone stationed fifty feet above my head. I raise my hand and give it the finger. Jay chuckles through my Bluetooth and tells us where to head.
It takes us about five minutes of speed-walking to find the train.
“How long is the train?”
“This one is larger than most. Stretches about two miles. You’ve got about a half-mile to your right, and the rest to your left.”
I turn to Michael, “You and Ruby go right, and Daya and I will go left.”
He nods, already taking off in the direction. “See you soon,” he says, waving
a hand, Ruby quickly following after him.
“Ruby!” I call. “You got a gun, right?”
“You’re damn right I do,” she shouts back, not even glancing behind her.
Smiling in approval, I head in the other direction, my bones rattling with anticipation.
I’m coming home with my little mouse tonight. And then?
We’re going to burn down the world together.
Chapter 22
The Diamond
The tip of my toe catches on a rock, and I stumble forward, managing to right
myself before I eat dirt. The cold has settled deep in my bones, and all feeling in
my hands and feet have depleted.
I don’t know how long I’ve been running now, but I’ve counted the trailers I’ve passed.
Twelve. Only twelve.
It’s pitch-black outside still, and an owl is hooting somewhere in the distance,
easily drowned out by my namesake.
“Diiiamond!”
I heard Rocco’s friends calling for me right as I reached the train, and I’m seconds away from bending over and puking, which would lead them straight to me. If not by the sound of my retching, then by the puddle of vomit I would be