I was going to rip her apart. Yeah. I was going to kill her with my bare hands.
“It’s a white or silver SUV,” Amoho muttered, watching Ling drive away with my son. “I can’t make it all out, but I think I can get partial plates.”
This guy was a computer wizard.
Feeling a rush of fondness for him, I slapped my hands down onto his shoulders and squeezed hard. “Do it, man.” Standing back, I took in a deep breath and blew it out slowly.
Tama stood there, imposing like a goddamn tiki statue, his face drawn, his lips pulled down. “Want to help you get your boy back.”
He meant it. Not because he was with Molly, but because he knew if we didn’t get my son back soon, one of my people would soon be sent to identify his body. And even psychopaths like us didn’t condone violence against children.
“Appreciate that.” I looked over at Amoho. “Gonna need a copy of that footage.”
Amoho spun on his chair and threw me a small, white USB. I caught it with ease, as he spoke, “We get anything new, we’ll call.”
Before I stepped out, Tama stopped me. “Look. About Molly—”
I cut the big guy off with, “What she’s doing is not helping me.” The words were harsh but spoken softly. “You tell her that she once told me she’d do anything to protect my son, and I’m holding her to that, because, right now, he needs all the help he can get.”
And with that, I left.
***
Lexi Never before had I realized how cruel the mind could be.
Take now, for instance.
Against all wishes, I wondered what my son’s last thoughts would be before Ling took his life.
Would he remember the times we stayed up late together and watched movies, laughing as he tried to catch the popcorn I threw into his mouth? Or would his last reflections of me be about the times he begged me to believe him about his father’s return and how his awful mother refused to see reason?
I wasn’t crying, not anymore, but the tears continued to fall, trailing my cheeks and dripping down my neck.
My mind was stuck on the morose.
I only hoped that when the time came, she made it quick for him.
My brow lowered as I heard my own thoughts.
Listen to me.
What the hell was I doing?
Absolutely nothing.
Sitting here, feeling sorry for myself while Ling was doing God knows what with my son. It was appalling.
What kind of mother did that make me?
It made me a mother who was not worthy of her son.
Feeling a newfound energy source derived from grief, I stood and changed clothes. I went to my nightstand and slid out the bottom drawer, revealing the small metal box hidden underneath. Keying in the code, it opened, and I retrieved the .22 caliber Glock Julius had given me for my own protection. It was loaded and ready to go. Before I left my room, I looked at myself in the mirror.
My face looked sunken. A solid blackness sat under my red eyes. My lips were pale and dry, and a constant frown creased my brows.
I was an absolute mess.
But I didn’t have time to dwell. I grabbed my purse, and Luna looked up from her laptop when I stepped out of my room. She must have seen the steely look in my eyes, because she stood slowly. “Where are you going, Lexi?”
No deception here. “I’m going to see Pav.”
Luna put her hands up in a placating gesture. “No need. Fern and Thiago are already there and they’re negotiating for his help. They’ll be back soon, and I’m sure we’ll have an army at our disposal.” She paused, looking me up and down. “I know this is hard for you, but we’re doing everything we can to get your son back and get him back safely.”
I didn’t want to scoff the way I did. It sort of just escaped. “No offense, Luna, but you can’t possibly understand—” My voice broke. “—what this is like.” My lips trembled. “And I need to do something, not just sit here like a damsel in distress and wait for someone to help rescue me from this situation.” I sniffed, blinking back tears. “So I’m going.”
She shocked me when she sat back down, keeping her eyes on me. “Okay.”
Wait. Was this a trick?
“Okay,” I said, pulling my purse up my shoulder and turning slowly to leave. Before I hit the door, I spun back and uttered, “Come with me?”
Luna’s face softened as she stood once more. “If you want.”
I did want that, because I was furious at Luka Pavlovic and I did not trust myself alone with him should his answer be yet another refusal.
Shockingly enough, Luka let me into his home without an argument, so what happened when he answered the front door was on him.
Pulling out my pistol, I held it steady and pointed it at the center of his chest.
“Lexi,” Luna muttered in caution, but I was a woman on a mission.
Pav didn’t look too fazed when he uttered a tired-sounding, “What are doing, Alexa?”
To prove my seriousness, I held the gun away from him and pulled the trigger.
Bang.
Neither of us flinched, but the sound was deafening.
Thiago and Fern rushed out, guns at the ready, but when they both saw me, they lowered their weapons and Thiago took a small step forward. “Alexa, don’t do this.”
My nostrils flaring as I took in severe breaths through my nose, I peered at him for a millisecond before resting my wild eyes back on Luka. “You’re going to help me find my son, Luka.” I took a step forward and pressed the barrel of the gun to his pec. He put his hands up sluggishly and took a step back. With every step I took, he moved back into his home, and I spoke all the while. “You are a coward,” I told him scathingly. “And for the first time in my life, I’m not.” Another step. “I’m not scared anymore. I’m just angry.” My vision blurred with tears of fury. “Because a queen in your domain decided she hates me enough to take my son from me, and that’s on you—” I looked him over disgustedly. “—your highness.”
Fern piped in, “Lexi, I don’t like him either, but you can’t do this, gatita.”
Ignoring all the warning signs, I stepped closer. My voice shook. “I begged for your help.” My lips trembled. “Begged for it. And you refused. Every second he’s gone is a second I won’t get back, and I’m not prepared to lose anymore than what I already have.” Taking a small step away from him, I lifted my arm, aiming at his head. “So I’m not asking anymore, Luka. Now, I’m demanding.” My arm began to shake. “You will help us.”
Luka Pavlovic looked me deep in the eyes. He spoke quietly. “Put the gun down, little one.”
The hand holding the gun shook almost as uncontrollably as my voice did. “No. Not until you say you’ll help me.” Jaw tight, my tone lowered, weakened. “I need your help.”
That was when Fern spoke. “Lexi, please. Put the gun down.” She paused a long moment, before she revealed, “He thinks he knows where she is.”
At that, I spun to face her. “What?”
Luka took the opportunity I’d given him, lifting my arm high, taking the gun out of reach, stepping into my body, and holding my quivering form close. When I blinked up at him through my tears, he surprised me by sparing a small smile for the person who just threatened a king in his own demesne. “You think I’d let anything happen to that little boy?” It was hard to take in a full breath. “That boy spent a week in my home. Ate from my table. Called me his uncle.” My body slumped at the very same moment my breath hitched. Luka ran a gentle hand down my cheek and shook his head. “I protect my family, Alexa. And whether I like it or not, you’re family.”
My very soul ached at the force of the relief I felt right then, and as Luka called Twitch, Fern guided me to the sofa and sat me down, where I stayed locked in my head in complete and utter silence because I had nothing more to say.
Chapter FortyOne
A.J.
A.J. looked across the room to where the unfamiliar woman sat on the edge of her bed and brushed out her wet hair, humming to herself and smiling all the while.
Yes, he was only five-years-old, but he knew something was wrong.