She had almost written "Love, Vicki," and had to check that she hadn't. She turned to get ready to leave. He needed time and she needed to stay focused on Clara and her new family life. Today was the day. Victoria Morgan's life was about to be domesticated, and she had a few loose ends of her own to tie up.
Clara bounded into her room and Vicki smiled at her. "Give me one minute to pack a bag with snacks, sweetheart."
"Okay," Clara said, and Vicki was on the run and headed back to the kitchen.
She packed a few juice boxes and healthy snacks. Clara waited impatiently at the door, and bounded outside the second Vicki opened the door.
A few minutes later, they were secure in the car and on the road, and Vicki held in her excitement.
One day at a time was her motto from now on. She stared back at her baby girl. Tonight, they told her, and it couldn't be here fast enough. Where she lived after that had to be close to Clara. Vicki refused to lose her family ever again.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
Colt brushed his shoes on the front porch rug then went inside. Nothing stirred. His ears perked for any signs of noise, but the house was eerily quiet. His gut had firecrackers that went off as a warning, like they had in the service when he was about to be attacked. He closed the door behind him.
Earlier Vicki was too excited to tell Clara today, and made him feel like he'd kept them apart too long already. He ignored the sirens in his head telling him he'd walked into a mistake. Instead he straightened his spine and said, "Hello?"
No one answered.
His daughter and Vicki weren't quiet people, and no noise wasn't good. Had they gone somewhere? He fished his phone out of his back pocket and checked, but no texts or voicemail messages waited for him.
Strange. Every cell in his body told him the house was empty. He almost dialed Vicki, but then told himself this might be his PTSD. They'd probably gone to the store and everyone was fine. He placed his keys on the counter and headed toward his room. He needed a fast shower.
A few minutes later, the water hadn't helped much. His body was still cold as his heart raced. If they were here, he'd feel better. As the water washed his skin, he told himself that if they went to the store, it wasn't a huge deal. He had never worried about errands in the past. With a huff, he reasoned they'd gone to buy dinner or something. Vicki never could cook, and he hadn't spotted her car in the front of the house.
The taste of the food he imagined helped his mind and body ease. He turned off the water and changed. As he took in a few deep breaths, he remembered how Vicki wanted tonight to be special for Clara. With their daughter in the room, they'd not talk about whatever happened. Tonight he made sure he didn't repeat his mistakes.
He stared in the mirror and decided to shave his five o'clock shadow. His body still had a sweet satisfaction that he'd not experienced since Vicki. All his years with Belle, she was sweet and kind and good, but she didn't leave his body in a sweaty bundle of nerves that made him ache.
He knocked himself as he shaved. Belle deserved better than that last thought.
Done, he washed his face and dressed.
As he walked into the living room, someone knocked at the door. His skin went cold, and he knew it wasn't Vicki. Adrenaline rushed as he called out, "One second."
It was probably a neighbor or someone here to sell him something. He straightened his spine and flung open the door. A man and a woman stood in black pinstriped suits with papers in their hands. He tugged his ear, and asked, "Can I help you?"
"Are you Colt Collins?" the woman asked without removing her sunglasses.
Salespeople looked straight into the eyes of would-be customers to make the sale. A cold drip went down his back. "Yes, ma'am. May I help you?"
The man handed him papers. "You've just been served."
Colt clenched the papers and stared at the man.
"Have a good day, sir." The woman nodded, grabbed the man's arm, and the pair of them rushed off his porch.
He ran his hand through his hair and opened the envelope. He'd never owed anyone anything. Then every cell in his body jumped as he read the first line. "Victoria Morgan versus Colt Collins for the custody of Clara Collins."
Ice raced up from the ground and surrounded him as he realized he'd been made a fool. Last night must have been to distract him. Vicki had called their bedroom activities "fun." He should have guessed. Every moment she'd mentioned Clara.
He spun on his heels and closed the door as he read more of the lawsuit. The details turned his stomach. Vicki was suing him for custody.
His lips curled. He was a fool. Victoria Morgan was born and bred her father's daughter. She'd manipulated him and Clara to get what she wanted. He'd not let his daughter go, unless it was too late.
His fingers jittered. Perhaps Vicki hadn't run to the store. She'd taken Clara. He ran his hand through his hair. Then he covered his lips with his hands. Where would she go?
His mind raced. They had hours on him, and he had no idea where she'd gone. She'd not be stupid enough to go to her apartment, though he had never asked where she'd lived all these years. With the Morgan bank account at her disposal, she and Clara might be anywhere. His fist clenched, and he curled the paper into a ball. Then his mind raced with questions. Where were they? Would Clara call? Did she have access to a phone? He'd made her memorize the number to call him, but was that enough? Would Victoria return?
Again he picked up his phone and no messages appeared. He almost called her, but an edgy laugh escaped his lips, and instead, he dialed his lawyer.
His heart raced. He had custody. He'd call 911 next.
On the second ring, his lawyer answered. "Victoria Morgan is seeking to overturn the adoption papers to gain full custody of Clara. I've taken excellent care of my daughter and fought in war until today. I was just served papers."
"You have custody, Colt, and she's safe with you," his lawyer reassured him. "The courts want what's in the best interest of the child."
His entire body stiffened. "Clara is not here. She's with Victoria."
"Is this a kidnapping?" The lawyer's voice pitched higher. "Do you have the police report? Did they give you any trouble because she's the mother?"
His breaths were shallow. He'd hire whomever he could to find Clara and then go extract his daughter himself. "No, I called you first. I need to fight this lawsuit."
"Fax me everything. If you suspect that Clara's gone, call the police immediately."
He rubbed his temples and stared out at the empty road. Vicki wouldn't do this, was all his heart said, and then he remembered Clara's phone. If she had it, then he had the ability to trace it.
Colt hung up and ran to his office. He booted the computer then went to the app on his phone to find Clara.
A blue dot appeared on a map, and he waited a second for the map to update with exact coordinates. She had to have her phone. He took a deep breath. Clara was fine, and he'd go get her.
He grabbed his keys and headed to the door. He'd been a fool, but it would end now.
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