Alexander took several slow steps toward him, glowering. “I’ll play your little game, Agent Moretti, but there’s nothing you can do to stop me from doing everything within my power to find my daughter. You’re right. I am personally involved. Sometimes the only time you can get things done is when the stakes are high. And the stakes have never been higher, so I suggest you stay out of my way.” He turned away from him, pulling Olivia with him.
“I can have you arrested for interfering with an ongoing police investigation!” Moretti called after him.
“You’d get crucified by the media!” he shouted over his shoulder. Pausing, he faced him once more. “I can just see the headlines. FBI Agent Jails Kidnap Victim’s Father. I’m not so sure the boys in blue need any more bad publicity these days. Don’t interfere with my work, and I won’t interfere with yours.”
Moretti opened his mouth to respond, then snapped it shut.
“That’s what I thought.” Alexander spun around again, grabbing Olivia’s hand and heading toward the garage.
“If you find anything, you’d better tell me!” Moretti shouted, his authoritative tone waning as he made one last stand.
“Likewise,” Alexander said, having no intention of following through on his promise. He couldn’t quite pinpoint what it was, but something about Agent Moretti and his vast knowledge of his family’s history didn’t sit well with him. Like the agent said, everyone’s a suspect until proven otherwise…including Moretti.
“Alex, slow down!” Olivia ordered as he pulled her out of the house and through the garage. The large door was open, letting in the frigid winter air, while crime scene techs searched for evidence Alexander was certain they’d never find. Moretti was right. This was a thoroughly planned abduction. Whoever took Melanie wouldn’t mess up and leave fingerprints or a hair fiber behind.
Finally able to breathe again for the first time since entering the house this morning, Alexander stopped and drew Olivia into his arms, hugging her tight. He needed to feel something real, something tangible in a world that seemed to turn on its head in the matter of just a few hours.
He kissed the top of her head, burying his face in her dark curls. Ever since the reality of what happened set in and their house became flooded with law enforcement, Olivia had been surprisingly composed. She had remained focused, just as Alexander had, worried that one missed detail could mean the difference between finding Melanie and having to watch the sun fall this evening, praying she survived the cold night wherever she was. Now that they were alone and away from judgmental eyes, they could finally let go. They had been through many ups and downs over the course of their relationship, but through it all, even when the outcome looked bleak, they always found their way back to each other.
But never before had they faced a storm of this magnitude. Alexander feared their love wouldn’t be strong enough to survive the clouds shrouding their world with darkness.
A sob reverberated in the still air and Olivia clutched onto Alexander’s back, squeezing with all her might. Her tall, slender body trembled uncontrollably, the flashing lights of the police cruisers an ominous background to her breakdown. Alexander wanted nothing more than to let out all the emotions he’d been forced to bottle up all morning, but he remained strong, being the rock of support Olivia needed.
He wished he could say something that would assure her everything was going to be okay, but it would just be an empty promise. He had no way of knowing whether everything would work out. But he did know he was going to do everything within his power to fix this.
“I’m going to find her,” he mumbled in a soft voice, swallowing the lump in his throat. “I promise you, love.”
She pulled her head away from his chest and tilted it back, her brown eyes wet with tears. “How, Alex? How are you going to find her?” She covered her mouth as she struggled to breathe through her heavy cries.
“I don’t know,” he answered honestly, comforting her the only way he knew how…within the shelter of his arms. “But I’m not going to leave any stone uncovered.”
She pulled away from him, wiping her tears. “The FBI thinks it could have a connection to one of your company’s contracts. Do you—?”
“I’m not ruling anything out,” he replied. “As much as I don’t want to give that man any credit, it’s a very strong possibility. I’ve pissed off a lot of people…” He closed his eyes, letting out a breath as he considered the monumental task of narrowing down precisely who could have done this. “Some of them certainly have enough training and resources to be able to orchestrate something like this.” He held both her arms, staring deep into her brown eyes.
His voice grew louder, more assured. “I don’t want you to worry, Olivia. I have just as much training and resources available, without the bureaucratic red tape the FBI has to deal with. I will find our daughter and bring her home, and when I do, we’ll never have to worry about anything like this happening again. I promise you.”
He released her and stepped toward the SUV, opening the passenger door.
“Maybe I should stay here,” she said, pulling her bottom lip between her teeth as she looked between Alexander and the door to the house. “Just in case she…” Her breath hitched.
“Martin and my mother will take care of things around here. I already lost half my heart today. I’m not going to lose you, too,” Alexander said forcefully, his voice almost a growl before his expression grew tender, loving, reverent. Approaching her, he cupped her cheek. “I don’t know who took Melanie or why. I failed her by not being here when I should have been. I won’t fail you, too.” He placed a soft kiss on her nose and helped her into the SUV, then ran around to get behind the wheel.
A heavy silence fell between them as Alexander drove down the long, tree-lined driveway and out the front gate, the police lights disappearing behind them. Olivia reached across the center console, resting her hand on his jean-clad leg, squeezing gently.
“Please don’t blame yourself for this,” she said, her voice no louder than a whisper.
“I don’t know if I can do that,” he answered, keeping his eyes glued to the road as the miles flew by, both of them probably thinking the same thing… Melanie could be anywhere.
Chapter Thirteen
December 19
11:30 AM
NO MATTER HOW HARD Rayne tried, she couldn’t get warm. Rubbing her arms, she glanced around the two-story house where they were now holed up, the walls barren, the ceiling showing signs of water damage. Her eyes settled on Mark sitting at a table in the dining area. He appeared so relaxed, leaning back in his chair, his feet propped on the table, flipping between all the national news networks as they broadcast the same story…the abduction of the daughter of the man who owned one of the largest and most successful private security firms in the world.
Rayne should have felt a rush of satisfaction when the reporters commented about the irony of it all. Here was a man who was in the business of keeping people safe, yet he couldn’t extend that luxury to his own daughter. She should have felt thrilled that she finally did something to make the man responsible for Landon’s death feel the pain she’d endured for a year now. She should have felt at peace.