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CHAPTERFORTY

FORREST

As I sat on the couch in Grandma’s living room, waiting for her to finish cooking, concern for Kiera inundated me. With her missing, every second dripped like molasses. I felt the walls of my world collapsing brick by brick, and there was nothing I could do about it.

I’d been doing so well all these years, making sure I had control of everything. That was how I’d succeeded in running my empire. I’d taken careful steps to ensure my success because success equaled power, and power allowed me to take down my worst enemy. An enemy I had envisioned killing in details. When I caught Red Birthmark, I’d shoot him several times in areas that wouldn’t kill him instantly. His wounds would bleed out, and he would endure the pain he’d bestowed upon my father. After that, I’d pour acid onto his wounds and watch it destroy his flesh centimeter by centimeter. Then I’d toss him to the alligators, or the sharks. The last portion could be adjusted accordingly.

I’d lived this moment in my head too many times. My goal had always been vengeance. Nothing else had mattered—until now.

Right now the most important thing was finding Kiera. I’d lost sleep and appetite in the past couple of days. I didn’t want to attend dinner with Grandma and Yolanda this evening, but I couldn’t disappoint her, so I pushed my fear away to have dinner.

How could I rest when my woman was in danger? Was she all right? Was she cold, hot, scared, or hurt?

Something clattered in the kitchen, and I turned in that direction. “Are you okay? Do you need my help?”

“No need. Just dropped a lid,” Grandma replied.

She’d insisted I stay here because my minimal kitchen skills would only hinder her. Yolanda had been helping Grandma, but she had darted into the guest bedroom to take a phone call.

I worked on the computer compiling information about the area where she’d been abducted, including trying to find the fuckers who had taken her. Something popped onto my phone, and I grabbed it to check, thinking it was the PI or the police giving me an update. But it was about a conference call I’d cancelled yesterday. Fucking hell. I’d somehow rescheduled it for tonight instead of cancelling it. What else had I done wrong? I was losing my shit.

With swiftness I sent an email to my secretary and management team, asking them to cancel all my appointments for the next two weeks and requesting they take the lead on ongoing projects.

I scrubbed a hand down my face, blowing out a frustrated breath.

The fear of not seeing Kiera again forced up anger and vengeance—all the emotions I’d felt as a child when my father died. I’d been young and helpless and had succumbed to the dark monsters. But I wasn’t young and helpless now. I could do something.

My soul was bruised and torn in so many directions. I’d dwelled in the dark for a long time, and I didn’t know how lonely, sad, and angry I was until Kiera entered my life. She’d brought love, hope, and medicine to my wounded soul. Because of that, I now saw an alternative to vengeance that still satisfied me but allowed me to keep my soul. It was something I’d think about later.

I didn’t want Kiera anywhere near the darkness. Yet the darkness got her anyway.

I’ll find you, baby. I’ll make them pay.

I browsed through the information on Kiera. The PI didn’t locate her phone. Her last location showed the abduction spot. He got some recordings fromthe street cameras, but someone had erased the recordings for the day of the abduction and the days before it. However, he’d hacked into the residential security cameras along that street and got me what I needed.

Fury had coursed through me as I studied the recordings. I’d ensure the asshole who put his hands on her would die. It was difficult to see the license plate number, so I’d asked the PI to locate the two men for me. He had advanced facial recognition software that could find people easily.

I didn’t give a damn how he did it if I got results. Rules must be bent or even broken to get things done. I’d done many things that would make most people cringe. But certain bad actors required certain methods to get to them. My father’s killers and Kiera’s kidnappers were no exception.

Kiera was waiting for me. I didn’t have time to play by the rules and wait for the police to give me answers. To them, she was just one of many kidnapping cases. Did she know I was doing my best to find her?

“Come on over.” Grandma placed plates of food onto the round wooden table.

I got up from the couch. “You should’ve told me you were finished,Vó. Do you have more plates in the kitchen?”

“I’m all set. Just sit and enjoy the meal.”

I sat down on the chair with my phone beside me at the ready in case a call or a text came in regarding Kiera’s abduction. The longer she was missing, the more likely she wouldn’t be found alive. My chest tightened just thinking about it.

The commotion in my head made it difficult for me to focus, but I tried my best. I glanced at the food that normally made my mouth water, but it did nothing at the moment.

“You look like a zombie.” Grandma stared at me. “Have you been eating and getting enough sleep?”

I didn’t want to lie, but I couldn’t muster up words to explain everything.

When I didn’t answer her, she filled my plates with her specialfarofa, which was friedtapioca flour mixed with pieces of bacon. She scooped a side of rice onto my plate. Then she gave me somefeijoada—black beans cooked with chunks of meat. The table was set up for a party of ten or more. She also hadjoelho, a bread pastry with cheese and ham on the inside. This was a much-needed comfort food for right now. I grabbed one with my fingers and popped it into my mouth. I chewed and swallowed, and my stomach rejoiced.

How will you find Kiera if you don’t have any energy left?