Page 16

CHAPTER 16

Ethan sat on the edge of the couch in Brooklyn’s living room, his phone propped up against a stack of books on the coffee table. The warm glow of a nearby lamp bathed the room in a soft, golden light, but the tension in his chest made the space feel far from comforting. Mojo lay at his feet, the Malinois’s sharp eyes fixed on the doorway leading to the hallway. The faint sound of water running in the bathroom reminded him that Brooklyn was in the shower, trying to wash away the day’s chaos.

They were no closer to finding Liam than when they’d first started looking.

She’d been pale and shaky when they returned to her house, but she hadn’t argued when he suggested she clean up while he handled the next steps. Now, the scent of vanilla wafted faintly through the air, teasing his senses. It was such a stark contrast to the woman in his dreams—a fantasy he’d carried with him since he’d woken up in the hospital. That woman had smelled like citrus and summer rain, a combination as elusive and ethereal as the dream itself. But Brooklyn? She was real. Solid. And no matter how much his mind tried to connect the two, he knew they couldn’t be the same.

Not that it mattered. The woman in his dreams was a figment of his imagination, a shadow of something he’d never had, likely never would have. Brooklyn was here, and she was facing a nightmare no one should have to endure. The best way to help her was to focus.

Ethan pulled his thoughts back to the task at hand and leaned forward, tapping the screen of his phone to ensure the video call connection was stable. He’d taken a couple of Advil and his headache had finally receded to a dull thump. Cooper’s face filled the screen first, his sharp features set in a grim expression. Rusty joined a second later, his hair standing on end like he’d run his hands through it a thousand times. Bellamy stood behind the two guys, arms crossed over his chest looking like he could kill at any second.

“What’ve you got?” Cooper asked, skipping any preamble.

It was Ethan’s turn to run a hand through his hair, exhaling sharply. “We talked to Harry and Dave. It’s worse than I thought.”

Rusty frowned. “Define ‘worse.’”

“Harry’s in the hospital,” Ethan said, his voice tight. “Someone came to Harry’s place asking about Liam. Harry tried to stop them, but they knocked him out. He barely remembers anything—just a black SUV and someone claiming to be family.”

Cooper let out a low whistle. “They’re not even trying to be subtle.” He paused. “Does that seem right to you?”

“How do you mean?” Ethan asked.

“Why bother asking Harry anything? They could just watch what happens by parking on the street. Are they in that much of a hurry that they don’t have time to do a bit of recon?”

Ethan blew out a breath. “They were in the beginning, but I see what you’re getting at. They haven’t made a move for a couple of days so they would have had time to stake out the school and see how things are done.”

“Just a thought,” Coop continued, “but I think there might be more to the whole Harry thing.”

Suddenly, Ethan sat up straighter. Coop was right. He hadn’t seen it immediately but now it stood out to him. “It was a set up. They only went to Harry’s so they could kill him and blame the whole thing on him as the mastermind behind it. They sent a message to the school from Harry’s email account saying he was ill. Who knows what else they might have planted.”

“You think they were setting him up, but then why leave him alive?” Rusty asked.

“The neighbor’s dog started barking like crazy. They couldn’t kill him then without attracting more attention, so they whacked him over the head and hoped he died or at least stayed down long enough for him to be blamed for Liam’s kidnapping and…” Ethan stopped speaking. He couldn’t say the next words.

“His death,” Bellamy said

“Yeah,” Ethan muttered. He took a breath, as did his teammates. They were all on the clock and knew it. A kid would die if they didn’t figure this shit out. Brooklyn would never survive that. Ethan pushed all that emotion aside. Emotion wasn’t going to help them now. Logical thinking was.

He continued his briefing as he’d done so many times before. “And then there’s Dave.” He glanced toward the hallway, ensuring the bathroom door remained closed before continuing. “He’s got a gambling problem and borrowed money from the wrong people. They told him they’d forgive his debt if he fed them information about Liam.”

Rusty’s eyes narrowed. “Did he know they were planning to take the kid?”

“Claims he didn’t,” Ethan replied, his tone laced with skepticism. “But he gave them a call when Liam turned up on Tuesday. That’s all they needed.”

Cooper’s jaw tightened. “Did he give you a name?”

“Yeah. Kenici,” Ethan said. “Apparently works for the Yakuza. Dave gave me a number too. I want you to track down this guy. Find out where he is and let me know. I’ll meet you there. I want to be in on the questioning.”

Rusty exchanged a glance with Cooper. “I think we all want to be there for that chat.”

Ethan’s voice hardened. “If he’s got answers, I’m getting them.”

Rusty nodded, his expression grim. “Alright. I’ll start digging.”

Cooper frowned. “How much did Dave owe?”

“He said way more than he could ever pay back, so I’m going with a lot. What are you thinking?” Ethan asked.

“I’m thinking that’s a helluva debt to forgive for one small boy.”

Ethan cocked his head, letting that thought percolate. Cooper was not wrong. A small boy was worth a lot to certain people for reasons that Ethan did not want to dwell on, but the Yakuza wouldn’t forgive a debt over him. They would just get another kid.

“You’re right. That is an interesting angle.” Ethan shook his head. “Why are they willing to forgive a large debt in exchange for Liam?”

“No idea,” Rusty responded, “but I think we need to find out. If we figure out that mystery, I think it will go a long way toward finding Liam.”

Before they could continue, Bellamy’s voice cut through the feed. He leaned into the frame, his blue eyes sharp with focus. “I tracked the SUV for a few blocks after it left the school. Traffic cameras caught it heading south, but then it turned onto a back road with no coverage. I’ve got nothing after that.”

Ethan clenched his fists, frustration simmering just beneath the surface. “Damn it. Keep looking. If there’s even a chance of picking up their trail, I need to know.”

“Understood,” Bellamy said.

Rusty cleared his throat. “Any update on Liam’s phone?”

Cooper shook his head. “Not yet. Nova’s still arguing with the phone company. They’re stalling because Jackson’s out of town, and we don’t have a warrant.”

The bathroom door creaked open, and Brooklyn stepped into the hallway, her hair damp and curling around her shoulders. She wore a light gray sweatshirt and jeans, her face scrubbed clean but still pale. Her eyes locked on Ethan as she overheard the last part of the conversation.

“Jackson?” she asked, her voice wary.

Ethan turned toward her. “Yeah. The company’s dragging their feet without him to expedite things.”

Brooklyn’s lips pressed into a thin line. “I’ll call him,” she said firmly. “I’ve…I’ve been putting it off, but he needs to know what’s happening.”

“Brooklyn…” Ethan started, his voice softening.

But she held up a hand, cutting him off. “He’s Liam’s father. He deserves to know that I failed him and Liam.” Her voice wavered slightly but held firm.

Ethan said nothing, watching as she grabbed her phone and moved to the kitchen, her voice low as she began the call. There was nothing he could say or do that would make that call any easier, which broke his heart. She would blame herself for this even though it wasn’t her fault. She’d done everything right. He turned back to the screen, his expression hardening once more.

“We’ve got to move fast,” he said. “The longer we wait, the colder this trail gets.”

Cooper, Rusty, and Bellamy all nodded grimly. “We’ll keep you updated,” Cooper said. “Hang in there.”

The call ended, and Ethan slouched against the couch cushions, scrubbing a hand over his face. Mojo nudged his leg, his warm brown eyes watching him intently. “Good boy,” Ethan murmured, rubbing behind the dog’s ears. Mojo’s steady presence was a small comfort in the chaos.

Brooklyn reappeared moments later, her phone clutched tightly in her hand. “He’s on his way back,” she said. “And I told him to call and talk to Nova so he can authorize the trace. Hopefully, that will expedite things.

Ethan stood. “Good. That’ll help. Did he say how long he’ll be?”

“Considering the time difference and the flights, I’m guessing he won’t be here until Sunday,” she said, her voice wavering as she sank into the armchair. “Ethan, what if…”

He sat on the coffee table across from her and grabbed the arms of her chair. “Don’t go there,” he said firmly. “We’re going to find him, Brooklyn. You have my word.”

Her eyes filled with tears, but she nodded, taking a shaky breath. “Okay.”

The room fell silent except for the faint ticking of the wall clock. Ethan’s mind churned with plans and contingencies. They had leads, but every moment felt like an eternity. He couldn’t let himself dwell on the worst-case scenario—not yet.

Brooklyn’s voice broke the silence. “Ethan…” she exhaled heavily. “Thank you. For everything.”

He met her gaze, the intensity in his eyes unwavering. “You don’t have to thank me. We’re in this together.”

She managed a faint smile, her fingers twisting the hem of her sweatshirt. “I just… I don’t know what I’d do without you…and your team,” she stammered.

“You won’t have to find out,” he said simply.

The weight of his words hung between them, unspoken emotions simmering beneath the surface. But before either could say more, Mojo’s ears perked up, and he let out a soft bark, drawing their attention back to the task at hand.