Page 38 of Faded Rhythm
Julian
I kneel by the edge of the lake, eyes scanning, forcing myself to remain calm as my nervous system goes haywire, begging for panic. But I won’t. I’m trained for this\, and panic is a luxury I can’t afford. It’s what gets people killed.
No footprints. Nothing disturbed. No drag marks or signs of a struggle.
Whoever took her had to have come by boat.
And they were obviously fast and good.
But not good enough.
I head back to the house, fast and controlled. The girls are in the living room now, giggling at something on the tablet. They’re oblivious, and that’s how they’re gonna stay.
In the guest room, I find Sable’s new phone facedown on the bed. I pull up Ebony’s contact and hit call.
She answers on the second ring.
“Hey, girl. You doing okay?”
“Listen to me,” I say.
“Who is this?” Her voice is saturated with panic.
“It’s your cousin. I need you to get in the car right now,” I say. My voice is clipped and firm. “Come straight here. Don’t stop. Don’t tell anybody. Don’t talk to anybody. Just get here.”
Her voice cracks. “Is my sister okay?”
“I’ll explain when you get here. Just go. Now.”
I hang up before she can argue, then text her my gps coordinates.
In my room, I get my burner and take a seat on the bed. My thumb hovers over the screen for a second before I type a text to Brett.
What do you want?
The dots appear almost instantly.
Meet me. My house. Bring every fucking dime of the hundred grand I paid you or she dies
My jaw clenches. My vision tunnels for a second.
Another text comes through.
24 hrs. Tick tock
I stare at the screen, letting the fury boil low and quiet in my chest.
I should have killed him already. On my own, no hesitation. Just dispense of the problem and move on with Sable. But I didn’t. I wasn’t thinking straight.
I was compromised.
I push to my feet, crack my neck, and push the pain down where it belongs. Deep. I can unpack the guilt later after I get Sable back home to her girls.
I grab my main phone and unlock my encrypted contact list. There’s only one name that matters at this point.
AJ picks up with a groggy, “Yo.”
“I need you.”
His tone shifts instantly. “Talk to me.”
“He took her.”
“Her?”
“Sable!” I yell. “He grabbed her by the water. I got twenty-four hours before he kills her.”
“Fuck,” he mutters. “You need me at the house?”
“Not yet. I need you to pull every satellite image from this morning. You know where my safehouse is. Find out what vehicles or boats were near the property.”
“I’m on it,” he says, all business now. “You okay?”
“I don’t need to be.”
I end the call and go to my safe. I retrieve my Glock, extra mag, GPS tracker, and a bug. I tuck everything into my tactical belt, then secure it around my waist.
I pause for one breath, just one. Her face flashes behind my eyes, and I remember exactly what’s at stake.
And just in case I needed another reminder, tiny hands rap on my bedroom door.
When I open it, Sable’s daughters stand there staring up at me.
“Is my mommy okay?”
I kneel, bringing myself to eye-level. “Your mommy got a little lost on her way to the lake,” I say softly. “I’m gonna go find her and bring her back.”
Kelice nods, but Rae’s eyes glitter with tears.
“Come here, baby girl. It’s okay.”
I hold my arms open and she runs into them, putting her little face in my shirt like I’m the only thing in the world keeping her safe. I guess, right now, I am. And I don’t take that lightly.
My phone pings.
I grab my phone out of my back pocket and check the camera.
It’s Ebony.
I hit the button to open the gate, then I stand, taking Rae with me. I grab Kelice’s hand and head down the hall. “That’s your auntie,” I say.
When I open the door, Ebony looks shellshocked. She immediately reaches for Rae and holds her tight, mouthing, “Where’s Sable?” over her head.
I usher everyone inside and into the living room. It’s quiet until Rae finally pops her head up. Ebony wipes her face, then stares at me, waiting for an explanation I can’t give right now.
I incline my head, and she follows me into the kitchen.
“Brett took her.”
Ebony frowns. “What does that mean?”
“He kidnapped her. I’m going to get her, and I need you to sit with the girls until I get back.”
“But—“
“Every minute is crucial,” I say. “I have to go. Right now.”
“Fine.”
She looks at me with disgust, and I know she wonders why I didn’t keep her sister safe. But the clock is ticking. No time for explanations.
I can’t lose her.