Page 94

DECLAN

“ H ey, baby. Would you like to go and do some coloring with Uncle Conan while Daddy does some work?” I ask, crouching down to her eye level.

I read online that this position makes me less of a threat to her. I have no idea what she’s seen growing up. Or how Vlad has treated her.

She nods and chews on her lip, just like Charlotte.

“Jax brought some of his daughter’s toys and coloring sets, they’re in the back bedroom.” Mikhail says from behind.

“Wow. That’s cool.” Her eyes light up, and my heart melts.

I’ll do anything to keep a smile on her face.

Conan holds out his gigantic hand and she places her tiny one inside.

“You wanna walk or fly there?” he asks.

“Umm…” She looks at me, and I smile.

“Fly?”

“You got it, kiddo.” He picks her up, and she lets out the cutest giggle as he carries her through the safe house.

“Declan. In here,” Enzo’s distinctive voice booms from one of the rooms.

Heading in there with Finn on my tail, I push open the glowing room, and as I step through, I see the wall filled with monitors.

“Where is she?”

He points to the middle screen and I focus on the red dot.

“Still on the road. I’ve done some digging, I think I have an idea where they’re heading.” Enzo spins his laptop on the desk to face me.

Scratching my head, I frown at the screen.

“A farm?”

He clicks the pad and pulls up a document.

“Looks like he’s a co-owner. And then—” He pauses, changing tabs.

This time, he zooms out of the map, pointing to the top right of the screen.

“They’ve passed his house and any other notable stops. But to me, it seems Charlotte’s tracker is heading that direction. Coincidence? I think not.”

Finn steps closer and clears his throat.

“And if we guess wrong? Getting this a even just few minutes out could be life or death?” Finn questions.

I clench my fist at my sides.

“I say we head on the road, does Mikhail have any other contacts here?”

Enzo shakes his head.

“Not in this territory. He’s taken a risk being here already.”

I swallow.

“This is what you’ll be dealing with.” He pulls up a picture of a large barn with a straw roof.

And pigs. So many fucking pigs outside.

“Probably uses them to eat his bodies,” Finn says matter-of-factly.

“Quite clever. Although, dumb registering any business in his real name,” he continues, and Enzo nods.

“Looks like we’re going pig farming.” I clap Finn on the shoulder.

“Our men are loading up the armored trucks now. Although, for speed, Mikhail managed to source a Bugatti Veyron. You’ll get there first in that. In the meantime, I’ll continue hacking into what I can. Keep the comms in.”

He ferociously begins typing, and I take that as my cue to vacate.

As Finn stops by the front door, I pause, looking to the room where Isabella is.

“I need to see her before I go. Help them load up, I’ll send Conan down,” I tell him.

“You got it.”

A sinking feeling resonates in me. Saying goodbye hurts. How Charlotte had found the strength to do this, I don’t know. But I will forever admire her.

As I approach the door, I hear her little giggles, and I wipe my hands over my face.

Fuck.

I need Charlotte back.