“We thought he was speaking about Bailey. His sick, twisted fascination is along with her. It by no means dawned on us that he would go after another person,” Jaxon finishes.

A knock on the door interrupts us. Jaxon walks over to let Mac inside. He has his gun and badge on once more. After a short look at Mia, who’s standing within the nook, he walks over to us. Jaxon explains to him what occurred and our perception that Steven has Anna. After he’s executed, I stand from my seated place and shock all of them by telling them what occurred with the creepy man.

“Why are you simply now telling me this?” Jaxon asks me angrily.

Mia involves my protection. “She hasn’t had the chance but, Jaxon. Go away the angle out of it.”

After taking a look at Mia for a minute, he brings his eyes again to me. He pulls me to him and says in opposition to my hair, “Sorry, angel.”

I pull again and cup his jaw. “It’s okay. I didn’t inform you as a result of we have to give attention to Anna proper now. She’s extra necessary in the intervening time. We have to get her away from him.”

“And maintain you protected within the course of,” Jaxon provides.

I nod, however realize it is probably not that simple. Their sole focus must be on Anna. She’s the one in quick hazard. My coronary heart squeezes at what she could also be going by means of proper at this second.

After going by means of attainable locations Steven could have taken Anna, Mac calls in reinforcements. A number of uniformed officers present up a couple of minutes later. Jaxon is torn between staying behind and defending me himself, or going out with the search occasion to search for Anna.

I pull him to the aspect and make him have a look at me. “You want to go together with them and search for her. Mac stated he would have an officer drive me to your home and stick with me, and I do know Andrew might be greater than keen to take care of me as nicely.” I add Andrew in there as a result of I do know that can make Jaxon really feel higher, understanding somebody who cares for me might be there to assist defend me.

He nonetheless appears tortured, however realizes I’m proper. Anna is his sister and he must assist in the hunt to search out her. If he didn’t, it might drive him loopy simply sitting at dwelling doing nothing.

I give him an encouraging smile. “I’ll be okay, Jaxon. You exit and convey Anna dwelling, alright?”

He dips his head and slants his mouth over mine in a scorching kiss. His tongue plunders my mouth, like that is his final probability to take action. The kiss is heated and swoon-worthy, however goes no additional.

Once we break aside, he grabs my hand and all of us stroll out of Jaxon’s workplace and make our means again up entrance. Jaxon tells Mia to go forward and shut down the bar, although it’s nonetheless half full. An excessive amount of is happening in the intervening time to maintain it open. Andrew has to come back with me and Mia can’t be anticipated to work the bar in mild of her sister being kidnapped.

Jaxon gestures for Andrew to come back over so he can clarify what’s taking place. He’s already caught up on all the pieces apart from what’s gone down tonight. Jaxon finishes by asking him to go together with me again dwelling to assist defend me.

“In fact, man, you recognize I’ll do something for her.” His phrases contact my coronary heart and I attain over to present his hand a squeeze to indicate my affection and gratitude.

Jaxon turns to present me one final kiss.

After pulling away, he rests his brow in opposition to mine. “Keep protected. I’ll be dwelling as quickly as I can. I like you.”

“I like you, too. And please watch out. Steven is extraordinarily difficult and can use no matter device he can discover, actually and figuratively, to beat you.”

He nods and faces Andrew.

“Hold her protected,” he says to him.

“Accomplished,” is his one-word reply.

When Jaxon begins strolling off, Andrew calls his identify. Jaxon stops and turns his head. “You keep protected as nicely.”

Jaxon simply provides him a chin elevate, turns again round, and strikes to face beside Mac and Nick. A couple of minutes later all of them stroll out the door, leaving Andrew, Mia, an officer, and me alone.

* * *

THE ATMOSPHERE WHEN we attain Jaxon’s home is quiet and tense. The standard playfulness that radiates off Andrew is now not current. Mia is extra quiet than regular. As an alternative of going dwelling, she opted to come back again to Jaxon’s with us. I believe that’s an amazing concept. All of us want to stay collectively. The officer is presently standing by the entrance door, being ever so vigilant. He wouldn’t allow us to enter the home till he did a sweep and deemed it protected. I’m grateful for the warning.

Mia spoke with their mother on the best way over and let her know what was happening. The standard sturdy girl that I get to know broke down over the telephone. I might hear her sobs as Mia talked to her.

The guilt I really feel is crushing me. That is my fault. If I hadn’t come to city, then Anna could be protected and sound, with no cares on this planet. I really feel helpless.

Understanding that none of us might be getting any sleep tonight, I placed on a pot of espresso and ask if anybody would really like one thing to eat. Everybody says no to the meals, however sure to the espresso.

All of us sit round in silence for a few hours. No phrase has are available but from Jaxon, Nick, or Mac. All of us fidget and might’t keep nonetheless for lengthy. The TV has been on for simply as lengthy, however nobody watches it. One other thirty minutes cross earlier than I can’t take it anymore.

Supply: www.seynovel.com