Chapter 32

Keelan

T he sun’s rays shone through the hotel window, stirring me awake. I smiled against the soft pillow beneath my head. That was the best sleep I’ve had in, frankly, years. I turned over to Sadie’s side of the bed, needing to wrap her warm, naked body in my arms. But when my hand hit the bed, there was only a cool pillow and crumpled sheets to greet me. Ice coated my heart.

“Sadie?” I called out, sitting up. Silence answered, and I leaped out of bed, running to the bathroom. When I opened the door, it was empty. “Fuck!” My eyes searched the room before running both hands through my hair.

Where did you go, princess?

So many thoughts raced through my head as I hurried to my bag and pulled on a pair of boxers. The dark part of my brain told me that Sadie had run away. But how could she do that after what happened last night, after I finally admitted to her after all these years? She wouldn’t have left after that .

Maybe she’s downstairs getting coffee. However, she knew not to go down there without me. She wasn’t allowed.

Unless she’s being a brat and testing me.

After quickly dressing, I went to the nightstand and picked up my phone. Logan had left a message saying he and Aiden would be in meetings all morning and would meet us when Sadie and I were ready for the day. I needed to call Gavin, but before I did, I scanned the room again for anything unusual. That’s when I spotted that the yellow envelope that Jeremy gave me had been torn open and left sitting on the dresser.

I walked over to the dresser and emptied the contents. Half of the cash and Sadie’s fake ID were missing.

Fuck!

A knot of fiery anger boiled in my chest, and I crushed the envelope in my hand. Sadie had no idea how badly she fucked up. Leaving me again? After I poured my heart out to her? I closed my eyes and pressed my fists against my forehead. A mix of emotions played war in my heart—anger, bitterness, betrayal … heartache. Could I really blame her for this? I kidnapped her and dragged her away from the safe life she made for herself. While it was for a good reason, maybe she couldn’t come to terms with that. Maybe Sadie realized last night that she couldn’t let a monster like me into her heart.

But … she told me she loved me, too.

I opened my eyes and looked down at my phone, opening the GPS app linked to the bracelet. Did she really think I wouldn’t check that?

I tapped the passcode in and waited for the map and coordinates to load. When they did, my eyes narrowed on the flashing icon .

“What the …”

I zoomed in on the map and checked the log history. It showed that Sadie arrived in California around four a.m. at a private landing strip at the Los Angeles airport and had traveled to a storage building a few miles north. The signal stopped there.

Something felt very wrong about this. Why would she run if she knew I could track her?

Unless Sadie wanted me to follow her.

Where are you going, baby?

Sadie’s phone was gone, too. I tried calling it, but it went straight to voicemail. I dialed Gavin next.

Pick up, Gav. Pick up.

He answered on the second ring. “Holy shit. Kee, I was just about to call you.”

My stomach dropped at the urgency in his voice. “What happened?”

“It’s Aisling, man. Finn just called your dad and told him someone broke into their house last night. Some masked men held Finn at gunpoint while they kidnapped her. No one knows where they took her. You and Sadie need to come home now.”

“Sadie’s gone, too.” There was a tremble in my throat as I spoke. “It’s safe to assume that whoever has Aisling now has them both.”

“Oh fuck. What do you need?”

A notification pinged in my ear, and I pulled the phone away to see that the GPS app had been updated. “Hold on,” I said, putting the phone on speaker. “The bracelet I gave her was offline for hours, but it just picked back up again.”

“Where is it?” he asked as I zoomed in closer .

“Somewhere outside of Burbank. Gav, I need a car waiting for me at LAX. I’ll be there as soon as I can.”

“I’ll meet you at the airport, then. If more than one person kidnapped them, you’ll need backup. Should you call your brothers?”

“I don’t have a choice; I need their private jet,” I said. “Driving would take too goddamn long, and this fake ID won’t cut it at the airport. My face is most likely plastered on every television, and if I’m caught, the feds will be waiting for me at the terminal.”

“Alright. Get the hell out of there. I’ll see you soon.”

I hung up the phone and texted Logan before sliding my phone into my back pocket. I hurried around the room, gathering our clothes and tossing them into the suitcases and bags. My hand brushed against the pink silky fabric of the new dress Sadie wore last night. She looked so stunning with those golden butterflies that I almost fell to my knees before her. Sadie Ryan held my heart in her hand for so long that I no longer needed it in my chest. I needed her to live, not to be lost in the darkness that was my life. She was mine. No one would take her away from me again.

Holstering my pistol under my shirt, I grabbed the bags and rushed out of the room.

Hang on, Sade. I’m coming for you.