18. Braxton

CHAPTER 18

Braxton

D ani has been gone for an entire twenty-four hours and I'm losing my mind. After I searched the whole area and found nothing, I took off running for the woods. There clearly was some kind of struggle since you could see a trail in the dirt as if someone was dragged. I stayed in the woods looking everywhere and found nothing. I called Carter in a panic and all four of them got to me as quickly as possible. We searched the entire area up until the river and found nothing. I wanted to continue, I didn't want to give up. We were unprepared and didn't have the equipment needed to search along the dark water without risk. She was just gone without a trace.

I WILL find you Little Rage…even if it's the last thing I do. You will be safe again.

I hired the best men I could and they've searched the woods multiple times. The river is next and I refuse to leave there without answers. My heart hasn't stopped pounding since I realized she was truly gone. I need her back, safe with me. I know she's putting up the fight of her life and not taking shit without inflicting pain on whoever it is.

I hear a honk outside and know that's my cue that it's time to go. We have a team of the best search and rescue going to the river and sweeping the area top to bottom. Walking out of the front door, I lock it behind me and walk over to Carter's Jeep. Getting in, he gives me a look of pity but I'm filled with anger.

Whoever did this will die the most painful death.

We don't speak as he drives. It takes twenty minutes to get to the river and before the car is even in park, I hop out and start my search. There are about fifteen other people here, all that I've hired. We split up and look in different areas – searching for anything that might lead us to my Little Rage.

Further down the bank, I see something shining in the sunlight and run to it. It's a small syringe with some kind of liquid inside. Carefully looking around, I see an earring – her earring. My breathing becomes ragged as I see the blood beside it. She was hurt.

I failed her.

A few hours later, I'm back at the house staring at a whiteboard. I can't put the pieces together. My mind is running rampant as I try to figure out where she may have gone and who may have taken her. It breaks me more and more each time I think I'm onto something and end up at a dead end. Not enough people know about us for it to be someone from my past, but I don't know who from hers could do this to her. I feel like we are missing something. Leighton has been on an absolute warpath and has gotten her father involved. It's evident that her father loves her as he has gone above and beyond in an attempt to help in any way that he can. Carter and I are meeting with him later today to talk about what he has discovered from her past.

When the time comes, I shower and get dressed, making sure that I have everything I need because I will not wait one more day to set out on another search. I feed her snake, Rage, and as I close up the enclosure, I hear Carter's Jeep rolling down the driveway. Heading out I lock the door behind me and make my way out to the car and climb in. The inner turmoil I feel must be evident as Carter speaks.

"We're going to find her man, I promise. None of us are going to give up on her. She'll be safe again. We're all on her team and we're going to get her." He tries to soothe the anger and worry raging within me.

"I just can't imagine what she's going through and it kills me that I'm not there to help her. I feel like I've been running in circles chasing a ghost. I can't lose her, Carter. I just can't." A stray tear falls from my eye as I think about never seeing my Little Rage again. Her infectious laugh, her sparkling blue eyes, the cute little dimples in her cheeks… Please be okay.

"I won't let that happen. We're going to get her back and whoever did this will pay with their life." He places a calming hand on my shoulder just for a moment before he begins to drive towards the location that Leighton's father had sent. I try to ease the mixture of emotions I'm feeling inside.

Pulling up to the location and parking in the lot, I see a giant warehouse. There's a few cars here — all blacked out. A man walks outside to greet us as we park, and instantly I can tell that this is Leighton's Dad. The similarities in them are striking. He has the same eyes and nose with the same curly hair that is now gray with flecks of white. One could assume he once had the same blonde hair. He looks like power and wealth mixed into one.

Carter goes to shake his hand and her father pulls him in for a hug. I knew they had met a while ago but I didn't realize the comfort level that they had felt with each other. I feel a moment of peace watching the two interact. This is all Carter has ever wanted – to be accepted by others for who he is. Her father turns to me and holds out his hand.

"You must be Braxton. My name is Nixon. We have some information that will be vital in this search. Daniella is like a daughter to me and we will not stop until she is found. I've hired the best men from around the country to aid us and I would like you to meet them." I shake his hand as he speaks and a sense of relief runs through me at his words.

"Thank you, Sir. I appreciate all of your help and involvement in this."

We walk inside and up a flight of stairs to a wide open floor that looks like it belongs to the FBI. There are computers everywhere, each connected to cameras throughout town. I see one that instantly draws my attention and I walk over to it. I see the fairgrounds. Dani is standing behind me when a man comes and grabs her, dragging her from view and behind the booth where I had found her phone. A moment later, they reappear but there are now two men holding her and she is fighting back with all she has. They drag her into the tree line and disappear. Anger surges through me and I can't help but feel like this is all my fault. If I hadn't turned away from her, they would've never gotten to her. I try to shove my emotions down because they won't do us any good now.

"We have discovered who these men are based on the tattoos you can see on their arms. We've cross checked everything and found two recent purchases from a local ski shop where they bought those masks, paying in cash. The most important news is waiting in that room over there." He points towards a door and I take off, swinging it open quickly. There are men dressed in suits sitting around a table with Manila folders scattered about.

"Who took her?" The words come out with urgency and I can't control the anger bubbling within me. They'll pay for this and I will make them regret it. A man stands from the opposite side and walks over timidly with a folder in hand, placing it gently on the table in front of me.

"This includes all of the information that you need." He gives me a pitiful look and walks back to his seat. What the fuck was that about?

Opening the folder, I scan through the information until I find what I want. The man who took my girl. Clarence Rossi. Her fucking father of all people. How could I have not thought of that? Who knows what the hell that abusive fuck is doing to her. He had no problem slaughtering her mother and somehow got away with it. My anger starts to bubble over and I do what I can to remain calm. I need to get to her. Without thinking, I pick up the lamp from the table and throw it across the room at the wall. I hardly recognize the scream that leaves my throat. The pain I feel of knowing she's with that man has my heart pumping way too fast. Turning, I look to see Carter and Nixon in shock.

"Do you know where they are? Where he could've taken her?" Nixon's face contorts to something evil, telling me he already has a plan in mind.

"Yes. The cars are loaded and we have the location loaded into the GPS. It'll take a day to get there, so we must leave now and get there as soon as possible. I would offer the jet, however, he has all airstrips in that area locked down somehow. Driving is our only option to ensure her safety." A look of sadness covers his face then is gone in seconds.

"Then let's fucking go."