CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE

DANIEL

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What the fuck?

This can’t be happening. I couldn’t have lost Mira so easily. Right out from under my nose. I was right there. Just outside the house. How the fuck did they get her?

My fingers tighten around the wheel, my nerves lit on fire yet oddly numb. The highway zips past in a blur of other cars and trees, but I notice nothing but the hammering between my ears. The knot in my belly.

They had my baby. They took her.

They had this planned. It was too neat, too quick. They knew exactly what we would do, and we did it. We fell right into their trap.

Christian sits in the seat next to me. Mira’s seat. His face is a blank mask glaring out into the dwindling afternoon.

He blames himself.

Even if he hasn’t said a word, hasn’t already stamped the full weight of the blame on himself, I feel it to my core. To him, it doesn’t matter that we were both there, or that I am equally to blame. He and only he can shoulder this burden, and my only focus is getting Mira back.

I didn’t see anyone. I heard nothing, but I will give my last dollar that this is all Lucy. Maybe not her personally, but her brothers for sure. They took Mira. They took her to make up for what happened with Wyatt.

There’s a good chance I’m wrong, but I doubt it; there isn’t another person in Jefferson who would have a grudge. Walton, maybe, but he’s too much of a little bitch to pull this off. The Carr brothers are a different matter.

I pull my phone out of my pocket and toss it into Christian’s lap.

“Call Brewer. Tell him we’re headed for the Carr’s house and if he wants to avoid bloodshed, he better get his ass there now.”

Christian doesn’t argue. He says nothing as he does as he’s told.

I park outside the single-story ranch with the neat flower bed out front and the silver pathway leading to a freshly painted door in startling white. The shutters match. The windows gleam. The grass is trimmed exactly two inches. Not a thing has changed in seventeen years, not even the cheery, canary yellow mailbox at the end of the driveway.

I don’t dwell as I march up the path to the door. I lift a fist and bang twice.

A dog barks somewhere down the street. A group of children scream several yards down as they chase each other through a sprinkler. It’s all so normal yet nothing about how I’m feeling feels normal.

Jameson opens the door.

His massive bulk dominates the entire doorway. His hard eyes bore into mine first with surprise, then rage.

“What are you doing here, MacAllister?”

“Where’s Mira?” I retort with equal malice. “Where did you take her?”

Jameson stares at me like I’ve lost my mind. “Why would I—?”

“Because you or your brothers broke in and took her. This matter is between you and me. She’s innocent. I don’t care what you do to me but let her go.”

“She’s not here,” he says.

“Where is she?”

He opens his mouth like he has something to say but thinks better of it. Instead, he snaps his mouth shut and glances over his shoulder.

“I don’t know where she is,” he repeats. “You should talk to the sheriff—”

I put a hand out and stop him from shutting the door. I don’t care how weak it makes me seem. I don’t care what he thinks of me, but I’m ready to beg. I will get down on my knees if he asks.

“Don’t do this,” I grind out. “Please. I will take her place. Just ... please, give her back.”

His brows crease between sharp eyes. “I told you I don’t have—”

“Your brothers then. Just call them. I know—”

“Are you accusing my brothers of something?”

I don’t flinch under the accusation. “We both know it was them. I won’t even press charges. As soon as I get Mira back, we’ll leave and I can promise you, we will never come back.”

“I told you, we don’t know where she is!”

I open my mouth, battling between keeping my calm and losing my shit when a familiar voice breaks in from behind me.

“Daniel?”

I turn, already knowing who I’m going to find.

Lucy.

Older, but still pretty. She seems taller somehow. Maybe it’s the leather boots strapped to her already long legs.

Her big, green eyes take me in with surprise. “Danny.” Her face breaks into a brilliant smile. “I heard you were back in town. How are you?”

“I’m looking for Mira,” I say, ignoring all else. “Where are your brothers?”

Her smile slips. “Dirk and Boyd?” She glances past me at Jameson still standing in the doorway. “I’m guessing they’re about somewhere, but what on earth would they want with your little friend?”

“They took her,” I say sharply. “From the house. They broke in and took her.”

Lucy gives a weak laugh. “That’s crazy. They would never. Why would they?”

“You know why, Lucy. This isn’t funny. What happened was between us. If you want to blame someone, blame me. Just let her go.”

Her uncertain amusement slips into irritation. “The fact that you think we would do something so ... crazy, is honestly offensive, Daniel. We have no reason to go after Mira, but if you’re saying that she’s missing, we need to start looking. It’s going to get dark soon and these woods are not forgiving.” She marches past me and up the steps. Her brows are pulled low in determination as she turns to me once more. “I’m going to make some calls. We’ll get a search party on the way. James, call the sheriff. If someone did take her, he needs to do his job.”

I stare at her, trying to see the sly, underhanded girl she used to be, but this is a woman with a purpose. I still know her brothers took Mira, but I’m beginning to doubt she had any part in it. Regardless, I’m grateful for her help. Not Brewer or the town would have listened to me or done shit to help. But with Lucy helping, we stood a better chance at finding Mira.

“Thank you,” I murmur.

Lucy gives me a tight-lipped smile and touches my arm. “We’re going to find her, okay? Don’t you worry.”