89. Tessa

89

Tessa

I t's been three days since the auction and the revelation Dante was partly responsible for what happened to me, and also my mother. We don't know for sure Dante killed my mother, but at the very least, his actions led to her suicide.

But all that's in the past. At some point, I'll need to process the grief, but right now, all I can think about is Chloe. Quinn and a hacker friend of Kade have been searching for Elena, but there have been no hits.

Aleks hasn't heard from her either.

We're driving to Stella's house tomorrow, so I can see Harry. I spoke to Stella last night for hours. I told her everything that had happened, including about my mom. After all the shit she went through with her father and Silva, she gets it.

I can't wait to see my boy. Stella says he's been quiet, but having Buttons there has helped. Giving Harry a puppy has been a godsend. I'm not sure he would have coped with all the trauma without Buttons there to comfort him.

"Dinner's ready, sweetness."

I shake my head. "Not hungry." My stomach won't stop churning and the thought of eating anything makes me feel worse. Cin frowns.

"You gotta eat, Tessa. You've lost weight."

He's right. I have lost weight. Turns out the 'kidnap diet' is a winner for weight loss. I'm about to argue that I'm not hungry and I'll eat when I'm ready, but he scoops me up and carries me into the kitchen before I can say a word.

Madden is stirring a pot of bolognese sauce while wearing a frilly pink apron and not much else. The sight is so jarring that my mouth drops and my eyes bug out.

"What the...?"

"Good look, Daddy," Cin says with a grin.

Madden rolls his eyes and turns to me. "Sit down. You're eating something even if I have to hand-feed you myself."

Deciding it's not worth arguing, I let Cin put me down and take a seat at the breakfast bar.

"OK, fine." Madden cocks an eyebrow at my bratty tone and I can't resist - I stick my tongue out to irritate him. Cin snorts.

"Someone's looking to get spanked."

"I'd put that tongue away, baby, or I might find another use for it."

My libido perks up at the thought of licking Madden's fat cock, and my thighs clench together. From the way Cin groans and adjusts himself in his gray sweatpants, he's having similar thoughts.

But Madden turns back to the stove. A few minutes later, we're all eating spaghetti bolognese, and it's delicious.

"I thought you weren't hungry," Cin comments with a smirk when I shovel the last forkful into my mouth. I decide not to dignify his remark with an answer.

"Dessert?" Madden asks.

Before I can reply, the alarm bleeps and Kade sweeps into the kitchen.

"We have a lead on Elena!"

The food that tasted delicious a few minutes earlier now sits like a lead weight in my stomach.

"Have you found her?"

"Aleks got a call from her. She's trying to take Chloe out of the country and was concerned because she hadn't heard from her son."

"What did he say?" Cin's all business now, his light-hearted persona gone.

"He told her he'd pick her up from the motel she's been staying in. It's about a two hour drive from here, so get your shit together..." Kade's eyes slide over Madden. "...and get dressed. We're leaving now."