Instead of getting up to call Trevor right away, I simply watch Lily sleep.
Why anyone would want to hurt this sweet, intelligent, gorgeous woman is unfathomable. I don’t care who they are; they will fucking pay for what they’ve put her through. I’m seriously considering wringing Peter’s neck and severing all ties with him after this. It may not be good business, but for once I don’t fucking
care. He better have a good excuse for not rescuing Lily the moment he discovered she’d been taken. Although, there is no excuse he could give that could possibly be good enough.
Taking a deep breath, I slowly extract myself from the bed, careful not to disturb Lily. I make sure to pull the blankets up over her, so she doesn’t catch a chill in my absence. Pressing a kiss to her forehead, I close my eyes and breathe in her sweet, clean scent. There’s something fucking intoxicating about my princess.
Turning around, I reach for the phone and call Trevor again at the hotel. Last time I called, while Lily was in the bathroom, he had no news for me. This time he better fucking have some information.
“Peter has been texting me again, sir, demanding to know why you aren’t answering him and what is going on,” he tells me.
“Have you responded?”
“Only to ensure him you are handling the situation.”
“Good,” I growl. Peter doesn’t deserve to know what is going on. “Do you
have any information for me?”
“Some,” he says hesitantly. “With the time difference, it’s been difficult to reach people.”
“I don’t want excuses,” I clip. “I want results.”
“I went on a hunch and checked Miss MacKay’s social media accounts,” he
tells me. “And they all show she has been having a wonderful Easter Holiday in Paris, and then again back in London.”
“So no one suspects anything?”
“I doubt it, sir. There aren’t just photographs of places she’s reported to have been, but more than one selfie all geo-tagged at those locations.”
“Fuck,” I mutter.
“Yes, it would appear someone has gone through a lot of trouble to keep Miss MacKay’s disappearance a secret.”
“Yes.” I then have a sudden thought. “Text Peter and get her mobile number
from him, Daniels will need it to do a trace. I want to see if she’s been supposedly sending any messages. Someone must be posing as her to her parents
and university.”
“Yes, of course,” he says, and I can tell he’s reaching for his phone as he mutters, “Why didn’t I think of that?”
“Well, I have some information for you.”
“You do?” he asks excitedly.
“They kidnapped Lily from outside of a club, I don’t know which one. But it
did foam during that evening.”
“That’s still a thing?” he scoffs.
“Apparently,” I answer amused. “She was there with a new friend of hers who goes by the name Janice. They met in the library on campus, but they don’t have any courses together.”
“So are you thinking this Janice might be in on the kidnapping?”
“Yes.”
“I’ll be sure to pass the information along to Daniels.”
“Good.”
“Your sister texted me and was wondering what your itinerary is.”
“Text Riley back, and tell her I’ll call tomorrow.”
I hear Lily whimpering again in her sleep.
“Be ready to leave when we get back, and Lily will need some clothes,” I tell him. Not waiting for a reply I hang up and quickly make my way back to the bed. Gently, I pull Lily back into my arms, tucking her under my body once again.
“I’ve got you, Princess,” I tell her, running my hand along her side. “I’m not going anywhere.”
Her breathing relaxes, and I kiss her forehead gently. Pulling back, I stare into her now open eyes.
“Sir?”
“I’m right here,” I tell her, giving her a small smile.
Her tiny hand reaches up and gently touches my cheek. I turn my head and
kiss her palm. Her lips twitch into a small smile.
15
LILY
I awake to the feeling of warmth and safety, tucked under the man’s body,
with his warm eyes shining down at me in the dim light. For some reason,
I can’t help but reach up and cup his cheek with my palm. It’s rough with
stubble, feeling like my favorite emery board. I scratch his cheek lightly with my nails and find myself smiling when he turns his head and presses a kiss into my palm.
The touch of his warm lips against my skin sends a pleasant tingle through
me. I find myself gliding my hand along his neck and pulling his mouth toward mine. I lick my lips in anticipation before I press them against his full warm mouth.
