Lost in Silence (The Lost Series Book 1)(31)
“May’s home for the week,” she explains. May was her college-age daughter. Sometimes I forget Annabelle was older, she definitely didn’t look old enough to have two adult age children. “How’d it go?”
“Better than I hoped,” I answer cautiously. I’m sure my sister had already called this morning, telling her all about the dinner with Alice and the guys. Annabelle’s dark eyes watch me like a hawk. I knew she was studying my reaction for any further details. Flipping through the folder, I try to ignore her gaze. There wasn’t any new information regarding Erik or Alice but it would have to be enough for King.
“Any idea when our electronic detective might be back?”
“He’s running an errand for King, a client needed some...detective work done on his wife’s computer,” she smiles sweetly and I chuckle.
“Kingston available?”
“Go right in,” she singsongs.
Nodding at her, I walk towards the large office door to her right. I knock hesitantly, before shaking off whatever is tormenting me about this meeting. This was Kingston, my brother in arms, what in the hell did I really have to worry about? I open the door to find him sitting behind a large desk, file folders in stacks around him. He motions for me to take a seat and adjusts the phone pressed against his ear. I sit, flipping through Sneak’s research again.
“Seth, got to let you go man,” he laughs into the phone. “I’ll have Max check him out and send you the report...”
Tuning him out, I read the small section Sneak found on Alice. My heart skips a beat as I stare down at her school photo, all smiles. Fuck, it’s hard to see the joy in her eyes and not want to put it back there.
“We have a problem,” Kingston exhales loudly, bringing me back to the moment. He leans back in his seat, narrowing his eyes on me. “This little stunt is going to cost us.”
“Stunt?” I ask confused.
“The girl,” he rubs his face and places both hands on his head. My gaze hardens. I knew he was going to give me shit about Alice but right off the bat?
“Leaving her behind wasn’t an option,” I state feeling a little hostile towards him.
“Not the way I see it brother,” King’s eyes are guarded. He’s purposely trying to upset me. “She’s a distraction and the last thing you need.”
“She’s not going to be a problem.”
“Sneak said the LAPD came looking for her?”
“The asshole she’s running from told them she had been kidnapped,” I explain, feeling like he isn’t hearing me but I knew better. He’s questioning my judgment which bothers me because he hasn’t doubted me in a long time.
“If he was lying they would’ve sorted it out. Why didn’t you let them do their job?”
“I could’ve left her with them,” I admit because he was right but my gut told me something else.
“The cop, Detective Edwards, what did you think of him?”
“She slept in the fucking closet the first night, King. She cringed anytime I spoke to her, even looked at her. She ate a sandwich like she hadn’t seen food in days. Fuck, you saw what she looks like.”
“I did,” he hangs his head. I can see he’s struggling. He wants to throw his support in but something is stopping him. I know he would’ve done the same thing in my situation.
“The woman you met is nothing compared to the rabid animal who stole into my motel closet as if her life depended on it. I made the right call,” my voice came out as a whisper, the words ripping at my gut. “I don’t understand why you can’t get behind me on this.”
The memory of her beautiful brown eyes cast down because some asshole wanted her submission makes me sick. I want nothing more than to track the sick mother fucker down and show him what real submission is.
“You got through?” King sees the concern and the anger flash across my face.
“Yes, but nowhere near deep enough,” I admit. It’s hard to gauge the damage without know how long she was under his control. Her ability to trust me so quickly and easily was a good sign. It proves she is already working through any obstacles she might be experiencing. “She trusts you and the guys.”
“Missy said she doesn’t speak?” he asks and I get the sense he’s coming around. “Has she said anything to you?”
“Accidentally but she denies saying anything. I think she’s been conditioned to think, act and do a lot of things she wouldn’t normally do. I’m sure he took her ability to speak.”
“Fuck,” he curses loudly. His face turns hard and various shades of red.