The Forbidden Trilogy(177)

"Do you know anyone who wished her or her son harm?"

Other than a psychotic paranormal human trafficking ring led by my sadistic father? "No. Her husband was arrested not too long ago for pedophilia. I doubt he's involved, but that's the only scandal I know about in their family."

The officer nodded and took notes. "Thank you, Sam." He handed me his card. "If you can think of anything else, please call."

"Who will be handling her... remains?"

"We'll attempt to contact next of kin or her attorney. I'll be in touch as we have more information."

He turned away, dismissing me, but I didn't know what to do. Should we just leave?

Darren thought so. He ushered me to the car and buckled me up, and we headed for home.

An emptiness filled me, making me numb to the small nagging at the back of my mind. I couldn't think past getting home, cleaning this blood off me, and finding Tommy. I pressed myself into the vastness beyond my own body and reached for him, but his mental signature only flickered, then blinked out. I couldn't hold onto it long enough to track it.

Again that emptiness goaded me. What had I missed?

We arrived home, parked and walked into the mansion. A lifetime had passed since we'd left, and still the house slept. Susie sat in the kitchen, waiting for us. She saw my face, saw the blood, and tears flowed down her cheeks.

She opened her mouth to speak, but I cut her off. "Did she wake up?" I needed to hold my child.

"Not a sound." She handed the baby monitor to me and squeezed my hand, honoring my unspoken request for silence.

I nodded and walked down the hall toward my room. What must it do to a mother, to watch her only child be kidnapped while she lies helpless, dying? The thought chilled me, and in one horrible moment I realized what I'd been missing. Ana. The soft but familiar buzz of her mind in mine, the constant presence that alerted me to her moods and needs—it was gone.

I broke into a sprint, fear filling me as I slammed open the door to my room and flicked on the light.

She should've cried, squealed with indignation at the bright light that woke her, but she didn't make a sound. I reached into her crib, pulled out the bundle inside, and held a pile of blankets shaped to look like a child.

I shook my head, staring at the blankets in my hands, now stained with Mrs. Beaumont's blood. "No. No. No!" My frantic search of the room revealed two things: her diaper bag was missing, and someone had turned off the baby monitor in her room.

"Susie! Darren!" My screams filled the mansion. I tore through the minds of everyone in the building, searching for guilt, for answers. "Where is Ana?"

I fell to my knees, sobbing, realization hitting me in the gut. Ana's kidnapping had been planned. Mrs. Beaumont had tried to tell me. She'd heard them talking. They took Tommy so I would leave the mansion, so I would leave Ana.

And now, my daughter's life was in danger.





Chapter 84 – Drake



The emptiness in Drake grew as he realized what his life was about to become. Steele had his daughter. How did that happen? Where was Sam?

"Your daughter is safe, for now, but only if you do what I ask. Are we clear?" Steele's lips peeled back in a wicked smile. "As a token of my generosity, I'm still going to give you the other things you want. You'll get the drugs and your freedom—I'll even let you have Toby—but you have to break into that quarantine and free any paranormals who are healthy and showing signs of powers. Free them, and nothing will happen to your baby... for a while."

Drake nodded. What else could he do? He couldn't let Steele hurt Ana, and he couldn't stop the bastard if he was stuck in jail. Maybe if he played along he could get close enough to Steele to find a way to defeat him.

"How do I know you're telling the truth? That could be a picture of any baby." Drake clung to this last line of hope, knowing it would likely drown him in the end. Steele didn't seem the type to use false threats.

The two vials of drugs, one blue, one purple, still sat in the center of the table. Steele nodded. "Take one. Connect with Sam. Find out for yourself if what I say is true."

Sam. Oh God, she has to be going crazy. Why didn't Steele take her too? Drake grabbed the purple vial and hoped Steele hadn't lied when he said it wouldn't make him high. He needed to stay in control right now.

He poured the liquid down his throat and waited. Within moments, fire raced through his muscles. The room brightened and dimmed, and awareness exploded in his head. He felt the base of his power grow—all his strength and abilities.

He drew on his mind control and pushed into Steele's mind with every ounce of strength, but an impenetrable wall blocked him.

"Of course, your powers won't work on me. Only a fool would come here and make himself vulnerable in that way. But rest assured, they do work."