Page 51 of Marked

Sophia’s gaze snapped to his. “Yes, we do. I can’t believe I didn’t think of that.”

“What is it?”

She cast a nervous eye around and then leaned toward him. “Baby blue.” The words came out on a quake and she swallowed hard. “For her blue eyes.”

“Got it. What about Honey Funny? Can I take that?”

Something shone in Sophia’s eyes so brightly—Relief? No. Happiness?—that it made his chest constrict.

“I’m surprised you remembered her name.”

Well, hell. Now he was really obliterating his image.

Sophia’s throat moved. “Bella would like that. Honey Funny is in the car still anyway.”

Lexi walked out of the kitchen. “Are you going too?” she asked Sophia, an amused glint in her eyes. Cole waited for a comment, but Lexi must have thought better of it.

“Yeah, she is,” Cole answered. “She’s going to wait in the car while we go in.”

“I’ll come.” Lexi eased her feet into her loafers. “That way she doesn’t have to wait by herself.”

A wave of gratitude washed over him. Nash wouldn’t be pleased, but if Sophia wasn’t alone, Cole would be a helluva lot more relaxed.

His brothers approached the door with their bags and Cole filled in Nash, Dare, and Dallas on the change of plans. Nash passed Lexi a gun, his face tight and grim at Lexi’s insistence on joining them, and then they all piled into two SUVs, Sophia and Cole alone in one while they waited for Dallas. Tess had work to do at her yoga studio, so she’d be sitting this one out. Which surely made Dare happy.

He buckled his seatbelt and turned over the ignition. Sophia brought her hand to his forearm. Her slender fingers were slight and gentle against his skin, her flesh so pure in sharp contrast to his rough and inked-up arms.

She squeezed, and he swung his attention to her face. All the fire and ice had left her features. The muscles in her cheeks were relaxed, and her eyes were bright with appreciation. “Thank you.” The statement came out on a wisp of breath.

The muscles in his neck tightened. He’d had no right to try to hold her back from reuniting with her daughter. Having Sophia close by would mean carrying a thorn of worry in his gut, but for Bella, it’d mean the entire world. “Don’t mention it.”

Dallas cracked open the back door. “Thanks for waiting, fuckface.”

Cole rolled his eyes. “I just started the car, crybaby. Relax.”

Dallas’s gaze landed on Sophia, and Cole waited for a smart-ass remark.

“Hey, glad to have the extra manpower. Er... woman power? I dunno. Let’s go.”

Cole pulled away from the curb, and Nash followed.

In just a few short hours, this would all be over. Sophia would have Bella back and all would be right in her world.

But when Cole pictured being free of Sophia, it wasn’t relief that came to mind.

***

Sophia stared out of the passenger side window as she, Dallas, and Cole headed out of the city. The congestion of houses and buildings turned into a large, dense forest that led to the foothills of the mountains ahead.

Her heart hadn’t stopped racing. Honey Funny lay in her lap, the raggedy toy lifeless without Bella’s arms clamped around it.

Buzz, buzz

The vibration in her pocket yanked her attention from the window. Cole sent her a curious glance as she lifted her phone.

Kenneth mentioned he’s got a lead. I sent the information to my PI, Dante.

She was glad Bart hadn’t called. It would have been uncomfortable talking to him in the vehicle. She quickly typed out a response, telling him she was working closely with Kenneth on the lead, which wasn’t totally a lie. She was very close to the lead, only it wasn’t Kenneth’s.

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