Page 7 of His Paradise

Those days felt like a lifetime had passed since then. I sit at the desk and my fingers flow across the keys as I fight to regain control of our security system. After pounding out miles of code and getting to the point I nearly give up, the camera flashes back online. A ripple of movement catches my eye immediately and my relief is short-lived.

Aden has his gun raised, shouting something as he approaches a man on our front lawn. Something about him is familiar, but the camera quality isn’t good enough for me to make out facial features. A row of our men stand behind Aden, their guns raised as they keep surveying the property, and that’s when I catch sight of the dozens more crawling through the home, checking every potential entry point or hiding spot.

My pocket vibrates, nearly making me shoot from my chair and I stifle my scream with a hand slapped across my mouth. I pulled the phone out, hand shaking as I open the message. Tears continue to break free as I watch Aden pull the trigger, and the man’s body falls to the ground.

This was all my fault, and if I didn’t do something, the family I left and the one I created would be in danger.

Forgive me, Aden.

Chapter five

Aden

Idon’t want to drag my ass out of bed, until I realize that I’m alone. After we cleared the entire property, I called in extra guards to be safe, Nina and I had fallen asleep in our bed. It wasn’t easy for either of us to close our eyes. Every scuff and bump had us shooting from the bed, and I didn’t think I would ever get any rest. But as I peeled my eyes open, the sound of Leo’s cries dragging me from my bed, my heart knew that something was wrong.

I hum to him, bouncing my fussing baby as I search for his mother. My tired pace quickly turns into a jog as I call her name, waiting for her to pop up and break the tension that clouds my heart. But I knew she wasn’t here, deep down. The house feels too empty and cold. My panic grows, gripping me with every step, each empty room mocking me as I sought the one person in this world who can give me peace. Nina is gone, and as I shout orders to anyone and everyone who was within ear shot, things continue to get worse.

One of my security personnel drops a phone into my outstretched palm. But it wasn’t one I have seen before and I continue to stare at the crushed screen in my palm as I wait impatiently for my phone to charge enough to power it on. I dropped it in the chaos and forgot it last night, but now I was desperately hoping there was a reasonable explanation from Nina that I had missed.

My phone chimes, the screen flashing to life on the counter as I lunge for it. There’s a message that I had missed, but it isn’t from a number I recognize. Something tells me it’s from a burner phone, one that I can easily trace but it will end up being useless. The screen makes my stomach twist and constrict, my mind refusing to accept it no matter how many times I read the words.

“You son of a bitch,” I curse under my breath, barely resisting the urge to throw the device across the room. Nina is missing, and I am normally the one to take charge and lead at times like this. But here I am, knuckles white from how tightly I grip the countertop as I lean against it.

“Boss?” An unsure voice comes from the doorway, as I look up and nod my head to Clint. He steps forward, and shakes his head once, only confirming what I knew to be true. They hadn’t found anything.

“Call Alec, we need help.” I mutter, staggering to the couch as I drop into it. My body has become cold, as if all feeling had drained with my energy. I hear Clint talking into his phone, but my pounding heartbeat muffles everything else until a cell phone is shoved into my hand, and he walks away before I can argue.

“Aden, answer me or I will be on your doorstep. Clint said it’s an emergency. Aden?” Isabelle snapped at me, her voice rising in concern.

“Nina is gone,” my voice sounds robotic, even to me. Isabelle blows out a huff, not understanding the short response I gave her.

“I’m sure she will be back, did you guys have a fight? Where did she go, maybe she just needs somebody to vent to. You men don’t make it easy, ya know.” She rattles on, and I can hear her husbands arguing in the background.

“Somebody shut down our security last night. They killed one of my men, and now she’s gone.” I feel my throat tighten, but I bite back the agony when it threatens to pull me into the darkness.

Isabelle shouts something, muffling the phone until I hear the sound of a car door closing.

“Alec, I won’t stay behind no matter how many times you threaten to tie me up. You’re not scaring me, you’re just making me horny so knock it off.” She grumbles, and I roll my eyes at their neverending antics.

“What are you doing?” I ask.

“Be there in ten, maybe less. Markus is driving.” The line goes dead as she hangs up on me. Clint takes his phone, dropping onto the chair across from me and pins me with a concerned look that only irritates me.

“I’m not going to fall apart, so stop looking at me like that.”

“I sent word to your father. Vincent said he will gather a team to begin searching for her, but we need somewhere to start looking. Do you have anybody in mind that would want to hurt Nina or you?” He asks. I shake my head slowly, already having gone over every possibility.

“I haven’t taken any jobs recently that warranted this. Nina doesn’t have enemies.” I say, struggling to think far back as I stare at the picture hanging on the wall. Nina smile’s brightly back at me, with the image of our son in her arms and I stand proudly behind the two of them. I jump up and begin pacing the floor, spinning my wedding band with every step. My front door suddenly bangs off the wall, and Isabelle rushes to throw her arms around me.

“Don’t worry, we’re here.” She tries to comfort me as I pat her back. Markus walks up, holding his fist up to bump against mine. Alec is staring at his screen, typing rapidly as he hangs back.

“Whoever hacked into your systems, wasn’t fucking around. They knew how to cover their tracks and the one person who could help us is missing.” Alec grumbles, finally looking up to catch my eye. “I remember waking up on the lawn to find Isabelle missing.We will find her.” He says, nodding to me. I return the gesture, just as the baby monitor on the table lights up with Leo’s cries

“I’ve got him, Amelia stayed with my dad.” Isabelle says, walking away.

“We tried to call Jared, but they’re still on their weird honeymoon thing.” Markus chuckles, dropping onto the couch as he stares Clint down.

“What are you doing? Gather a team and start broadening your search. Canvass every fucking street, find security cameras or anything that could help. Go on,” Markus dismisses Clint with a flick of his hand, and I roll my eyes at his abrasive cocky nature. Clint sighs, walking away to do exactly as Markus told him.

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