Page 25 of Shadows of Rage

I failed her.

A few hours later, I’m back at the house staring at a whiteboard. I can't put the pieces together. My mind is running rampant as I try to figure out where she may have gone and who may have taken her. It breaks me more and more each time I think I’m onto something and end up at a dead end. Not enough people know about us for it to be someone from my past, but I don’t know who from hers could do this to her. I feel like we are missing something. Leighton has been on an absolute warpath and has gotten her father involved. It’s evident that her father loves her as he has gone above and beyond in an attempt to helpin any way that he can. Carter and I are meeting with him later today to talk about what he has discovered from her past.

When the time comes, I shower and get dressed, making sure that I have everything I need because I will not wait one more day to set out on another search. I feed her snake, Rage, and as I close up the enclosure, I hear Carter’s Jeep rolling down the driveway. Heading out I lock the door behind me and make my way out to the car and climb in. The inner turmoil I feel must be evident as Carter speaks.

“We’re going to find her man, I promise. None of us are going to give up on her. She’ll be safe again. We’re all on her team and we’re going to get her.” He tries to soothe the anger and worry raging within me.

“I just can’t imagine what she’s going through and it kills me that I’m not there to help her. I feel like I’ve been running in circles chasing a ghost. I can’t lose her, Carter. I just can’t.” A stray tear falls from my eye as I think about never seeing my Little Rage again. Her infectious laugh, her sparkling blue eyes, the cute little dimples in her cheeks…Please be okay.

“I won’t let that happen. We’re going to get her back and whoever did this will pay with their life.” He places a calming hand on my shoulder just for a moment before he begins to drive towards the location that Leighton’s father had sent. I try to ease the mixture of emotions I'm feeling inside.

Pulling up to the location and parking in the lot, I see a giant warehouse. There’s a few cars here — all blacked out. A man walks outside to greet us as we park, and instantly I can tell that this is Leighton’s Dad. The similarities in them are striking. He has the same eyes and nose with the same curly hair that is now gray with flecks of white. One could assume he once had the same blonde hair. He looks like power and wealth mixed into one.

Carter goes to shake his hand and her father pulls him in for a hug. I knew they had met a while ago but I didn’t realize the comfort level that they had felt with each other. I feel a moment of peace watching the two interact. This is all Carter has ever wanted – to be accepted by others for who he is. Her father turns to me and holds out his hand.

“You must be Braxton. My name is Nixon. We have some information that will be vital in this search. Daniella is like a daughter to me and we will not stop until she is found. I’ve hired the best men from around the country to aid us and I would like you to meet them.” I shake his hand as he speaks and a sense of relief runs through me at his words.

“Thank you, Sir. I appreciate all of your help and involvement in this.”

We walk inside and up a flight of stairs to a wide open floor that looks like it belongs to the FBI. There are computers everywhere, each connected to cameras throughout town. I see one that instantly draws my attention and I walk over to it. I see the fairgrounds. Dani is standing behind me when a man comes and grabs her, dragging her from view and behind the booth where I had found her phone. A moment later, they reappear but there are now two men holding her and she is fighting back with all she has. They drag her into the tree line and disappear. Anger surges through me and I can’t help but feel like this is all my fault. If I hadn’t turned away from her, they would’ve never gotten to her. I try to shove my emotions down because they won’t do us any good now.

“We have discovered who these men are based on the tattoos you can see on their arms. We’ve cross checked everything and found two recent purchases from a local ski shop where they bought those masks, paying in cash. The most important news is waiting in that room over there.” He points towards a door and Itake off, swinging it open quickly. There are men dressed in suits sitting around a table with Manila folders scattered about.

“Who took her?” The words come out with urgency and I can’t control the anger bubbling within me. They’ll pay for this and I will make them regret it. A man stands from the opposite side and walks over timidly with a folder in hand, placing it gently on the table in front of me.

“This includes all of the information that you need.” He gives me a pitiful look and walks back to his seat.What the fuck was that about?

Opening the folder, I scan through the information until I find what I want. The man who took my girl. Clarence Rossi. Her fucking father of all people.How could I have not thought of that?Who knows what the hell that abusive fuck is doing to her. He had no problem slaughtering her mother and somehow got away with it. My anger starts to bubble over and I do what I can to remain calm.I need to get to her.Without thinking, I pick up the lamp from the table and throw it across the room at the wall. I hardly recognize the scream that leaves my throat. The pain I feel of knowing she’s with that man has my heart pumping way too fast. Turning, I look to see Carter and Nixon in shock.

“Do you know where they are? Where he could’ve taken her?” Nixon’s face contorts to something evil, telling me he already has a plan in mind.

“Yes. The cars are loaded and we have the location loaded into the GPS. It’ll take a day to get there, so we must leave now and get there as soon as possible. I would offer the jet, however, he has all airstrips in that area locked down somehow. Driving is our only option to ensure her safety.” A look of sadness covers his face then is gone in seconds.

“Then let’s fucking go.”

CHAPTER 19

Daniella

Finding out my father was still alive sent a whirlwind of emotions through my trembling body. I never questioned what happened to him. I figured he drank himself to death or hoped he was put in prison. He’s made sure to make this experience an absolute living hell. I have been trapped in this room tied up for what feels like days, but I’m not sure at this point. The skin around my wrists and my ankles has started to rip off from how tightly the ropes have been digging into them. I have been punched and kicked numerous times by different people. I know that my head is bleeding, but I can’t do anything about it. I don’t understand why this is happening, I’ve never done anything to this man. He has put me through everything horrible that has happened in my life. I guess he hasn’t had enough. I hear footsteps and try to mentally prepare myself for the beating that is to come. The door flies and the blindfold is ripped from my face.

“Hello again, you worthless slut. Time to answer some questions.” My father spits in my face as two men come into the room and pick up my chair. I have no more fight left in me so Ijust let them do what they want. They take me out of the room and up two flights of stairs and down a hallway, placing me in what looks like an interrogation room. It’s cold and there is an empty metal table and a chair in the center of the room. The room smells entirely too sterile, like they’re trying to cover the scent of something else. They place my chair at the table and leave me there in silence. Thoughts run through my mind of all the ways that I’m going to kill this man. I am so sick of him haunting my life and now that he’s here, he will die by my hands.

I don’t know what he has planned or what kind of questions he’s talking about, all I can think about is Braxton and how he’s feeling right now. I just know that he and Leighton are trying to find me — destroying everything in their path. I use that to drive my anger forward and prepare myself for whatever is going to happen in this room. The door opens behind me and my father walks around the table, sitting on the opposite side.

“Aren’t you happy to be back with your old man? You belong here, with me. And you have information I want.” A creepy grin crosses his lips.

“Fuck you!” I spit in his direction. My anger barely contained within me.

“That’s no way to speak to your father! You’re alive because of me!” He reaches across the table and slaps me so hard that my head whips to the side and I can taste a coppery tang in my mouth. The burn on my cheek enrages me so much that I gather the blood in my mouth and spit it right at his face.

He’s lost his fucking mind. “I would rather be dead than help you. You’re fucking sick and I can’t wait to watch you die.”

Wiping his cheek, he laughs and jumps up from his seat, wrapping a hand around my throat and yanks me towards him. He leans down and brings his face way too close for comfort and whispers in my ear.

“Your friend Leighton is an heiress to a huge underground corporation. She doesn’t know what she was born into yet, but I need access to it. And in order to get that, I must be wedded into the family — meaning your best friend is about to be your new Mommy.” I don’t even think as I quickly turn and sink my teeth into his cheek, ripping the skin from the muscle and spitting it at him. His scream catches the attention of the guards and they rush in as he shoves me back and releases my throat, cupping his new wound.

“You will never lay a finger on her, you fucking pervert.”

---