Page 160 of A Dangerous Proposal

Every available street camera was being checked, every bar, every club, every godforsaken place information could be bought or beaten out of someone.

And still, there was nothing.

Ending the latest call, he exhaled slowly, dragging a hand down his face. He turned to Madison. “That was Declan,” he said, voice rough. “Cami and the babies are okay. It was just a sedative. A high dose, but nothing permanent.”

Madison’s lips parted slightly. Her gaze remained unfocused, locked on some invisible point beyond him.

“Her favorite cookie.” The whisper was so brittle, Alex’s throat tightened.

His gaze fell to the stuffed animal cradled in her arms.

It’s past his bedtime.

Jax can’t sleep without Dino.

Emotion threatened to choke him, and Alex forced the thought away. He couldn’t afford that weakness. Not when his family needed him.

“We have the car make and model, the license plate, and an image of the woman. It’s only a matter of time,” he continued, keeping his tone steady.

Nothing.

Not even a flicker.

She was shutting down, and he didn’t know how to reach her.

I can’t lose both of them.

Alex sat beside her, his weight shifting the cushion. Her body remained stiff, unyielding next to him, making his chest ache.

“You did nothing wrong, Madison.” He coaxed. “You couldn’t have known.”

Her grip on Dino tightened. “I won’t take a drink from a stranger but we took the cookies.” The monotone in her voice sent a chill through him. “I left my child with a stranger. This is my fault.”

“No.” His arm slid around her shoulders, pulling her in. She didn’t move, didn’t react, but at least she was talking.

“I should have known,” she said, barely above a whisper. “She was too friendly. I should have seen it.”

“Angel, listen to me,” His hand moved to the back of her head, threading through her hair. “This isn’t your fault.”

A single tear slid down her cheek. She didn’t move to wipe it away.

Alex closed his eyes for half a second, his control slipping. “This is on me.” The words were out before he could stop them.

Madison’s head turned slightly.

His neck was tense, and his muscles strained with the urge to lash out. “I know the darkness better than you do. I should have taken more precautions.” His grip tightened fractionally. “I should have protected you both better.”

A shudder ran through her body, but she didn’t fight his hold.

Alex swallowed against the knot in his throat and pressed a kiss to the top of her head. He exhaled against her hair and whispered, “I love you.”

Madison’s body jerked.

His fingers twisted deeper into her hair, his other hand gripping her waist as though to anchor himself. “And I love our son,” he choked out. “I will doanythingto get him back.”

A sharp tremor passed through her, and then…

The floodgates shattered.

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