Page 44 of Vengeful Lies

“Oh, John,” Becca said a moment after bringing the phone to her ear after calling back the number he’d used to contact her.

None of them had expected him to answer, and now that he had, Becca’s gaze darted to Connor’s, silently pleading for help with what to say.

Connor just gave her a confident nod and lifted the hand he was holding to his lips, touching a soft kiss to the inside of Becca’s wrist.

Since they could only hear Becca’s side of the conversation and didn't want to risk having her put it on speakerphone so they could listen in case they gave away the fact that she wasn't alone, there was nothing the guys could offer to coach her on.

“I didn't expect you to answer since you haven’t taken any of my other calls,” Becca said.

That she was nervous was portrayed in her tone, but there was no way for John to know exactly why she was nervous. For all he knew, it was just because of the bombshell he’d dropped on her the other day that he believed himself to be Cassandra’s brother.

“I'm sorry I couldn’t meet with you the other morning, I hope you weren't left waiting long,” Becca continued after a pause. “Something happened to Connor’s family. His little niece and her nanny were kidnapped.”

Since John hadn't outright said that he was involved in the plot to silence the Charleston Holloway family, it was smart of Becca not to let on that they knew who had taken her and Essie and why.

“Yes, they’re both okay. We were able to get them back, but only because Essie’s father, Cade, offered himself in their place.”

Her chest tightened at those words.

They sucked the breath right out of her.

If Gabriella hated one thing it was that Cade had traded himself for her.

For Essie that would have been okay, but the little girl needed her daddy now more than ever. Cade was the only parent Essie had left and there was no way that Gabriella could fill his shoes.

While she’d told Cade when she first interviewed for the job that she was looking to do something different with her life after her failed marriage, she’d never told him why her marriage had failed.

Never admitted to him that the universe didn't think she had what it took to be a mom. That was the only reason in her mind she kept having miscarriage after miscarriage.

Part of her was afraid that if he found out, Cade would fire her, and she’d lose him and Essie. They might not really be hers, but she couldn’t love them more if they were.

Which was why she wished Cade had just negotiated for his daughter’s release and left her behind. What if she failed Essie the same way she’d failed her own babies?

As though sensing her growing distress, Cole shifted in his seat and reached around it to hold up his hand, offering it to her. There was no hesitation as she reached out to grab it, allowing the feel of his firm grip to ground her. It wasn't the same as having Cade with her, but it was better than nothing. All of these men and their partners had gone out of their way to reassure her of her place in this family over the last couple of days, and it only made her love them even more.

“I'm here if you're able to meet with me. As you can imagine, Connor’s family is even more interested in finding out whatever you know about your dad and why you think he’s Cassandra’s father as well. If you can't meet now, just let me know a time that works for you and I’ll be there.”

A second later, Becca’s dark blue eyes lit up and she nodded, grinning at all of them to let them know that John must have agreed to the meeting.

“Yeah, I’ll wait for you. I’ll be by the door, the same place you wanted to meet last time,” Becca said, then after one more nod, ended the call and shot them all another grin. “He said he’ll be here in fifteen minutes. If he’s with Cade, then we know the search area has to be within that radius.”

“You did amazing, moonlight,” Connor said, leaning in to brush a quick kiss to Becca’s lips.

Before anyone else could say anything, Cooper suddenly looked up from his phone, his gray eyes wide with surprise.

“What?” Gabriella asked, fearing the worst. Had Cade’s body been found? If it had, how would she ever break the news to Essie that her daddy was never coming home?

“That was Prey, we got a hit on the facial recognition software,” Cooper informed them.

“And?” Cole prodded when Cooper didn't immediately spit out a name.

“And you're never going to believe who John Jones really is,” Cooper replied. “His real name is John Gaccione.”

Gabriella gasped, knowing exactly who that was. John Gaccione was the principal of the most exclusive private school in the country. When she’d found out she was pregnant the first time, they’d spoken on the phone with him even though she was only a couple of weeks along because that’s how early you had to get your kid’s name down if you wanted a chance at a placement at the school.

The list of powerful people who attended the school was endless, and she already knew that to get your kid in you had to agree to repay a favor of John’s choosing whenever he wanted to call in the maker.

There was no doubt a man with that many powerful people in his pocket could do whatever he pleased without consequence. And that was the man who had Cade.

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