Page 6 of Vengeful Lies

Essie?

Gabriella?

The bodyguards?

Innocent bystanders?

Panic coursed through him as he shoved open his car door and jumped out. Not bothering to waste time closing it, he ran to the closest officer.

Thankfully he knew the man who seemed surprised to see him there. “Cade, is this related to Prey?”

“No. Personal,” he muttered. Much too personal. As personal as it got.

He knew he should have said no when Gabriella asked if she could take Essie to her swimming lesson. It wasn't safe. Nowhere was safe, but he hadn't wanted to send his little girl away to live with people she barely knew.

That desire to keep Essie close and keep her life as normal as possible could have wound up costing his daughter her life.

If she died, he’d never forgive himself.

Never forgive Gabriella.

There was no way he should have allowed himself to be talked into letting Essie go to the pool. She could miss a few weeks of swimming lessons, and he was sure Gabriella could have kept her distracted and she never would have even thought about the pool.

Dragging his hand down his face he knew it wasn't Gabriella’s fault.

It was his.

He was the dad.

Giving him a sympathetic nod, the cop lifted the tape to allow him to pass under it and now that he was this close to the carnage, Cade found that he could barely force his feet to move.

His steps slowed until he moved so slowly that he may as well be going backward. If it was his daughter’s body under that sheet he was going to lose it.

The only reason he had survived losing Gretel was because of Essie. His sweet little daughter was his reason for living. In so many ways she reminded him of her mom, and he loved seeing her grow and learn new skills. She was so confident, bright, warm, loving, and caring. She was funny and silly and rarely threw tantrums.

Essie was perfect.

There was no way she could be gone.

The cops standing near the bodies looked over at him as he approached, one he knew, one he didn't. The one he didn't started toward him, his hand hovering by his weapon, but his voice was calm and confident when he spoke.

“You can't be here, sir,” the man said in a tone that brokered no argument.

“It’s okay, we know him,” the woman said, stepping up beside her partner. “I didn't know Prey was going to be here.”

“Personal,” he said, hating that word more each time he had to speak it aloud. “How many dead?”

“Just two,” the woman officer replied. “There were a few minor injuries, but all witnesses are saying that the shooters were targeting this vehicle specifically. I’m guessing you know why.”

Unfortunately, he did.

Two dead gave him hope though.

The bodies under the sheets seemed too large to belong to either his little daughter or Gabriella, and the text he’d received had said they intended to kidnap Essie not kill her, but he couldn’t allow himself to believe it until he had confirmation.

Kneeling beside the closest body, he reached out a hand that trembled slightly and pulled back the sheet.

Relief rushed out of him in a harsh breath.

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