Page 17 of Vengeful Lies

She wasn't walking out of this alive.

Chapter

Five

September 3rd

8:05 A.M.

The unicorn lunch box and backpack sitting on the kitchen counter mocked him.

Today was supposed to be a special day, a milestone in his daughter’s life.

Her first day of kindergarten.

Essie should be there, wearing the cute pink and yellow sundress she and Gabriella had gone shopping for back at the beginning of summer after Essie finished preschool. His daughter had been too excited to wait until it was closer to school starting and the two girls had gone on a huge shopping spree, buying everything any child could possibly need at school.

Last week, it had all been packed up into Essie’s brand-new unicorn backpack, and because Essie liked looking at it Gabriella had left it out in the kitchen.

Now it mocked him.

Because Essie wasn't there getting dressed and having her hair done in the cute style she’d picked out because his daughterliked to have everything perfect. She wouldn't be holding up a cute chalkboard with her name, the date, and what she wanted to be when she grew up on it. There would be no first day of school pictures, no driving her in and dropping her off, and watching with pride as she took the next step in life.

For as long as Cade could remember, Essie had been excited to start school. His daughter was smart and curious, and she loved learning new things. At least a few times a day she’d ask some random question, and if he or Gabriella didn't know the answer, they’d grab Essie’s iPad and look it up.

Essie should be there.

Rage at the people who had taken her from him was so all-consuming that he could barely do anything else. It pulsed inside him like a red-hot beast, desperate for an outlet. It howled out its pain inside his skull until he had a constant throbbing headache. Every one of his muscles ached because he was so tense, wound so tight that when he finally snapped, it would be epic.

Now, though, he had no outlet.

Nothing to do but sift through intel that didn't appear to be leading him anywhere and battle his fear for his daughter and Gabriella.

Cade couldn’t get Olivia’s words out of his mind.

What had been said to comfort him only made his fear worse the longer he pondered it.

It was true, Gabriella was going to do whatever it took to protect his daughter because she truly loved Essie. It was why he’d hired her. From the moment they met, it was clear that Gabriella and Essie were going to get along. It hadn't mattered to him that she had no training, he didn't either when he became a dad, all that mattered was that whoever cared for his child would treat her the same way he would.

If he were the one abducted with his daughter there wasn't anything he wouldn't do to protect her.

Anything.

Gabriella would do the same.

What horrors was she enduring on his daughter’s behalf?

It made him physically sick to think about it. In fact, when he’d gotten home last night he’d gone straight to the bathroom and thrown up, unable to stomach the fear any longer.

How was he going to survive if he couldn’t bring his child and her nanny home?

“Cade?” The front door to his house opened and he heard Cooper call out his name.

Company was the last thing he wanted. All he wanted was to be alone to wallow in a pit of anger and terror without any witnesses. There was nothing anyone could say that would change or fix this situation and he wasn't able to summon enough energy to be even vaguely hospitable.

Knowing his family meant well didn't help, he just wanted them to leave him alone.

“Cade?” Cooper said again as he entered the family room. Not alone. Almost the entire family was there, everyone except Connor and Becca. Ironically, they were the only two who could even come close to understanding what he was going through. Becca had miscarried their baby boy twelve years ago. Connor had just found out about it and the two of them were now grieving the loss together.

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