Page 150 of Seal the Deal

I look up, blinking through the tears, and there he is. Jake. Running toward me, his eyes locked on mine, face etched with concern.

Relief crashes over me like a wave as I stumble to my feet, rushing toward him. A sob escapes me as he catches me in his arms, holding me so tightly I can barely breathe—but I don’t care. His arms are the only thing keeping me from falling apart completely.

“I’m here,” he whispers into my hair. “I’m here. We’re gonna find him.”

I cling to him, fingers digging into his jacket, tears flowing freely now. “Jake. I can’t— I can’t lose him…”

He pulls back just enough to cup my face, his eyes fierce. “You won’t,” he says, voice protective and certain. “We’ll find him, Charlie. I promise.”

With Jake holding me, the difference between him and Alex is so clear. Jake, who’s all in. Fighting for me and the kids, loving us down to his very bones. And Alex—the man who never cared enough to stay. The man who couldn’t take care of his own son.

I lean into Jake, heart pounding, allowing myself a moment to rein in some of the crazy since this nightmare began. He’s here.

And I know that if Jake says he’ll find Noah, he means it.

***

Jake

She’s barely holding it together. Trembling in my arms, her fear so thick I can taste it. It’s clawing down my throat, tightening my chest.

For a moment we just stand there, her body shaking against mine. Everything we’ve been through this week—the argument, the tension—none of it matters now. All that matters is Noah.

“I don’t know what to do,” she whispers, her voice breaking. “I trusted him. I didn’t have a choice, but I trusted him…”

Her voice cracks, and I feel a surge of fury again. That someone could hurt her this much, disregard her trust like it was nothing. Cut her so deep she’s barely hanging on.

My eyes slowly trace over her face, trying to find the right words, when they catch something over her shoulder.

Alex.

Something snaps inside me and I see red. This motherfucker is the reason for all of this. Everything that’s been hurting her, everything we’re dealing with this week.

I pull away from Charlie, my hands tightening into fists as I storm toward him, rage blazing in me like a wildfire. He’s leaning against his car, arms crossed like this is just some minor issue. His face is a mask of frustration, and when his eyes meet mine, there’s defensiveness there. He straightens like he’s ready for a fight.

Good. He fucking should be.

“You lost my kid,” I snarl, shoving him hard against his car before I can think twice. “We trusted you with him for one goddamn hour, and you couldn’t even handle that!”

Alex stumbles back but recovers quickly, anger flashing in his eyes as he shoves me off. “He’s notyourkid, Jake. I’m his father, not you.”

The words land like a slap, but they don’t weaken me—they just piss me off more. My chest heaves as I step closer, practically nose-to-nose with him. “A father doesn’t lose his kid. A father doesn’t use his kid as a pawn in some power game. I’m here cleaning upyourfucking mess.”

Alex scoffs, rolling his eyes, but I see the flicker of guilt behind the arrogance. “It was a mistake. I stepped away for two minutes—”

“That’s all it takes.” My hands fist in the collar of his jacket, yanking him close. “Two minutes. You hadone job.”

“Let go,” Alex spits, shoving me harder, squaring up like this is some kindof pissing contest. “I just stepped into my meeting for a minute. Noah wandered off. This isn’t my fault.”

“The hell it isn’t,” I reply, voice lethal. “You threaten to take them back to New Zealand, thinking you can handle it. Then you pull this shit?”

Alex shoves back against me, his voice rising. “He didn’t listen to me! What was I supposed to do?”

“What were you supposed to do?” I repeat, incredulous. My grip tightens on his jacket as he struggles. “You were supposed towatch him, you son of a bitch. He’s six!”

He shoves back again, but this time I slam him harder against the car, my breath coming in short, furious bursts. “I don’t care what excuses you have, you lost Noah. He could be anywhere, scared out of his mind, becauseyouweren’t paying attention.”

“Stop it!” Charlie’s voice cuts through the tension, sharp and desperate. She’s between us, pushing against me, tears streaking her face. “Jake, please.”

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