Page 72 of Stolen Hearts

Rhae dug her fingers into the seat. Her wrists weren’t bound, but her limbs were too heavy to move more than a twitch.

She turned her head slightly, and agony shot down her neck. Her focus fixed on two other seats beside her, and then she saw she wasn’t really alone on this flight.

One was occupied.

Justin.

He faced forward, arms crossed, perfectly still as if this was just another flight and she wasn’t even there. He changed out of the jeans that were too clean and the flannel shirt that looked so out of place on him. Now he wore a crisp, buttoned-up shirt and slacks. He looked more like a businessman than a criminal.

She let out a small gasp.

“You’re awake,” he said without looking at her. “That’s good. We’ll be landing soon.”

“Why…” The word rasped from her throat, dry and garbled.

He finally turned his head, his expression so bland it sent a chill deeper than any sedation could reach. “Keep quiet.”

She couldn’t form a sentence, but her mind was starting to come back to life, her thoughts stringing together once more.

In the minutes that followed, she tried to picture Navy’s face. The way she giggled when Auntie Willow kissed her belly. The chubby arms flailing in delight when Denver walked into the room. The way she’d just started pulling herself up, standing proud and strong.

She was going to miss her first steps.

Tears streaked down her face.

Would she ever see them again?

Would Denver come?

She thought about his arms around her, the way his voice dropped when he promised to protect her. The man who would walk through fire for her.

Please, Denver.

Find me.

* * * * *

The baby’s cries hit Denver first. That indignant squawk she made when she didn’t like something—usually being taken away from her favorite toy or when Rhae wasn’t in sight. But this time, her arms were outstretched toward him.

Honor stood in the office doorway holding Navy, her brow furrowed in a way that told him something wasn’t right.

“Was Rhae going anywhere today?” she asked without preamble.

Denver’s heart stuttered. He jolted to his feet, launching the desk chair against the wall. “No. Why?”

Honor bounced Navy gently, as if trying to soothe the baby and herself. “I just saw her in the passenger seat of a dark SUV. The new guy—you know, Justin—he was driving.”

“What?” he practically roared.

Navy’s small mouth crumpled, and she let out a howl. His daddy heart couldn’t stand it and he strode over, taking her from Honor’s arms. He cradled her over his shoulder and patted her back. All of these gestures were so weirdly instinctive to him.

As instinctive as the knowledge that Rhae was in danger.

Honor’s voice came out shaky. “I thought she looked weird.”

“Weird how?” Fresh panic struck his chest like a bomb. She couldn’t be dead. He couldn’t have lost her.

Honor scraped her fingers through her loose waves. “Kind of…limp.”

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