Page 7 of Alpha Queen
"Sweetheart, they're looking." Strider's calm voice floated through the door.
"These buffoons couldn't find their asses to scratch them," Cherry retorted.
"Cherry-" Tension laced Ares' voice.
Apollo shuffled to the door and opened it. Cherry stood so close to Ares, he was surprised that Santiago hadn't stepped between them.
Cherry shoved Ares, but he didn't move. "Get out of the way."
"You need to go back to bed," Ares replied.
"Screw bed. I need my daughter back!" She pushed him again, but stumbled. Strider steadied her, but she pushed him off.
"Cherry-" Ares tried again.
"Love, you need to get back in bed. You just woke up. You need-"
She shook her head at Strider. "I should have kept them safe. I should have done more. I need to do more. I can't lie around while… who knows what is happening to my daughter."
"Cherry," Apollo finally said, making every eye turn his direction. "Please. You and I both know that if we let anything happen to you, River will murder us all when she returns."
Cherry stared at him for a moment, and then dropped to her knees, heaving with sobs. Strider knelt beside her.
Steps cracked up the staircase, and Zeke and Bianca came into view holding bags of food. Bianca took one look at Cherry and dropped her bags.
"Mom!" Bianca ran to her and wrapped her arms around Cherry. "You're awake," Bianca cried. "You're awake."
Bianca clung to her, and Cherry patted Bianca on the back. "Okay, Baby girl. Okay."
Bianca let go. "We haven't found her yet. We have been looking in shifts day and night. Everyone. Me. Zeke. Ares. Apollo's guys. Even the Alphas who stayed have been searching for her."
"We have to find them. We have to."
"We will, Love." Strider lifted her into his arms, and she wrapped her arms around his neck.
In that moment, Apollo's arms ached to hold River. To smell her. Taste her. Feel her and know that she was okay, that she was safe.
"He won't harm her," Apollo assured them. "He wants her for himself. He won't get that if he hurts her. He saw what she did last time. He won't make that same mistake."
Cherry looked so small in Strider's arms. "You don't know that. You don't know what he'll do when…" She trailed off.
"When what?" Ares asked.
Cherry shook her head and pressed her lips together. "Find her. You need to find her. Fast."
Strider turned and carried Cherry back into the room she'd been in. As Apollo watched them go, he got the feeling there was something Cherry wasn't telling them. However, there was no way she would tell him until she was ready. He just hoped it didn't cost them anything in finding River.
"Hey." Ares walked to him. "Get your ass back in bed, too."
"How long has it been?"
Ares chewed his lips. "A week."
A week? They hadn't found her in a week? Apollo opened his mouth to say something, but seeing the look on Ares' face, he changed his mind. Ares' cheeks were sunken in, as were his eyes. First time that Apollo had seen in over five years, he wasn't wearing a suit. Instead, he wore a T-shirt and slacks.
"I'll get back in bed if you tell me what's been happening."
Ares nodded and followed Apollo into his room. Apollo sat on his bed, waiting. Ares shut the door and dropped into a chair across from him. He sat forward and hung his head in his hands.
