Page 43 of Her Dark Melody
How could I have treated her that way? What the fuck is wrong withme?
Terror clogged his chest as he avoided thinking that he might not get her back. That thought had to be avoided at all costs, or he wouldn’t survive long enough to bring his wife home—his wife and nephew—and spend the rest of his lifeapologizing.
Stanley cleared his throat. “Look, the police are on their way…I think we know who’s behindthis.”
“Carson Franks,” Atlas said with a groan. “God, how? How the hell did he know where they were? And how did Ebony come to be at the same diner?Jesus…”
Bella looked miserable. “I’m sorry,Atlas.”
He didn’t answer her. Stanley patted his daughter on the back. “Go make some coffee for us, would you,dear?”
Bella disappeared from the room. The bodyguard cleared his throat. “Sir, Mr. Duggan, I think you should both know that Miss Duggan insisted on going into the diner alone. This is not to tell tales or shift blame – it’s entirely my responsibility, but she was quiteinsistent.”
“Bella wouldn’t have deliberately put them in harm’s way,” Stanley said, but Atlas could hear the doubt in hisvoice.
“Why would she do this? No, I don’t believe Bella had anything to do with this, she adores Fino andEbony.”
Stanley’s shoulders slumped. “Thank you, Atlas. Thank you for saying it. But it doesn’t answer how the hell Franks knew they werethere.”
“Carson Franks has unlimited funds,” Atlas pointed out tersely. “He’s probably had us all followed. Maybe when Ebony took off from the courthouse, he saw hischance.”
“What does he want with them? He can’t be holding them forransom.”
“Not monetary, but he’ll use them to leverage an escape route, passage out of the country. He knows he’s finished here, that if he’s caught, he’ll spend the rest of his days on Death Row. Shit, I’d better call Blue, let him know what’shappening.”
“First,” came an angry voice from the doorway, “you can tell me what thefuckis going on – and where my nephew and the mother ofmychildare.”
Atlas looked at the anger, the fear on the face of his much-loathed stepbrother, and received the second shock of the day. This one was oddly more pleasant as he realized that, for once, he and his brother were united in wanting the samething:
Ebony and Fino back home, safe andunharmed.
“No.Oh, god.”Romy looked shocked to the bone as Blue told her about the abduction. “Blue, he’s a psycho, he likes to kill women. He’ll murder Ebony whether she tells him she’s pregnant or not. And Fino…god, that poorchild.”
She hugged Gracie to her harder, and her daughter clung to her. “Don’t cry, Momma. The policemen will find Ebony andFino.”
Romy closed her eyes and sighed, leaning her face against her daughter’s soft curls. “Of course they will, pumpkin. Thankyou.”
“I shouldn’t have told you in front of…” Blue look apologetic, nodding at his daughter. “It was just such a shock. Look, you are safe here. The kids are safe. Your family is safe – Stuart’s arranged for protection for everyone, and the hospital is on top alert.” He sighed. “God, I just want this over, and I feel helpless to doanything.”
“You’re doing what you can, baby. I just pray the police find Ebony and Finosoon.”
Blue leaned over to kiss her. “I’m going to call Atlas now. You’re okay fornow?”
“Perfectly,” she smiled up at him. “I’ve got my little bodyguardhere.”
Gracie giggled as her mother tickled her and Blue smiled. “I’ll be rightback.”
Blue heardthe pain in Atlas’s voice, and his heart went out to the other man, knowing how he would be kicking himself around the block endlessly. “Anything, anything I can do, just ask. No matter the cost, no matter what,remember?”
“Thanks, Blue.” Atlas lowered his voice. “Cormac’s here and I don’t have the heart to throw him out. He’s beside himself. I’ve never seen him so …human.”
“Maybe something like this puts it all intoperspective.”
“Maybe so.Blue—”
“Don’t,” Blue cut in. “What you did was unacceptable, yes, but not unforgivable. You’ll find them both, Atlas, and you’ll make it up to them. Especially to yourwife.”
“What was I thinking?” Atlas whispered. “That wasn’t me in that courtyard. Blue, I wouldnever—”
