Page 55 of A Mistake of Identity
“Gabriel.” Alain’s steady voice cut through the tension. “We know Jean’s with his family, even if we haven’t pinpointed where. We’ll find him. But Ellis...” He left the darker possibility unspoken.
Lucas had gone still. “He could be anywhere by now.”
“No.” Gabriel’s voice was raw. “No, I refuse to believe they’ve moved him far. There has to be something we’re missing. He’s here, somewhere. I have to believe he is still in PDC.”
The silence after his admission stretched until Lucas cleared his throat.
“When does Nika expect Lottie to finish her shift?”
“Within the next couple of hours.” Gabriel glanced at the clock again. “He’s going to intercept her at her brothel.”
“I’ll have Brenda clear your morning schedule,” Lucas said. “Everything except the board meeting.”
“Speaking of which,” Alain straightened slightly, “what’s our strategy there?”
Gabriel’s laugh held no humor. “Oh, that’s simple. My father wants to paint me as emotionally compromised? Fine. Let’s show the board exactly why. Starting with footage of his pet security force kidnapping my Ellis.”
The sun was just beginning to peek over the horizon when the study door burst open. Gabriel looked up from the board presentation he and Lucas had been reviewing to find a petite brunette stalking toward his desk, dressed in the revealing end of high-class escort wear. Nika followed behind her, looking more exhausted than he had two hours ago.
“What do you mean, Ellis has been kidnapped?” she demanded, slamming both hands on his desk, her curves accentuated by her fitted dress. “It’s been over a week since he’s responded to my texts, and you’re just now thinking to tell me?”
“Miss Garten—” Nika started.
“Don’t you ‘Miss Garten’ me, you absolute pillock.” She didn’t even turn around. Her rage focused entirely on Gabriel. “I’ve been worried sick, thinking maybe he was ghosting me, or hurt, or—” Her voice cracked slightly. “And you’re supposed to be taking care of him. What the hell happened?”
Gabriel studied her for a moment, noting the genuine concern beneath her anger. “Eight days ago, a private security force broke into my home. They took Ellis and another boy under my protection.”
“A private—” Lottie straightened, her eyes narrowing. “Which security force?”
“Sentinelle Tactical.”
“The La Sauvegarde—” She cut herself off, connecting the dots. Her fury shifted to something colder. “Your own company took him? Why?”
“My father.” Gabriel’s voice was flat. “He’s never approved of Ellis. Or of me choosing a male partner. Particularly one from...” He gestured vaguely at her outfit, “your profession.”
“So daddy dearest decided to what? Make the problem disappear?” Lottie’s lip curled. “And you haven’t found him yet? With all your money and connections?”
“We need someone who knows PDC’s underbelly,” Nika said quietly. “Places where people disappear to. The kind of operations that stay hidden even in plain sight.”
Lottie seemed to think for a moment before responding. “The trafficking rings.” It wasn’t a question. “You think they sold him into the underground networks?”
Lottie sank onto a leather couch, her earlier fury transforming into focused determination. “I don’t have direct connections to those circles. No one in the union houses does. That’s the whole point of being union.” Her fingers flew across her phone screen. “But we look after our own in this city.”
“What are you doing?” Nika asked.
“Putting out feelers. Carefully.” She didn’t look up. “We have networks, ways of passing information that stay under the radar. Someone sees something, a client doesn’t act right, they tell their friend, who tells their friend...” Her gaze flicked up to meet Gabriel’s. “We don’t take kindly to people snatching one of ours off the streets. Even the non-union workers will keep their eyes open for Ellis.”
Gabriel watched her work, recognizing the same desperate need to act that had been driving him all week. “Nika can take you home.”
“Not now. I need to focus.” She dismissed the offer without looking up, already responding to incoming messages. “I’ll catch the train back later.”
“Sir,” Alain’s voice drew Gabriel’s attention. “We should prepare for the board meeting. Shower, change. Meet downstairs in an hour?”
Gabriel nodded. “Have Annabelle bring Miss Garten some breakfast. And make sure she has a ride home later.” Alain dipped his head.
Lottie’s fingers paused at the mention of breakfast. “Coffee?”
“Annabelle makes the best in PDC,” Lucas assured her.
