Page 1 of The Lost and the Found

Logan

She was beautiful.

And she looked so much like her mother, I didn’t know what to make of it. From the long blonde hair, olive skin, and petite frame, I could see Michelle in her every move. But her eyes… Caribbean blue. With a depth so deep, a man like me could easily get lost.

They were her father’s eyes.

Her eyes were lined with fatigue; her figure, stick thin. As if she hadn’t been eating properly.

I let out a sigh filled with regret.

I knew she hadn’t.

It was a miracle I was able to find her at all. For so long, I had convinced myself that she and her mother would forever be lost to me.

Ever since Michelle had taken off with Hayden in the middle of the night without saying a word, I was convinced I would never find them—because Michelle didn’t want them to be found.

And now Michelle was gone, and the only thing left of her in this world was this small young woman who looked like her. Would she even recognize me? It’s been years since she’s seen me. She was no more than eight years old then, still too young.

For the past month, since I had found her, I watched her from afar, too apprehensive to approach, yet unable to leave her alone. At first, it was about righting a wrong. About protecting his little girl. Yet, the more I watched her, the harder I had to fight to stay away. I couldn’t leave her. I needed to protect her at all costs.

Like a guardian angel, perhaps?

I shook my head, laughing even though nothing about the situation was funny.

I was nobody’s guardian angel.

But I wanted to be hers.

Even I could see the desperation that followed me like a shadow, of wanting to touch her, to know her.

I was playing a dangerous game, I knew that. But I couldn’t stop myself.

Was there a line between love and obsession? I didn’t know. I didn’t know what it was exactly that I was feeling for her, all I knew was I didn’t know how to stop.

She needed to get ready, because I was coming for her.

It was time.

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