I can’t believe my mother had been sitting on that information for months, if it’s even true. Why would she make up that sort of lie? Nothing makes sense anymore. Maybe she thought I would have given up by now. Or that I would have agreed to go out with one of the women she thinks is suitable for marriage. She’s constantly trying to shove them down my throat. No matter how many times I tell her that it’s Kennedy or no one, she still persists.
I trust no one at this point.
I drop down into my chair. I never should have let her out of my damn sight. I’m not even sure how Mother found out about us. Kennedy had been so insistent about keeping us secret. I’d gone along with it at first.
I was willing to do anything to get her to come to me. I knew that I needed to take my time with her. She was so reluctant at first that I had to work to chip away at those walls she built all around her because of her shitty father.
I fucked up. I didn’t protect her. I knew she would be easy prey with so many vultures in my world. They would eat my Kennedy alive. At first I’d worried about her naïve innocence. She is way too damn trusting. To me it was refreshing. I’d never met anyone like her before. Not wanting her to lose that, I made it my mission to protect it.
I failed.
“How long are you going to keep this up?” Andrew asks.
“When have I ever given up on something I wanted?”
“You can’t go in there!” I hear one of my assistants shout before my head of security Carter comes strolling into my office. I’m going to have to fire her.
“We got a hit.”
I shoot up from my chair. “Tell me.”
I had a team of people combing through the city. Once they came up empty I had them push out further and expand the search, checking for her anywhere under her name or using her Social Security number.
I’d gone as far as having them even check arrest records and shelters. I know she doesn't have anyone out there that can help her. It’s not so easy to up and take off like she did. And since I can’t find any trace of money, I’m guessing she’d need a job by now.
“Almost four months ago in New Hope a young girl was found in a parking lot with a blow to the head.” My heart starts to pound. “She was rushed to the hospital. She ended up being in a coma for over a week. From what I read she didn’t know her identity.” Fear like I’ve never felt before grips me before I ask my next question, knowing Carter’s answer could change my life forever.
“Is she dead?” He’s going too damn slow. My entire being hangs on a thread, and the man is telling me the details at a snail’s pace.
“No.”
I let out a deep breath trying to get myself under control. I never once let myself think that she might not be alive. I couldn’t even bear the thought of a world where she no longer existed.
“You think it’s her?” I don’t want to get my hopes up only to be let down once again. We’ve had a few other leads that were possible hits, but they hadn’t panned out. I’m already going crazy thinking I see her everywhere I go.
“I don’t know.”
“Why the hell would she be in New Hope? That’s a couple hours away.” I pull out my phone firing off a few texts. “Eve.” I shout her name.
“Yes, sir.” She pops up instantly.
“I need a car waiting for me at the private airport in New Hope.” Her eyes go wide for a moment. Likely in shock that I’m leaving this damn office.
“Now?”
“Yes, now.” I grab my jacket off the back of my chair.
“I can go down and check it out for you.”
“I’m going.” If it is her, I’m not wasting any time getting down there.
Carter follows me out of my office to the end of the hallway. I push out the emergency exit and quickly take the stairs up to the roof.
“What the hell, man?” Carter laughs when he sees a helicopter about to land.
I have no fucking clue what is going to happen when I do get to her. I’ll likely scare the shit out of her if she doesn't remember me. The thought of her not remembering our love almost cripples me. But knowing she’s alive is enough for now. All the rest I can work on.
She’d been timid in the beginning, and I’d been patient when we first met. It took me a while to get her to come out of her shell. But once I had a taste I was hooked. I knew there would never be another for me.