Max clears his throat before speaking. “We’ve been able to track her disappearance to a sex trafficking ring in North Carolina, but she was sold, and that’s where the trail grows cold. I’ve involved Blackbridge on this, and they’re helping as much as they can.”
“We don’t do much domestic work,” Kincaid says. “But I couldn’t turn this down. Had that little girl not come forward, Josie would’ve died. She was pregnant with their first child when she was rescued.”
A wave of anger at any of this happening in the first place washes through the room. My own blood begins to boil.
“Their happiness is because of her. The second we get even a hint of where she could be, we’re moving. I need everyone close and ready to go at the drop of a hat. Blackbridge is on standby as well since those guys deal more with domestic jobs than we do.”
“The dossier in front of you has all the information we’ve been able to get on Grace Neiman,” Max says.
“Who did you say?” Grinch snaps, his hands flying out to grab the folder in front of him.
“Grace Neiman, known as Gracie by her aunt—”
“No fucking way,” Grinch says, his eyes glued to the picture of a woman in a Navy dress uniform.
“She was in the Navy for eight years after graduating college,” Max continues even though Grinch has interrupted him twice. “Her dog—”
“Peaches,” Grinch whispers.
“How did you know that?” Max asks.
Grinch clears his throat. “I was going to marr—I knew Grace when I was stationed in California.”
My friend clears his throat once again, his eyes blank when he looks back up. All of us have seen this look before. It’s the one required when we lose someone on the battlefield, but we know that giving up means even more casualties. The man is shutting down.
“I’ll provide you more information as it comes in.” The words from Kincaid are a dismissal.
People start to stand and filter out, but I stay behind.
Dominic nods his head toward the door, telling me to leave as Kincaid sits down in the chair beside Grinch and leans in close.
These guys care just as much about the upset man as I do, and I know he’s going to be well taken care of. I know he was about to let it slip that he was going to marry Grace Neiman, but that doesn’t make any sense. The man acts like he’s never been in love before.
A harsh breath escapes my lungs as I walk back into the living room. We have to shut down what we’re feeling the second we cross from the conference room to the common area where everyone else is gathered. Concern for my friend makes it more difficult than ever right now.
I immediately cross the room to Faith as she watches us approach. She’s holding Aria again, but hands her over when Harley reaches for his daughter.
“Where’s Lana?” I ask as I lift Faith gently before settling her back on my lap.
She snuggles against my chest as if it’s the most natural thing in the world.
“She should be here soon,” Harley says, smiling down at his little girl as she makes a bubbly noise with her mouth. “She said she was working on some surprise at the house.”
“Surprise?” I ask with a wide grin. “Like redecorating the living room or something?”
Harley huffs a laugh. “Her surprises tend to be a little more extravagant. Knowing my beautiful wife, I’m going to end up with a litter of puppies or a rescued baby bobcat or something.”
Faith and I both laugh as he shakes his head.
My chest threatens to cave in when there’s a knock on the door. When Apollo answers it, opening the front door wide to reveal Colton standing there, my breathing nearly stops.
Colton doesn’t knock. He walks right in. He’s married to Dominic’s daughter and is as much a part of the family as everyone else. Colton also doesn’t wear his badge unless he’s on duty.
The sad look on his face means he’s here on official business, which is horrible, considering he’s a homicide detective.
The room goes eerily quiet as he walks inside, and it’s clear the usually tough man has cried a few tears tonight himself.
Harley starts to shake when Colton stops in front of him, his head shaking back and forth violently.
Faith gasps beside me once realization hits her, and it sets off a sad wave of whimpers and sobs around the room.
“No,” Harley says, taking a step back.
Aro and Scooter inch in closer to him for support if he needs it.
Colton leans in close to speak, but they’re right beside us. God, I wish they were across the room. My heart shatters when the detective speaks.
“There was an accident.”
“No,” Harley says again.
“She didn’t make it.”
I’ve never heard a wail as pained and broken as the one that erupts from his throat. Faith pops up, as if she can predict what’s going to happen. She manages to pull Aria from her father’s arms mere seconds before he crashes to the floor on his knees.