181

181
Alaric’s POV
The office was eerily quiet, save for the soft hum of the monitors and the occasional shuffle of papers as Allesio sorted through reports. I stood by the window, staring out at the dark city. Its usual pulse of life felt muted tonight, like it was holding its breath alongside me.
Emilia was out there. Alone. Possibly hurt.
My grip on the glass of whiskey in my hand tightened until my knuckles went white. I hadn’t slept more than three days-not since she was taken. Every lead had been a dead end, every second wasted felt like an eternity, and every beat of my heart reminded me of what was missing.
Her.
“Alaric.” Allesio’s voice broke through my thoughts. He stood near the door, holding a stack of papers. His face was drawn, the lines of stress deepening. “We might have something.”
I turned, placing the glass on the desk. “What is it?”
He hesitated, a telltale sign that whatever he had to say wasn’t good. “Our men tracked a vehicle matching the kidnappers’ description. It was abandoned outside the city. No sign of Emilia or the driver.”
My jaw clenched. “And the Cruz family?”
“No definitive link yet, but their name keeps coming up. Alonso’s been quiet-too quiet.”
I slammed my fist against the desk, the sound echoing in the room. The glass tipped over, spilling whiskey across the polished wood. “Too quiet isn’t good enough, Allesio. If Alonso Cruz has her-”
“We don’t know that,” he cut in, his tone firm but cautious. “And attacking the Cruz family without confirmation could spark a war we’re not ready for.”
I glared at him, the weight of his words pressing down on me. “Do you think I give a damn about starting a war?” My voice was low, dangerous.
“No, but Emilia wouldn’t want you to act rashly.” His words hit like a slap, and for a moment, I hated him for saying her name.
I turned back to the window, my chest tight. The city lights blurred as anger and helplessness warred within me. Emilia wouldn’t want me to act rashly? Maybe not. But Emilia wouldn’t want to be taken either. She wouldn’t want to be left to fend for herself while I sat here, waiting like a goddamn coward.
“She’s counting on me,” I muttered, more to myself than Allesio.
“And we’ll find her,” he said quietly, stepping closer. “But rushing into this without all the pieces will only get more people hurt. Maybe even her.”
I hated that he was right.
I ran a hand through my hair, the strands sticking to my damp forehead. The lack of sleep was catching up to me, but I couldn’t afford to rest. Not until I had her back.
“Tell me you’re doing everything,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper.
Allesio placed the papers on the desk. “I’ve got teams combing the city and its outskirts. We’ve paid off every informant we have, and we’re monitoring Cruz’s movements. If they have her, we’ll find out.”
It wasn’t enough. It never felt like enough.
I turned to him, my hands braced on the desk. “What if she’s hurt? What if-”
“She’s strong, Alaric,” he interrupted, his tone firm. “You of all people should know that. She’ll hold on until we get to her.”
His words, though meant to reassure me, only deepened the ache in my chest. I closed my eyes, exhaling slowly. Images of her flooded my mind-her smile, her laugh, the way she looked at me like I was more than the monster I’d become.
The thought of her scared, in pain, was unbearable.
“I can’t lose her,” I admitted, my voice cracking. It was the first time I’d said it out loud, the first time I allowed myself to confront the fear that had been gnawing at me since the moment she was taken.
“You won’t,” Allesio said firmly. “But you need to keep your head clear. Emilia needs you to be smart about this.”
I nodded, though it felt like my resolve was crumbling.
Hours passed, and the office grew colder, quieter. Allesio had left to follow up on another lead, leaving me alone with my thoughts. I sat at the desk, the worst things running through my head.
The reports in front of me blurred together as exhaustion pulled at my focus. But every time I closed my eyes, I saw her.
Her face, pale and tear-streaked. Her hands, reaching for me as they dragged her away.
I slammed the folder shut, the sound jarring in the silence.
The door creaked open, and I looked up to see Francesca standing there, clutching a stuffed bear. Her hair was mussed from sleep, and her wide eyes held a mixture of confusion and worry.
“Daddy?” Her small voice shattered me.
I quickly wiped a hand down my face, trying to compose myself. “What are you doing up, sweetheart? It’s late.”
She shuffled into the room, her bear dragging on the floor. “You’re sad.”
I swallowed hard, forcing a smile. “I’m just tired, that’s all.”
She climbed into my lap, her tiny arms wrapping around my neck. “Is it because of Mommy?”
Her question caught me off guard, and for a moment, I couldn’t speak. Francesca was too perceptive for her age, a trait she must have inherited from her mother.
“Yes,” I admitted finally. “I miss her.”
“Me too,” she said softly. “When is she coming back?”
The innocent question hit like a punch to the gut. “Soon,” I lied, stroking her hair. “I’m going to bring her back. I promise.”
Francesca pulled back, looking at me with those big, trusting eyes. “You’ll find her. You’re the strongest, Daddy.”
Her faith in me was both comforting and crushing. I pressed a kiss to her forehead, silently vowing not to let her down.
“I will,” I said, my voice steady.
She nodded, seemingly satisfied, and slid off my lap. “Good night, Daddy.”
“Good night, sweetheart.”
I watched her leave, the weight of her words settling over me.
Just as dawn began to break, my phone buzzed on the desk. The sound shattered the stillness, and I snatched it up, my heart pounding.
The voice on the other end was distorted, but the tone was unmistakably cruel.
“Mr. Castillo,” the caller drawled. “You’ve been looking for something that doesn’t belong to you.”
My grip on the phone tightened. “Where is she?”
The man chuckled darkly. “She’s alive. For now. But if you want her to stay that way, you’ll keep your men out of my business.”
“Cruz,” I hissed.
The line went dead before I could respond.
I stared at the phone, my chest heaving with fury. This wasn’t over. Not by a long shot.
“Allesio!” I roared, already storming out of the office.
If Alonso Cruz thought he could threaten me, he was about to learn just how wrong he was.