Gone (Deadly Secrets #2)(95)

“Don’t worry,” he answered, pulling a notebook from his pocket. “We’ll find her. The owners of this house are Rob and Jennifer Waldorf. He’s in finance, and she’s an interior decorator. We ran a check on them after O’Donnell called from Kasdan’s place. They reported a private adoption about three and a half years ago. A little girl.” He shoved the notebook back in his pocket. “I’ve already got officers on the way to both their places of work. It’s the middle of the day. Assuming Kasdan didn’t tip them off after you left her, Raegan, that little girl is probably in a day care or preschool right this minute.”

Alec looked down at her and said, “See?”

Hope burned a path of fire through Raegan’s belly, giving her strength. She was almost too afraid to grasp it. “And what if Kasdan tipped them off?”

“They won’t get far. I’ve issued arrest warrants for both of them. The team I sent over to pick up Kasdan told me the files you found prove the Waldorfs knowingly purchased a child. That’s a felony in this county. We’ll find them, Raegan. It’s just a matter of time.”

Alec had said the same, and Raegan wanted to believe it, but she was afraid. Yes, they’d uncovered an abduction ring, and the people involved would all soon be prosecuted, but she still didn’t have her daughter.

Her energy waned again, and she sagged against Alec. His arm was right there to hold her up.

“Why don’t you two head upstairs?” Bickam said. “McClane, have one of the guys up there get her a bandage for that cut on her forehead.”

“Will do.” Alec’s arm tightened around Raegan’s shoulder as he steered her toward the doorway. “Come on, baby.”

Raegan wasn’t sure how they made it back up to the main level, but she did notice the number of people they had to step around as they walked. Moments ago, the house had been empty and she’d thought she was going to die. Now it was swarming with police and FBI, and all she could think was that the one person who was supposed to be here wasn’t.

The back stairs opened off the kitchen. Alec guided her around the granite island and through the great room toward the entryway. Daylight burned her eyes as they moved down the wide steps and into the circular drive. Someone rushed over, took her by the arm, and drew her away from Alec’s warmth to sit on the backseat of an open police cruiser.

She blinked several times, trying to shake herself out of this fog. When a burn cut across her forehead, she hissed in a breath.

“Sorry,” the young twentysomething officer said. “Just cleaning the wound.” He dropped a bloody piece of gauze in a bag at his knees that made her stomach pitch. “This might need stitches. Paramedics are on their way. I want you to let them take a look at it.”

Raegan nodded as the officer placed a bandage over the cut, searching for Alec in the sea of faces. The officer checked her other cuts and bruises. Several minutes later, he finally stood and stepped back. Just as quickly Alec’s broad shoulders and chiseled features came into sight, and just knowing he was close calmed Raegan and brought everything into focus.

She held out a hand to him. His long fingers curled around hers, and then he was there, on his knees in front of her, gazing up at her with so much love and warmth in his light-blue eyes, her heart contracted hard.

“You okay?” he asked, squeezing both of her hands in his.

She nodded, but tears pricked her eyes.

“Oh, baby. Come here.” He wrapped his arms around her.

Her hands slid over his shoulder. Closing her eyes, she focused on him, on them, on the fact they were okay and closer than ever to finding Emma, and just held on.

“You heard Bickam,” he whispered. “We’re gonna get her back. You were right all along. You said she was still alive, and I didn’t believe you. I was such a fool. Can you ever forgive me for that?”

“There’s nothing to forgive.”

“Yeah, there is.” He eased back and looked up at her. “I should have trusted in you—in us. I never should have given up on her. And I shouldn’t have left you alone last night.” He reached for her hands, gripping them against her lap as his gaze searched her face. “I should have gone home with you.”

Home. Their home.

Warmth filled her chest, pushing aside the fear, giving her strength. Lifting her hand from his, she skimmed her fingertips over his jaw. “I know you were upset and that you needed some time. I don’t care where you went or what you d—”

“I didn’t drink.” His clear blue eyes held hers. “I wanted to. But I want you more. I’ll always want you more.”

Those tears came rushing back, filling her eyes and blurring her vision before she could stop them. “I want you too. All of you. For better or worse.”

He pushed up on his knees and kissed her, his hand sliding into her hair, his strong body warm and solid against hers. “For better or worse,” he whispered, holding her tight. “I won’t leave you again. I will never, ever leave you again, Raegan. You’re my everything.”

She closed her eyes. Breathed in the scent of him. And felt an inner peace solidify inside her, because two things were certain now: Whatever happened, however long it took, they wouldn’t give up on their daughter. And they’d never, ever give up on each other again.