Chapter 6 - A Father's Vow
Before I went after Sarah, I had to secure my own heart.
I took a helicopter back to the Catskills under the cover of darkness.
When I walked into the cabin, Mave was pacing the floor, her phone clutched in her hand. She had seen the news.
The moment she saw me, she broke down in tears.
I caught her in my arms, holding her tightly against my chest.
"They have her, Garrett. They have my sister."
"I know," I murmured into her hair. "I know, baby. I'm going to get her back."
"They want me," she cried, pulling back to look at me. "Coraline sent a message to my old email. She wants to trade. Me for Sarah."
"You are not going anywhere," I said fiercely, gripping her shoulders. "Do you understand me? You are mine to protect now."
From the hallway, a little voice echoed in the quiet room.
"Daddy?"
I turned to see Posie standing there, rubbing her eyes, clutching a small stuffed bear.
My heart melted instantly.
I walked over and scooped her up into my arms. She felt so small, so perfect.
"Hey, little one. Why are you awake?"
"Mommy was crying," Posie whispered, resting her head on my shoulder. "Are the bad men coming?"
I swallowed the lump in my throat.
I looked at Mave, who was wiping her eyes, and then back at my daughter.
"No," I promised her. "The bad men are going to run away and hide. Because Daddy is going to make sure they never bother us again."
Posie smiled, a sleepy, trusting smile that gave me more strength than a thousand soldiers.
"Okay, Daddy."
I carried her back to bed and sat with her until she fell asleep.
When I came back out to the living room, Mave was waiting.
"What's the plan?" she asked, her voice steadier now.
"I'm going to meet Marcus Ashford. I'm going to offer him a trade."
Mave's eyes widened. "What? No! You can't!"
"I'm not trading you, Mave," I smirked, checking the magazine of my pistol. "I'm trading my empire."
I was going to give Marcus the one thing he wanted more than revenge.
May you like
Total control of the city.
But I was going to make sure it choked him.
