Page 33 of Claim Her
“Guess I better go, then.”
“You call me and tell me how he is, okay? Love you, honey. We’re always here for you.”
“Love you, Mom.”
I’ve just ended the call when an unregistered number calls me. Without hesitation, I answer, “Hello?”
“Zara? It’s Jasper. He’s awake.”
It takes me no more than fifteen minutes to end the call, stuff the cupcakes in the box sans icing, and hurry to the hospital. By the time I get there, Alec is out of the post-anesthesia care unit and in his suite.
I open the door a fraction when I hear their voices. I’m not sure if I should barge in because their voices are low and serious. Maybe this isn’t a conversation I should be a part of.
“What happened? Did you see who it was?” Justin asks, sounding dangerously menacing.
“Someone just came at me,” Alec answers, his voice weak.
“You didn’t see the face?”
“No. I was barely watching where I was going.”
“Wait, the Chief texted. They found a note in your jacket pocket,” Jameson says.
“What does it say?” Jasper asks.
“That fucker. That fucker. I swear I’d kill him with my bare hands.” Jameson’s voice shakes with fury. I have never heard him like this. He’s always soft-spoken and polite.
“What does it say, Jameson?” Justin’s voice is sharp.
“Mind your own business, nephews.”
Jameson’s answer is met with silence, but it’s broken by a palm slamming against the wall.
Justin snarls, “If I get my hands on that bastard…”
“Let’s all calm down. This is good news, right? It means we’ve hit something critical in his operation. Maybe the last warehouse? We’re closer. I can tell. We just need to find him before he strikes us again,” Jasper says.
My heart drums hard enough to hurt as I make my presence known. Alec lies on the bed, pale beneath the white sheets. His eyes flicker with something before he wipes the expression on his face.
I cross the room and square my shoulders. I can’t bury my past anymore. “I think I can help you with that. I think I know where the chateau is.”
Justin offers his seat to me, which is closest to Alec. I still can’t look him right in the eye, but I let my fingers brush his and he responds by hooking his pinkie with mine. The relief is instantaneous.
I take a deep, calming breath because I know I’m gonna need all the ‘grounding’ I can get. I have never talked about it to anyone except my parents. My therapist only knows the general stuff, nothing too specific. “I asked my parents where they found me … or more accurately, where I found them. I remember a small town filled with tourists. They said it was in Lundy.”
“Lundy?” everyone asks in unison.
“That’s like more than a thousand miles from here. Wait, let me check.” Jasper takes out his phone and types on it, scrolling before showing us the screen. “It is a small tourist town, but the problem is, there are a hundred plus islands and islets surrounding it.”
Jameson doesn’t take his eyes off the screen. He sits beside me, his fingers white-knuckling the sheets. “At least we can now narrow down our search. Once we find it, it might help lead us to him. Or not. But I’m more than 90% sure he left something there that can give us clues to his whereabouts.”
“I’ll send my men to scout the area.” Justin stands and squeezes Alec’s shin over the sheet. “I’m gonna find that fucker for you, Alec.” He turns to me. “And for you too, Zara.”
Jasper follows, but he has a sheepish look on his face. “This is gonna be weird, but is there any chance that the box you’re holding has cupcakes?”
“Oh, yes! Sorry. I forgot. Here. You have all of them. I was about to add icing when you called, but I came here as soon as I could.” I push the box into his hands.
“By all of them, she means you have to share it with us, Jasper.” Jameson smacks Jasper’s back lightly.