Page 73 of Far from Destined

Cross answered after the first ring. “Hey, Macon. What’s up?”

“It’s Dakota. And Joshua. I’m on my way to her now. I don’t know what happened, but I guess the school said they can’t find Joshua.”

“What the hell?” Cross sputtered.

“Can you call the family? The girls. I don’t know who Dakota’s calling; she didn’t even call me. Pop did.”

“I hope to hell that’s not bitterness in your voice.”

“You know what? I didn’t even have a little bit. Because I know she’s not thinking about a phone tree or calling me. She’s thinking about her son. Pop got me, and I’ll get to her.”

“And I’ll get the troops. You get to Dakota, see what you can do. And keep me updated if you can. If not? We’ll meet you at the shop, or at her home later. Whatever it ends up being. Macon? You’ve got this?”

“I don’t know if I do. If something happens to that little kid, Cross...” I let the words dangle, bile filling my throat.

“He’s fine. He’s probably just hiding in the playground or something.”

“Joshua knows to be on alert. He knows I’m staying at the house because there are dangers out there. He wouldn’t just run off.”

That had been a tough conversation that I hadn’t been a part of, I’d stood at the door, waiting for Joshua to nod his head with wide eyes as his mom filled him in. In the end, we’d tried to make it an adventure for him, an extended sleepover where I would be around. But he always knew not to talk to strangers or go off with random people. He would never hurt his mother like this on purpose.

“Breathe, you’ve got this. And we’ve got you. You guys are not alone.”

“Thanks, Cross,” I whispered, and then my brother hung up, presumably to call the rest of our group.

My hands were slick as I turned the steering wheel and parked around the block from the Boulder Bean. When I walked in, it was to chaos.

“Ma’am, we’re going to need you to go home. We’re issuing an Amber Alert. But you need to be home near the phone in case someone calls or he shows up. As soon as we have more information, we’ll contact you.”

“Dakota?” I asked, pushing through the others.

The authorities looked at me, but I ignored them, my attention on Dakota.

Relief and fear crawled over her face, and she ran to me, wrapping her arms around my neck. She leaned into me for a bare instant, just enough for me to squeeze her tightly before she pulled back, rolled her shoulders, and looked like the woman I had first met. The one with immense strength and a wall between her and the world so no one could touch her. I’d break through that in private and make sure she knew she wasn’t alone. For now, she needed that shield so the others didn’t see her fear. And I’d let her have it. I needed one of my own at this point.

“Macon,” she whispered.

The man in uniform she’d been speaking to came forward. “Sir?”

“This is Macon...he’s my...he’s mine...” Dakota sputtered. “I mean, he’s with me. Macon, someone matching Adam’s description was seen around the school. He took him. I know it. He had to have.” Tears filled her eyes, and she blinked them away. She was so fucking strong. I hated that she had to be. We’d both break later, but for now, we needed to focus on getting Joshua back.

“Jesus, okay. They’re going to find him. We’re going to find him.” Dakota slid her hand into mine, and I looked up at the other man. “Right?” I growled.

“Yes, we will.” The man narrowed his eyes. “I remember you.”

“Yeah, I remember you, too. Thanks for your help in saving my life.”

Dakota’s gaze moved between the two of us, and I shook my head. “He was there that day. Don’t worry about it. Now, what do we do?” I asked the familiar man, though I couldn’t remember his name.

“Right now, we have the description of the perp and the vic, and we’re taking statements from others. Can you tell us where you were?”

Dakota raised her chin. “Macon doesn’t have anything to do with this.”

I squeezed her hand. “It’s fine. It depends on the time, but I’ve been at my vet practice all day. And I was never alone because we were pretty busy. Surgeries and checkups mostly.”

“Okay, I just needed to ask.”

I gave the other man a tight nod. “I get it, just find him. He’s got to be scared. He’s never met Adam.”