Page 25 of Between Control and Chaos
We don’t have time to fuck around and find Harper.
“You’ll do exactly as I say, because I’ve been in this situation before, with your mother.”
Has he lost his mind? “When?”
“Before you were born. It’s not something your mother or I ever discuss, but I know how the DeLucas operate. I’m sure some things have changed, but the fact they’ve taken Harper all the way to Vegas tells me that some things are exactly the same.”
Rhys finishes his coffee. “Are you sure I can’t be of help?” he asks Dante. “If Nova remains inside the compound, she’ll be safe.”
“You don’t know Moreno’s daughter as well as I thought if you believe she’ll listen to a word of my demands.”
I force the smile away.
Rhys nods and laughs. “Yeah, she’s got the willpower of Moreno all right. Speaking of Moreno—how is he doing?”
Ashton hurries down the stairs, and I hear his footsteps approaching the kitchen.
“Still no word yet,” Dante says. “But I’ll keep everyone updated as soon as we have news.”
“Do I have time to grab coffee before we head out?” Ashton fights back a yawn, failing miserably.
“There will be coffee on the plane,” Dante says. “Get to the car. We’re only a few minutes from the airfield.”
Dread weighs heavily on me. It only gets worse when my phone rings and it’s Harper’s parents calling. I’m slipping on my shoes, and I really want to chuck my phone across the room.
But I try to maintain some semblance of sanity, or I worry that I’ll be forced to stay behind with Nova.
“Are you going to answer that?” Ashton asks, glancing at my phone in my hand.
“It would be best if you don’t,” Dante grumbles at me.
“Right.” I send the call to voicemail and grab my coat.
They call again.
Apparently, me not answering doesn’t mean anything to them.
By the third time, I grumpily answer the call. “What?” I bite out, unable to stop myself. Blame it on my lack of sleep, but talking to her parents who despise me, isn’t at the top of my agenda this morning. Rescuing Harper, however, is.
“That’s no way to greet your mother-in-law,” Catrina says.
I would apologize if I cared about her feelings, but my thoughts are entirely on Harper. “I’m busy.”
“Clearly,” Catrina says, miffed. “Some strange man answered Harper’s phone.”
“What man?” I pause and feel the breath stolen right out of me.
“I don’t know. I was assuming it was one of your friends.” She huffs. “He sounded angry and hung up on me. Harper now won’t answer her phone, and I wanted to find out about holiday plans.”
Ashton takes the keys from me and gestures for me to get into the vehicle while he drives us to the airfield. “Now isn’t a good time, Catrina.”
My stomach sinks. If Catrina called and Nico answered the phone, then he must have found her phone. Her location is as good as useless now.
Even if they don’t know without a doubt that there’s a tracker in her phone, they’ll suspect it. Nico may be a traitor, but he isn’t an idiot.
I climb into the backseat, letting Liam ride shotgun with Ashton.
Sophia sits in the backseat with me, and I glance at the door as Nova comes barreling outside, pulling her coat on and carrying her shoes. “Wait for me!”
