Page 28 of Silver Sinner

She's already broken away from me and is sprinting down the alley, then she takes the stairs two at a time up to her door. Unfortunately, the door remains locked and Layla sags against it in despair.

"Moses." I glance at him as we hurry after her. "I need you to stay with her."

"Understood."

"Have you got a lead?"

"No, but given the make and model of her car, there's nothing special about it. Could be a random grab from cunts trying to make a quick buck."

By the time I get to the top of the stairs, Layla's wrestled her way into her apartment and her voice drifts through from inside.

"Hello? Police? I n-need to report a kidnapping!"

"Shit." The police make things even messier. They spent more time asking questions than actually doing anything and by the time they get their act together, God knows what could have happened to Maddie.

"Keep an eye on her."

"Pierce?" Layla suddenly appears in the doorway with an older phone pressed to her ear. "They have me on hold."

Of course they do.

I step forward and cradle her wet cheek. "I will find Maddie. I need you to stay here. Moses, take care of her wound. Layla, stay here, okay? Promise me."

"Where are you going? How will you find her? I don't understand."

The truth would only upset her more, I'm sure, so I step forward and very briefly kiss the top of her head. "I will bring her back."

Layla's pained gasps follow me like a storm cloud as I hurry back down the steps and throw myself into the waiting car.

Leaving her when she's this upset kills me, but not as much as the fear of what could be happening to that innocent little girl.

As my driver weaves through the street, I dial my brother.

"Adrian?"

"Pierce. What's up?"

"I've got a missing kid. I need eyes on the city."

"What? What the fuck is going on?"

"Not now."

"Shit. Alright. What you got?"

I relay the car's details and the description of the two who snatched it.

"That's an old car," Adrian muses. "Stealing something like that has no worth."

"You don't think it was for the money?"

"Nah. Not even the parts would be worth selling. Unless…"

"Unless?" I grit my teeth and lean forward in my seat. "I don't have time for unless."

"Cars like that usually get snatched by chop shops, y'know? These guys go out, boost the cars and then give them a new lick of paint. They set them up to be mules and shit."

"Any in the area?"