TORMENTED_ Jani Kay - Jani Kay Page 0,34

deep breaths, honey.”

God, please don’t let me be lying to Jessica.

I shoved my coffee into her hand. “Here, drink this. You stay here in case Mitch comes back to this spot. I’m going to go and look around too. Whatever you do, don’t lose hope.”

I couldn’t bear to see her suffer. Harrison simply had to come through for her. I shot up a prayer, hoping like hell somebody was listening.

Chapter 20 — Eva

Making my way slowly around the bookstore, my heartbeat quickened a few times when I saw a blond head, but when I realized the child was a girl, or way older than three, disappointment washed over me.

Harrison came toward me, empty-handed and with a grim look on his face.

“I’ve got men looking outside and in other stores around us. Savage is on his way, too.”

Interesting how Harrison and Savage worked together. They were a strong partnership and as far as I could gather from what Harrison had told me, they always had one another’s back, regardless of the time of day or night. I still needed to thank Savage for dropping off my purse the night before, but at that moment it seemed insignificant.

“Jessica told me she already lost one child. We have to find Mitch,” I said, choking on my words. I remembered Mia’s agony when Jaime went missing; I’d hoped I’d never see another mother experience the same thing again. But life didn’t work like that. Kids went missing every day, and for different reasons. It sucked, and a feeling of hopelessness overwhelmed me.

“Baby, you have to stay strong for Jessica. If she sees you’ve lost hope, it will frighten her out of her mind.”

“I’ll go to the bathroom and splash my face with water before I go back to check on her,” I said, turning away from Harrison.

“Eva, wait.”

I swung around. “Yeah?”

“The washrooms are the only place I haven’t checked.” He smacked his forehead with his palm. “I’ll go check the men’s room while you wait, and then we’ll check the ladies room together.”

“But—”

Harrison laid his fingers over my lips. “Shhh . . . trust me,” he said simply.

I nodded, my eyes widening as I watched him go into the men’s room. Seconds later, he emerged still empty-handed.

“I have a strange feeling about this,” Harrison said, as he gripped my arm and shoved me behind him. Without any warning, he smashed the door of the ladies room open and burst inside.

Sobs. The sobs of a child.

“Fuck,” Harrison yelled. “Stay where you are and I won’t hurt you.”

Stunned by Harrison’s aggression, I followed him inside. Standing inside a cubicle was a middle-aged woman holding a distraught little blond boy in her arms, her hand covering his mouth.

“Mitch?” Harrison said. “It’s going to be okay, buddy. Mommy is waiting for you outside.” He took a step closer to the woman. “Don’t move a fucking inch. I’m going to take the boy from you and then I’ll ask questions. You got that?”

The woman went pale and nodded. Harrison was a large man and the way he towered over her, threatening her with his body language, would be enough to make anyone agree. She shoved the boy forward and Harrison grabbed him from her.

The woman cowered into the corner, her face in her hands as she began sobbing. I had no doubt that Harrison would get the whole story out of her.

My gaze swung back to Harrison holding the boy. What astounded me most was the soft look in his eyes as he comforted the child. “Listen, buddy, this beautiful lady is Eva. She knows your mommy and she will take you to her, okay?”

Harrison reached for something inside his pocket and produced a handkerchief, wiping the tears and snot from the boy’s face before handing him to me.

I couldn’t help kissing the boy’s forehead as tears filled my eyes. Jessica and Mitch were lucky today. If Harrison hadn’t decided to spoil me, this child would most probably have become another face on a milk carton.

“You okay, Eva?” Harrison’s voice was laced with concern.

“Yeah, I’ll take Mitch to his mommy. Jessica will be so happy.” I hugged the boy for a few seconds as relief flooded my body.

“I’ll be there soon. I just need to call Savage and deal with her.”

He nodded his head toward the woman who’d sat down on the covered toilet, her shoulders slumped forward and tears streaming down her face. Somehow, I couldn’t help but feel pity for her. Something must have driven her to