She relaxed against him. “Good. I’m glad we got that taken care of.”
“You’re still not going to Colorado.”
“Damn it, Adare.” She shook her head, and her hair fluffed across his face. “Why are you so impossible?”
That was a question for another day. He kissed the back of her head. “Sleep. Now.” Shockingly enough, she soon did. He let himself relax finally and drifted off, his body content.
It was just past dawn when her burner phone buzzed from the bedside table. Who in the world would be calling so early? Grace flipped on the light and sat up, holding the sheet to her bare breasts. “Hello?” she answered, blowing hair out of her eyes. She stiffened. “When? How? Are you sure?”
He sat up, his body going on full alert. “What has happened?”
Grace shook her head. “We’ll be right there. Tell Adare what’s happened.” She handed over the phone and slipped from the bed, fetching her pack from the chair by the small fireplace. Hurrying back to bed, she dumped out the contents and flipped open a file folder holding photographs. “I knew there was something weird about her.” She tapped her finger on a picture of the lady who’d answered the door at her old apartment when Adare and Benny had visited, looking for Grace. It was a photo of the woman who’d had the toddler in her arms.
“Hello?” Adare said.
“Hi. It’s Bobbi.” A crying woman sniffled, panic in her voice. “My daughter has been taken by my sister and her crazy boyfriend, and I don’t know what to do. Brian is in the hospital after his surgery, and I’m alone, and they said they’d kill Rose if I called the police. I need a million dollars.”
Adare straightened. “Your daughter is being ransomed for a million dollars? Do you have a million?” It didn’t make sense to demand that amount from parents still living in an apartment complex. What was going on?
“No, but they sent a text with a picture of Grace at the restaurant. They know who she is—that she’s a famous photographer. They said to ask her for the money. I don’t have it.” Bobbi’s voice rose to shrill.
“So your sister knew all about Grace?” he asked, tossing the covers from the bed and standing up to fetch his jeans.
“Yes. I’ve always been so proud to be Grace’s friend,” Bobbi wailed. “I’d call the police, but the kidnappers will kill Rose. She’s only two years old. How scared she must be. I don’t think my sister would hurt her, not really, but her boyfriend is nuts. He’s on meth and I think he’d be happy to hurt Rose. Or sell her for money for drugs. What should I do?”
Adare drew on his pants and turned to Grace. “Go awaken Ronan. Now.” He headed for the closet to get his shirt and weapons. “Tell me everything about your sister, her boyfriend, and where you’re supposed to go with the money.”
“I don’t have any money,” she sobbed.
“I do. Now start talking.”
Chapter 35
Grace paced the kitchen, wringing her hands. “Let me go with you. Bobbi will need help.”
“No.” Adare clipped several weapons into place on his side and even in his boot. “You’re safe here with the security engaged, and something about this doesn’t smell right.”
“At all,” Ronan agreed, pulling a jacket on over his shoulder harness. He turned and read the panel by the door. “We’re secure and the missiles are armed. Nobody is getting in here.” He leaned down and kissed Faith on the cheek.
Adare paused in the middle of strapping a knife to his leg. “You should stay here. I can go alone.”
Ronan shook his head. “You’re not at full strength yet, and like you said, this is off. Ransom for a toddler whose parents don’t have money? Yeah. Right.”
Adare looked at his watch and nodded. “All right. Benny is en route and will be here in about an hour, so you two just hang tight until he arrives. If there’s any hint of trouble, run downstairs and shut the door. They won’t be able to find the underground room.”
Grace hovered. “Promise you’ll call as soon as you know anything.” The idea that little Rose was in trouble sent ice through her veins. Grace had known something was off with that woman, the sister. Why hadn’t she said anything?
“It’s only an hour flight via the helicopter. We’ll have the baby soon,” Adare said, his eyes veiled.
What wasn’t he telling her? Grace craned her neck to look at