Mom, Don't Cry! Here comes a new Daddy! novel Chapter 82

Chapter 82

(Freya’s POV)

We hang up, and I sit in the darkness of my apartment, my phone still clutched in my hand.

What did I just do?

The question whispers through my mind, but I shove it away.

I’m protecting Ethan. Protecting him from a woman who’s clearly manipulating him.

That’s what I tell myself as I go to bed that night.

That’s what I repeat the next morning as I watch Jake’s livestream waiting for it to end.

That’s what I try to believe even as my stomach churns with something that feels sickeningly like guilt.

But by the time I realize what a horrible mistake I’ve made, by the time my conscience finally overpowers my jealousy, it’s too late.

Jessica has already set everything in motion.

And Sabrina Moore is already being driven toward an abandoned warehouse on the outskirts of the city. Now, I can only pray whatever happens to her won’t be traced back to me.

Because if it does…a shiver goes down my spine. I can’t even think of what Ethan might do to me if he finds out what I’ve done.

(Ethan’s POV)

Sabrina isn’t at work.

I notice immediately when I arrive at nine-thirty AM, after spending the entire morning in emergency meetings with my legal team.

Sarah stops by my office around ten, looking concerned.

г

m Sabrina today?” she asks. “She took yesterday off for Jake’s livestream, which was

he was supposed to be back today and she hasn’t shown up or called.”

Did you try her cell?”

goes straight to voicemail.”

e her. Sabrina’s many things, but unreliable isn’t one of them.

my phone and dial her number.

nt to voicemail. Just like Sarah said.

unease that’s been simmering since yesterday afternoon suddenly spikes into full-blown alarm.

Ttry again. Same result

Sir Sarah’s watching me with growing concern. “Is everything okay?”

“I don’t know.” I’m already pulling up my computer, accessing the location-sharing app Sabrina and I set up last week. After everything with Dustin and Jessica, we’d agreed to share locations-just in case

The app loads. It shows Sabrina’s last known location.

And my blood runs cold.

Her phone signal is moving. Not toward Hale Global. Not towards Jake’s school.

But towards the industrial district on the east side of the city. An area full of abandoned warehouses and empty lots.

“Call the traffic police,” I tell Sarah, my voice deadly calm. “Tell them Ethan Hale needs them to pull up all traffic camera footage en route to Hale Global this morning. I want to know where her car went.”

“Mr. Hale-”

“Now, Sarah.”

She hurries out, and I’m already grabbing my jacket, my keys, my phone.

Something is wrong. Very wrong. I feel it in my gut.

Sabrina wouldn’t drive to an abandoned warehouse district without a reason. She wouldn’t ignore my calls, unless she isn’t in a position to answer them.

I dial 911 as I head for the elevator.

“This is Ethan Hale, CEO of Hale Global. I need police units dispatched to the following coordinates immediately. I have reason to believe someone has been abducted.”

The operator asks questions-who, what, when-but I’m too impatient to answer every single one of their

questions. “Sabrina Moore is my girlfriend and an employee of my company. I want the entire police force on the trial of those coordinates now! If anything happens to her because of this delay, I’ll make your

entire unit pay!”

I hang up and dial my head of security.

“Max. I need you to track a phone signal and meet me at these coordinates. Bring backup. Make sure they’re armed.”

“Sir, that sounds serious. Are you being targeted?”

“Not me. Sabrina.”

Then I end the call and floor the gas pedal.

All I can think about is Sabrina. About the fear she must be feeling. About what might be happening to her

right now.

About how ill destroy whoever’s responsible

My phone quides me to an abandoned warehouse with broken windows and rusted metal siding. Sabrina’s location signal is stationary now.

Whoever abducted her must be keeping her here.

I park and pull out the handgun I keep in my glove compartment-licensed and legal, though I’ve never had to use it.

Today might be different.

The warehouse door is unlocked. I push through, my eyes adjusting to the dim interior.

And that’s when I hear it.

Sobbing. Sabrina’s voice, choked with fear and desperation.

“Who are you people? Why have you kidnapped me? Is it for ransom? I’m telling you, I’m a broke single mom. I don’t have any money to pay you for ransom. Please… let me go. My son is waiting for me.”

Cold laughter, devoid of all sympathy, answers her plea. “Should’ve thought about that before you pissed off the wrong people.”

I move silently through the warehouse, following the sounds. My heart is pounding so hard I can hear it in my ears.

Around a corner. Down a hallway. Through a doorway.

And there she is.

My Sabrina.

Tied to a chair in the center of the dusty room. Her blouse torn. Her face streaked with tears.

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