Page 96 of Protecting Addison
“Addy scared too,” Borysko said. It wasn’t a question.
“Yeah, she is, buddy. She’s terrified. Not only for Ellory, but Yana too. Will you help me keep her calm? Hold her hand if she cries? Give her hugs?”
Both boys nodded solemnly.
The trip home was unnaturally quiet. MacGyver was lost in his own head, worrying about what Vogel could possibly want with the girls. And the boys were most likely thinking about how scared Yana was. They’d been watching over her for quite a while now, and this had to be extremely difficult for them…not knowing what was happening or where she could be.
When MacGyver pulled up to his house, there were several cars already parked along the street. The three got out of the Explorer, and Artem and Borysko ran up to the door with MacGyver hot on their heels.
Addison stood when they entered, and the look on her face almost broke MacGyver. It was obvious she was hoping it was her daughter and Yana coming through the door. When she saw the boys, the control she was desperately holding on to broke.
Tears streamed down her face even as she held her arms open for Artem and Borysko. They ran to her and threw their arms around her. Addison rocked back on a foot, then sank to her knees so she could hold the boys better.
“Ricky’s gonna find them,” she told the boys. “We just have to stay strong until they come home. I’m sure Ellory is taking care of Yana, she’s okay.”
None of them knew what was happening with the girls, but MacGyver hoped like hell Addison was right. Love for this woman spread throughout his body like a warm blanket. She was devastated herself, and yet she was still doing her best to be positive for the boys. And the confidence in her voice, the absolute conviction that he would find Yana and Ellory, made him desperate to live up to every word that came out of her mouth.
Looking around, MacGyver saw that Julie Hurt had arrived, her husband, Patrick, at her side. Smiley and Flash were there as well. Flash was standing off to the side, looking frustrated and concerned, and Smiley had his cell up to his ear.
They weren’t the only people who’d shown up. Abe, Benny, and Mozart were also there. As was Caroline. She was standing by the couch, where she’d been sitting with Addison when they’d arrived.
As he waited for Addy to be done reassuring the boys, the door behind him opened. Turning—and now fully understanding the hope and expectation he’d seen on Addison’s face whenhe’darrived—he saw Remi, Josie, Wren, and Maggie.
Addison and the boys were soon surrounded by the women. Everyone was hugging and crying, saying reassuring words to encourage their friend.
It made MacGyver feel incredibly grateful to have these people at their backs. Men and women who would drop everything simply to show their support. But he needed to talk to Addison. See if she could tell him anything else that might be useful in finding Ellory and Yana.
As if she could read his mind, Addison extracted herself from their friends and walked over to him. She practically collapsed into his arms, and MacGyver held her as tightly as he could. “Ricky,” she whispered into his ear, as she held him with her own iron grip.
“I know. We’re gonna get them back.”
She nodded. And that small nod made MacGyver even more determined. His Addy trusted him with the most precious thing in her life…her daughter. And he wouldn’t let her down.
He walked backward with Addison, putting a little space between her and the suddenly very crowded living room. He put his hands on her face and stared at her for a long moment. Her eyes were red, her skin was blotchy from crying, and her hair was mussed, but she wasn’t broken. Not in the least.
“That asshole took our babies,” she said, her voice trembling not with fear, but anger. “Why would he do that? He doesn’t even reallylikeEllory.”
“I don’t know, but we’re going to find him, and our girls, and make sure thisneverhappens again.”
Addison nodded.
Just then, Smiley announced, “They found him.”
Addison spun around so fast, she would’ve fallen over if MacGyver hadn’t grabbed her hips. “Where are they? Are they bringing them home?”
“They’ve found Vogel, not the girls,” Smiley told her quietly.
“What?” Addison whispered, shock clear in her voice.
MacGyver’s own stomach clenched. If Ellory and Yana weren’t with Vogel, where were they?
CHAPTERSEVENTEEN
“I got this one!” Ellory exclaimed. It was way harder than she’d thought it would be to figure out how to climb the stack of boxes and break into one of the top containers. It was also one thing to maneuver in such a small space as this, but another in the pitch dark…and more difficult still with a very freaked-out little sister to look after.
But after several false starts, and after falling on her ass twice, she’d made it to the top of one of the stacks of boxes. Then she’d used her fingernails to pry up the tape on one side of the uppermost box. That took a while too. Whoever packed the boxes did an excellent job.
It was nerve-racking to reach into a box without being able to see what you were about to touch. It could be something sharp that would cut her, or something gross and slimy. But Ellory hoped to be able to use anything they found. Clothes could be used to cushion the floor beneath them, flashlights would be super helpful right about now, a box full of water bottles wouldn’t be unappreciated. But of course, she was hoping for something like a bunch of guns or knives…or some sort of tool that could cut through metal.
