Page 90 of Protecting Addison
Bingo.
“Thank you. I’m sure she’ll appreciate being able to see her mother.”
Ten minutes later—minutes during which Brady paced impatiently—Ellory arrived at the office.
She stopped in her tracks at seeing him. “Brady,” she said, surprise evident in her voice.
“Hey, baby. I’m here to take you to your mom. She’s been in an accident.”
“Where’s Ricky?”
“He was with her,” Brady said.
“Is she…is she okay?”
“I’m afraid not.”
“Ellory, Mr. Vogel isn’t on your approved pick-up list. He says he’s your biological father.”
“He is,” Ellory confirmed.
“Are you okay going with him?” the woman asked gently.
Ellory nodded.
Yes!Brady mentally counted the money that would soon be his. He stepped up to Ellory and put his arm around her shoulders and gave her a little side hug. “It’ll be okay. Come on, I’ll take you to see her.”
The preteen nodded mutely as he steered her toward the door. She seemed shell-shocked, which was just how he wanted her. He didn’t want her aware of her surroundings. Needed her to be hysterical and upset, so she wouldn’t notice they weren’t driving to the hospital.
By the time they got into his truck, she was crying, which pleased Brady to no end.
“Yana,” Ellory said when he started the engine.
“What?” Brady asked, looking over at his daughter.
“What about Yana? And the boys? We’re going to get them too, right?”
“The other kids are being picked up by one of your stepdad’s SEAL friends. I offered to come get you so we could all get back to the hospital faster.”
“But Yana is used to being picked up withme. She’ll be upset if someone other than me shows up to get her.”
Brady clenched his teeth and did his best to stay calm. This was a complication he hadn’t anticipated. But then again…bringingtwolive specimens to his contact? Even if he didn’t get more money, it would definitely raise his street-cred with the man.
“Of course we can go get her,” he soothed.
Ellory nodded and looked down at the cell in her hand.
He had to get that phone from her. He didn’t want it leading the authorities straight to the docks, where the Conex was waiting for its special load—her.
“What are you doing?” he asked.
“Texting Mom,” Ellory mumbled.
Brady reached over and put his hand across the screen. “Don’t.”
“Why not?”
“Because she can’t answer. She’s hurt bad, Ellory. She won’t be texting anyone. Her phone might even still be in her Bug at the crash site.” He deftly took Ellory’s phone out of her hands as she burst into tears.
