Page 85 of Mr. Wilde

Once outside, I begin to run. My heels click frantically against the asphalt as I fumble for my keys. Every slam of a car door makes me flinch, my heart hammering against my ribs.

I reach my car, wrench the door open, and scramble inside, locking it instantly. I lean my forehead against the steering wheel, waiting for the world to stop spinning.

You’re okay. You’re safe.

Suddenly, a name flickers through the static in my brain. I dig through my wallet with trembling hands, tossing aside receipts until I find it. That plain white business card. I dial the number before I can talk myself out of it.

“Hello, Dr. Lee?”

Max

I’m sitting at my usual table in the corner of the club. I should be looking at my laptop screen, but my eyes are fixed on the slip of paper Cassidy left me. I’m killing time, waiting for the meeting Gianni called, though I have no idea why we’re gathering on a random Tuesday.

I’d wanted to wait until I was back in my office to investigate the number she left, but this delay is making me stir-crazy. I’d been so close to dropping to my knees and begging her to give me a chance.

I finally punch the digits she’d scribbled on that paper into my system, more out of a need to keep my hands busy. I’ve all but given up on hoping for a miracle. I’ve scraped for connections, and any links to the predator we’ve been hunting, to no avail. But when I enter this number into the system, my screen doesn’t just flicker, it ignites. If I were in a casino, the bells would be earsplitting.

There are loads of hidden images connected to this phone. I can only imagine they’ll match the ones his ex-wife located. “She did it,” I whisper, a rush of pure, unadulterated pride surging through me.

The data blooms into a cluster of image files and location pings connected to a burner phone. That predator made a mistake. He used this specific line just once. And Cassidy, with her amazing insight, caught the one pixel out of place.

I look up, desperate to find her. To show her what she’s accomplished. But my eyes land on the television over the bar instead.

BREAKING NEWS:

ATTEMPTED ABDUCTION AT ST. LUKE’S HOSPITAL

The footage is grainy, but it shows a woman with blonde hair being hustled away. My heart stops. Leaving my table, I walk toward the bar on unsteady feet.

Dropping to a stool, I reassure myself Cassidy being there would be ridiculous. Why would she be at St. Luke’s? And while their body types are identical, there’s no ribbon of pink decorating that woman’s hair. My tumultuous emotions are making me come unhinged.

“Shit, I thought that was Cassidy for a minute,” Fern says, her voice tight with worry. “But no pink hair.”

“She took the pink out,” Lala whispers from behind the bar.

“What?” I snap, the barstool screeching against the floor.

“Before she left for New York, she told me it was time,” Lala says, her eyes wide. “I didn’t ask what that meant.”

The air leaves my lungs. I’m ready to bolt when a hand like a vise clamps onto my biceps.

“Just hold up, Max,” Gianni says, his voice a low rumble. “I need you to come with me.”

I narrow my eyes at him, my pulse thundering in my ears. “Gianni, let go. I have to⁠—”

He lowers his voice. “She’s fine, Max. Come to the office.”

I follow him, my adrenaline turning into a sickly dread. In the office, Anthony is waiting, his face like stone.

“How do you know she’s fine?” I demand.

“We had security at the hospital,” Gianni says, leaning against his desk. “We were looking out for Matteo’s ex-wife, Sydney. Turns out the men Vincenzo sent grabbed the wrong girl. Some look-alike named Alexis Patterson. Cassidy wasn’t touched.”

I drop into a chair, my sternum feeling like it’s about to split from the pressure of my heart. “Holy fuck.” Tears spill from my eyes. I haven’t cried since Isla disappeared. I don’t know what I would’ve done if anything happened to her. “You had security? You knew about her past? Everything?”

“Yes. It wasn’t my story to tell, Max,” Gianni says. “We’ve been monitoring the threats against her since Holt first brought her here. Most of it has just been big talk from inmates with revoked parole, but we didn’t take any chances.”

I drop my head. I’ve withheld so many secrets from these men, yet they’ve been quietly shielding the woman I love.