The First Death (Columbia River, #4)(78)

“West? Shit!” Iris’s voice rose. “I’m going to kill that fucking Adam!”

“We need to tell Ivy, but I know her first reaction will be to go to Adam’s.”

“Yeah, it will be. She’ll go skin him alive, the bastard. He’s only doing this to upset her.”

“You need to get Ivy’s keys. Do not let her go there. Can you take her to Mom’s? She shouldn’t drive anywhere right now.”

“I’m already in her locker and digging through her purse,” Iris said grimly. “I won’t let her get near Adam, but I can’t promise I won’t castrate him first.”

“Can the two of you leave the salon?”

“We’ll make it happen. Our clients will understand.”

“I’ll meet you at Mom’s.”

“Rowan . . . if something happens to West . . . Ivy will never be the same,” Iris whispered hesitantly.

“Nothing will happen. Adam won’t hurt his son.” Rowan swallowed hard as she remembered how she’d scoffed at Evan’s similar comment. She ended the call and knelt next to Thor, who was waiting for another throw. She gave him a big hug, imagining how she’d feel if someone took him away.

“Hey, boy. Let’s go look for our favorite nephew, okay?”

She strongly suspected Adam had taken West, but Thor could confirm that West hadn’t wandered somewhere in the neighborhood.

Adam won’t hurt West, right?



Twenty minutes later she arrived at her parents’ home as Evan pulled up. She’d called him on the way over, and he’d promised to be there as soon as possible. Two sheriff’s cruisers were parked on the street, and one deputy was talking to her parents in front of their home. She spotted two other deputies at the front door of a house farther down the street.

But deep inside, Rowan knew West wasn’t in the neighborhood; Adam had taken him.

Iris’s car wasn’t there, but Rowan knew the twins would arrive soon. Her house was closer to their parents’ home than the salon was.

“How are you?” Evan pulled her into his arms for a hug before they walked up the drive, then gave Thor a pat.

“I’m angry,” said Rowan. He smelled good, and she relaxed into him, resting her overactive brain for a few seconds. “I’m going to kill him.”

“You’ll have to wait in line,” said Evan. “I would like a few minutes alone with him too.”

“Ivy will take care of it before either of us. She may be small, but she’s a mama bear when it comes to West.”

“As she should be.” Evan looked up the driveway at her parents and a deputy. Malcolm was keeping his distance from the group, hovering near the garage, watching the deputy with a suspicious gaze. “Let’s find out what they know so far.” He took her hand, and they went to join the group.

Her mom’s eyes were red and her lashes wet. Restrained fury showed in her father’s gaze. “Little bastard,” he said. “I never liked him.”

Evan asked if a description of Adam and West had been put out yet.

“Yes,” said the deputy. “I got a recent photo of West from the Wolffs and they described what he is wearing. We sent a unit to knock on the father’s door, but no one is there. No car either. We put out a BOLO on the make, model, and color of Adam Thornton’s vehicle, and the FBI is sending over an agent.”

Iris’s Jeep parked at the curb, and Ivy was out the door before the vehicle was turned off. The deputy blinked as Ivy ran up the driveway in a navy dress with a full skirt, looking like a movie star from the 1950s with her hair perfectly coiffed. Her red lipstick was half-gone, and mascara was smeared under her eyes.

Her angry gaze was focused on Rowan. “How dare you tell Iris to steal my keys! I have every right to go confront that bastard and get my boy back!”

Rowan held up a hand. “The police already went to Adam’s house. He’s not there.”

Ivy opened and closed her mouth, frustration in her eyes. “But still—”

“I knew you’d be in no condition to drive and would try to go there anyway. I’d tell Iris to do it again too.”

Her sister pressed her lips together, but her eyes still snapped with anger.

“Rowan told your mom to take my keys too,” said her dad. He snorted. “It actually was a good thing. I was ready to go confront the asshole.”

Malcolm had moved closer to the group when Ivy arrived. His hands were thrust in his pockets, and a haunted look was in his eyes. Rowan met his gaze, seeing he was uncomfortable and worried but clearly had some desire to connect with the family. She took his hand and squeezed.

“I’m sorry, Ivy,” he said quietly.

“Thanks, Malcolm,” Ivy said. “You’re lucky you’ve never met the jerk.”

Their mom hugged Ivy. “I’m so sorry, honey. It’s all my fault. You warned me, and I thought I was being so careful.”

“It’s not your fault,” Ivy and her dad said at the same time. Harrison put a hand on his wife’s shoulder and squeezed.

“We’ll find him,” her dad promised.

“Did you come from work?” the deputy asked Ivy, who nodded. “Could West be at your house? Sometimes kids get it in their heads that they want to be somewhere else and just go.”