Chapter 122: Diogo
I don't make it up to the apartment, don't get to see my wife, happy and healthy, bustling around our new home preparing for the baby. Instead, I'm greeted by a frantic Emery as she comes flying down the stairs toward me her face creased with worry.
"Diogo!" she yells, relief on her face as she catches sight of me.
I reach out to steady her when she stops abruptly. "What is it? Taran?"
"She's not up there, and neither is Stryker," she says worriedly. "I can't tell why she left and she was supposed to have the baby at home, so if she went into labour then where is she? We need to radio the clinic and see if she's there."
I lift the radio before the words are even out of her mouth. I have a bad feeling about this. Anyone who is on guard duty for Taran knows that they radio in her every move. There is absolutely no reason that I shouldn't know where my wife is. I pull Emery into the hallway of the floor we're standing on, the ninth. The radios get interference in the stairwell from the thick concrete.
"Fuentes to Doctor Bishop."
It takes seconds for him to respond. "Bishop here."
"Is my wife with you?" I demand immediately. "Is she alright?"
The only thing I can think of is that Taran went into labour or something happened to her that necessitated Stryker leaving the apartment with her in such a hurry that he couldn't radio in. But that scenario doesn't make sense, as he should've radioed the moment he got her someplace safe.
"I'm sorry, Commander, I haven't seen your wife. I've been here at the clinic all day. I was going to stop by your place in a few hours to check on Mrs. Fuentes." Bishop's voice holds concern. The two have become quite close in the past few months.
"Remain at the clinic in case she shows up."
"Of course," he replies. "Please let me know when you've found her."
I put the radio back on my belt and thrust a frustrated hand through my hair. Where the fuck is my wife? I look at Emery who's chewing on her lip, a look of suspicious concern on her face.
"Tell me what you're thinking," I demand.
She doesn't hesitate. "Stryker."
I nod. My thoughts were headed that way too.
"He hovers over her constantly, like a mother hen or something. I've often gotten the feeling he wouldn't let any of us near her if he could get away with it. He's been acting so strange, but not dangerous enough to worry."
"And yet we both suspect he's done something with her," I say, angry guilt making my words hard. "Obviously we did have something to worry about if we're both thinking the same thing."
She nods miserably. "Taran was uncomfortable with him always following her about, and so was I. I should never have left her alone with him."
I sigh heavily and touch her shoulder. "I was well aware of her feelings toward Stryker, yet still I insisted she stay with him. I should've listened to her, posted him somewhere else, kept a watch on him. This is my fault."
Emery gives me a grim but commiserating look. "You've had your hands full, Warlord. Watching after a man you trust isn't something you should've been worrying about."
She's not wrong. Bringing the city back under control and fighting with the forces outside the city has occupied my every waking moment. "It doesn't matter, we can sort out what went wrong when we find Taran."
I head out the door and hesitate on the landing. Maybe there's something in the apartment that can lead me to her location. But if I go back up there, I might be wasting precious time better spent searching. As if reading my mind, Emery shakes her head, grips my elbow and gives me a light push toward the stairs going down.
"There's nothing there but some half-washed clothes and a cold tea kettle on the stovetop. The apartment is empty. I tried the roof too, but it didn't look like anyone had been up there today."
I take her advice and start down the steps, taking them two at a time and leaving Emery to catch up or fall behind. To her credit she manages to keep pace, despite having to run to keep up.
"If she is with him, then I think we can assume that Stryker won't hurt her, at least not yet," Emery says as we descend. "He's been quick to anger with her if she does something he perceives as harmful to the baby, but he was never violent."
Her words echo the same ones Taran spoke to me weeks ago, and with a sinking feeling I realize that they are both wrong. Stryker is a very dangerous man, no matter who he is with. I trusted him with Taran because I thought he was in his right mind. However, if he's taken her to some undisclosed location without my express permission, then he's clearly having some kind of mental break. Which means there is a very big possibility he poses a danger to my wife and unborn child.
I grunt my acknowledgement of Emery's words but don't respond. She doesn't need to hear my doubts. She's a smart woman, if she can help me find Taran then we may be able to get to her before any harm falls on her or the baby.
The moment we're clear of the building I get on the radio and mobilize everyone I can, sending them out in a city-wide search for my wife.
Log in with Google Account
Chapters
Favorite
Settings
