The gang was all here, and Gabe hoped Chloe would forgive him for revealing everything to her family, but now they needed to know.
“We have to find her. What do you think he did to her?” Aileen’s voice sounded terrified.
“We’ll find her, Mom,” Zane promised in a comforting voice.
“Should we call Marcus?” Aileen asked hesitantly.
Blake answered. “Not yet. He’s halfway across the world right now. He can’t help us much. If we need more help, we’ll call.”
Gabe knew that Blake was trying to spare his twin worry. With Marcus being so far away, the last thing he needed was bad news from home.
“Blake and I already called the police. They should be here any time.”
“We need to start looking, but I’m not sure where to start,” Lara answered nervously. “I wish I knew his plan and why he’s blackmailing her.”
“He wants her to marry him,” Gabe answered, thinking about the note he’d read from James. “He’s trying to force her into marriage to get his hands on her money.”
“You don’t think he’d do it this fast, do you?” Blake asked worriedly.
At this point, there wasn’t anything he’d put past Chloe’s ex. The guy was a psycho. “They’d need a license.”
“It can be obtained in a single day. No blood tests and they don’t need anything except an ID,” Tate pondered.
Blake pulled his cell phone out of his pocket. “This is my district. Let me see what I can find out.”
Gabe watched as his friend made a few calls, hoping like hell that they’d find Chloe quickly, before he lost his sanity.
Aileen fidgeted nervously.
Tate and Lara sounded like they were in a heated conversation, possibly about the fact that she’d kept Tate in the dark about what was happening to his baby sister.
And Zane looked like he was in his own little world, his eyes facing forward, but Gabe could tell he wasn’t really looking at anything. Zane was lost in thought.
Gabe rose from the couch and went to put his arm around Aileen. “I’m sorry, Aileen. We’ll find her.” Or I’ll die trying.
“It’s not your fault, Gabe. You’ve been looking after her just fine. It’s James. I’m not sure what he’s capable of. I wish I would have seen what he was really like earlier so I could help my girl.” Her voice was weepy and distraught.
“She’s not a girl anymore. She is a woman, a daughter you can be proud of. She’s worked so hard to find her strength.” Gabe squeezed Aileen closer, wanting to comfort Chloe’s mom because she wasn’t around to do it herself.
“She is,” Aileen agreed readily. “But I’m going to make you marry her, Gabriel. No more messing around with my baby girl.”
Gabe nearly swallowed his tongue, but he recovered. “I plan on it…if she’ll have me. I love her. More than anything.” He wasn’t going to bullshit Chloe’s mother at a time like this.
“I know,” she answered with a sigh. “The look on your face when you see her reminds me of how Chloe’s dad used to look at me.”
“You still miss him.” It was a statement, not a question. Gabe could tell that Chloe’s mom still missed her husband, even after all these years.
She looked up at him and nodded. “Every day since he was killed.”
Hell, Gabe couldn’t imagine how she felt, living every day without that one person who you’d die for, but he supposed having kids helped. Aileen had always been there for every one of her children. Regardless of how guilty she felt about Chloe right now, she’d been a wonderful mother.
“I’m going to need to get clearance to land somewhere near the courthouse,” Gabe heard Blake say in an authoritarian voice.
Gabe’s head swung to Blake, trying to hear what he was saying.
“We’re cutting it close. Expect us to be there shortly.” Blake concluded his call and shoved his phone back into his suit pocket, and then glanced at his watch.
“You found her,” Lara said excitedly.
“They already have a marriage license. They have an appointment at the courthouse in just over two hours,” Blake told the entire room, his voice booming through the large space. “Tate, we need your helicopter now. Gabe, Tate, Zane, and I will fly. Mom, can you and Lara wait for the police here?”
“Yes, of course,” Aileen said eagerly. “Lara knows about some of the earlier things. She can help. You’ll call us the minute you know she’s safe?”
Gabe gave Chloe’s mom a solemn nod.
“Tell the police we’ll be at the courthouse,” Blake said brusquely.
Tate jogged for the door. “I’ll land in your pasture. Clear the horses,” he said over his shoulder.
Gabe picked up his phone and immediately had Cal moving the horses so Tate could set down and pick them up without freaking out the pregnant mares.
“Got a change of clothes?” Blake asked casually when Gabe got off his call.
Blake was smirking evilly, and Gabe smiled conspiratorially. “Planning on getting your hands dirty?”
“Very,” Blake growled.
“Let’s go.” He nodded his head toward the stairs, and led the way for Blake to hurriedly get changed into jeans and a sweatshirt. They were pretty close in size, and Gabe’s clothing fit Blake well enough.
All the men were already in the pasture when Tate landed, maneuvering the helicopter like a bat out of hell. Honestly, Gabe was glad Tate was an expert pilot and could fly them as quickly as possible. The sooner they arrived at the courthouse of the county seat the better.