Page 81 of August 20

Brett came back and put a cup of water in front of her. "You should drink. You don't look so good."

She gazed toward the windows in the front of the building. "I need..."

She needed Maverick. She needed Skye.

"I need to call the police." She picked up her purse from where she'd dropped it and pulled out her cell.

"Whoa...now." Brett rounded the counter again and grabbed her wrist. "Let's not do that. Havlin doesn't ever call the police."

She jerked her arm. "You can't stop me from—"

The bells on the door jingled. She swung her gaze to the front of the room.

Maverick, boots planted firmly on the floor, arms at his side, stared at her with an expression that struck fear clear to her bones. She stared back. Seconds ticked heavily in the air. She couldn't breathe.

Afraid to blink in case he disappeared, she stumbled off the stool. She had no idea how long it took or how she'd done it, but she reached Maverick and grabbed the front of his vest.

The rush of adrenaline left her off-balance. He was here. He'd come back.

Maverick's hands swooped up and captured her face, holding her in front of him, forcing her to focus.

"Where is she?" Maverick's rough voice cut off. "Where's my daughter?'

The storm of relief washed out as panic hit her like a brick wall. "You don't have Skye?"

He shook his head. Her hold on him tightened.

That's when she recognized the expression on his face. The reason his voice had almost completely left him. He was scared.

"You were supposed to pick her up—"

The door swung open. "Maverick!"

He turned at the shout. She almost fell, but Maverick grabbed her, lending her strength.

Jagger motioned them outside. "We found her."

Maverick's hand tightened on her, taking her with him. Jagger pointed down the sidewalk. Dania led Mariah and Skye toward them, flanked by two police officers. Brooke covered her mouth, crying in relief at the sight of her niece.

Skye broke loose and ran toward them. Maverick put Brooke in front of him, holding her up when she fell to her knees. Skye flew into her arms in a rare show of affection.

"I'm sorry." Skye's body trembled.

After hugging her, Brooke pulled her away and held her face, wiping the tears on her niece's cheeks. The whole afternoon was a nightmare. When she realized Maverick and Skye hadn't returned to her, she couldn't wrap her head around what had gone wrong. All that mattered was they were together.

They were all okay.

They were still a family.

"I'm so sorry." Dania held Mariah's hand. "You mentioned Skye was going to start attending rec swim, and it didn't surprise me that she was with Mariah. I thought she was supposed to be there until everyone rushed into the pool house looking for her."

Maverick picked up Skye. Brooke stood, hugging them both.

"She's not supposed to start until next Monday," she said.

Dania looked at her daughter and frowned. "I think the two girls were anxious about swimming together, and Skye decided to hop on the bus that brought them straight to the pool."

She pressed a hand to her chest, imagining everything that could go wrong. What if she'd tried to walk and got lost? What if a stranger got ahold of her?