My Dad's Bestfriend

Chapter 229

Jacob

That bastard got to her.

And the regret in my chest-fuck, it had never burned this deep.

I shouldn't have left her alone. I knew she was reckless. I knew she'd try to do something desperate, yet I still walked away, believing I could get to her before she made another one of her damn escape plans.

But never-never-while driving back home did I think I'd receive that call.

Bianca. Sobbing. Panicking. Screaming that Tyler Ricci had his hands on my Evie. And our baby.

I swear to God, my heart stopped beating. Terror, rage, the sickening flood of possibilities—each one worse than the last-slammed into my ribs, clawing at my insides, threatening to break me apart.

I didn't know what to do. I'd called the police. Taken every legal step I could. But I knew-deep down, I fucking knew this wouldn't be enough. Tyler wasn't the same coward who once feared the media, feared the consequences. That version of him was gone.

He wanted revenge. By any means. So here I was, gripping the wheel of my car, gun on the passenger seat, tearing through every corner of the city like a madman.

Every location I had suspected, every hideout I thought he might be in-nothing. No sign of her.

No leads. Not from Dad. Not from Bianca. Not from Mom or any of my friends- everyone out there searching for Evelyn was coming up empty-handed.

And then-

My phone binged. I grabbed it so fast my fingers fumbled. An unknown number. A message notification.

A video....

My breath hitched. My pulse pounded against my skull. Tyler. I knew it was from him. I could feel it in my fucking gut. Jerking the car to the side, I slammed the brakes-almost crashing into another vehicle. The driver stormed to my window, fists banging against the glass, screaming obscenities.

I didn't care.

I didn't fucking care.

I had only one focus. The video.

trembled as I pressed play. And

to

caved in. I wanted to reach through the screen, touch her. Hold her. She must be

fucking failure. I failed her.

voice shattered the

"Shocked, Jacob?"

into the frame, standing right beside

beautiful treasure right here. And you know the best part?" He lifted the knife in his hand, the blade glinting under the dim light. My breath

a thing. Straight to the gates of heaven." He tilted his

traced the knife along her shoulder, slow and deliberate, while his other hand brushed her hair

He was touching her.

fuck

filthy hands.

burning, blinding. My fingers clenched into fists, my nails digging into my palms. Once I got my hands on

call you, you know," he continued. "But then I thought-ugh, you talk too

Forty-eight hours.

stomach turned to

said, his grin widening. "Be

your wife and child in

to the camera, eyes

lifting the phone as if to wave goodbye. "Sienna's

The video cut off.

slashed

before that bastard did

wasn't letting that

have to do something-I have to do something," I gasped, my voice shaking. My hands slammed against the steering wheel, hard enough to rattle the car. Maybe I could convince him. Maybe I could buy him off-return everything he wanted,

jabbed at my

Disconnected.

Blocked.

fresh wave of fury surged through me,

A number.