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.

as I pressed play. And there

to

wanted to reach through the screen, touch her.

failure. I failed

voice shattered the

"Shocked, Jacob?"

frame, standing right beside

got your 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 hitched. A guttural, broken

"She won't feel a thing. Straight to the gates of heaven." He tilted his head, considering. "Why heaven, though? A masterpiece

and deliberate, while his other hand brushed her hair away from

He was touching her.

fuck was

hands. That fucking

palms. Once I got my hands on him, I'd kill him: No hesitation. No second thoughts. I'd

head. "I wanted to video call you, you know," he continued. "But then I thought-ugh, you talk too much." He scoffed before

Forty-eight hours.

turned to

long," he said, his grin widening. "Be

and child in

the camera, eyes gleaming with twisted

as if to wave goodbye. "Sienna's hoping you'll save her. Let's see if you

The video cut off.

chill slashed

days. Forty-eight hours before that

wasn't

to rattle the car. Maybe I could convince him. Maybe I could buy him

at my

Disconnected.

Blocked.

fury surged through me,

A number.