Stolen (Sequel To Capture)

Eighty-Two

"I'm sorry, how do you know where she is?" Emma asked as I stared blankly at Seth.

"I wasn't put on your case Emma for nothing Emma. When you and Niall went into protection it was just McCaffery at first, do you remember?"

"Sure, the head guy, agent, whatever, put you there."

"That's right." He nodded. "I was the agent that was on duty when you and Niall came into the hospital that day."

"Did you see my file, the original file before she altered it?"

"Dr. Brady came to me after speaking with you with her concerns. She told me what you had asked and I explained your situation to her. We put an agent on your daughter immediately."

"She just told you, how did she know she could trust you?" Emma looked shocked.

"You're lucky she did or we wouldn't be having this conversation." Seth snapped cutting her off.

"So you know where she is then?" I asked softly. "You know where our daughter is?" My voice caught in my throat cracking slightly as they struggled to form the word 'daughter'.

"She's in a safehouse here in London. The agent we put on her poses as her uncle."

"You're sure she's safe?" Emma asked quickly rounding on Seth.

"I am." Seth nodded. "She was never on Trey's radar."

"But he knew she was still alive." I frowned. "How can you be certain?"

"He knew of her but not where or how to find her." Seth corrected me.

"I can't believe it." Emma whimpered.

"We need to see her." I spoke quickly.

"I'll arrange it." Seth nodded before turning back to leave the room. "Please don't start fighting again." He added just before he exited.

I turned back to Emma with tears in my eyes. Without any hesitation I walked up to her and kissed her pulling her close to my body. She was crying but I held her tightly our lips locked together neither of us wanting to break that bond.

Eventually we separated as she held my hands between us. "I'm so sorry." She whispered falling heavy into my chest even more. I held her there, strong and tight, not wanting to let go. I almost didn't want to move because I was afraid that it would all fall apart the moment I did.

"I'm sorry I yelled. I was scared." I whispered back.

"I love you so much Liam. I was scared too."

"We still have a daughter babe, she's out there waiting for us." I laughed in disbelief, wiping away tears from Emma's face, we both started to laugh. "I didn't think I'd ever get this ending."

"What do you mean?" Emma spoke softly looking up at me.

"I never expected a happy ending for myself. Not one time." I answered truthfully.

She lifted up on her tip toes and kissed me. "This isn't the end Liam, this is the beginning." She whispered as the door opened again. We both turned to see Seth standing there one hand on the door as he leaned part way in.

"I was going to ask if it was safe to come in but you two seem to have made up." He joked stepping in as the door shut behind him.

"Can we see her?" I asked quickly looping my arm around Emma.

"Yes," Seth smiled. "You can."

"When?"

"How does right now sound?" He asked as we both stared at him in a stupor. Seth pulled the door open again and poked his head out into the hallway speaking to someone before returning to the room. A tall man with kind eyes stepped into the doorway as we watched him enter.

He smiled at us before dropping his gaze to the little hand he held at his side. My eyes trailed down to see a young girl hiding behind his leg, half hidden, half peaking out at Emma and myself between the man's legs. "It's ok Maisie, this is mom and dad." The man told her trying to coax her out from her hiding place.

She dropped her teddy bear in fear clinging to the leg of the man between us.

I felt the tears cascade down as I looked at our daughter. Emma crouched down and picked up the bear smiling at her with tears in her own eyes. "Maisie, sweet girl, I've missed you." She held the bear out for her to take back but she didn't budge.

Kneeling down beside Emma I smiled at her as she daringly poked her head out from behind his legs to investigate us further. "Who is this guy? He looks like he's a lot of fun!" I asked talking to the bear and Maisey at the same time.

"That's Mr. fuzzy Bottom." The man told Emma. "He's her favorite, isn't that so Maisie?"

"Well," I spoke directly to Maisie who was still watching me with trepidation. "He looks very well cared for, he must be a wonderful friend if you carry Mr. Fuzzy Bottom with you everywhere!"

She had Emma's eyes, deep and brown full of gold flecks that sparkled in the light, her curly blond locks looked angelic against her porcelain skin tone. She curiously stepped out from behind the legs carefully wobbling towards us reaching out for her bear. She snatched up the bear hugging the stuffed animal with such love and tenderness that I knew she had cuddled him often.

Then she held up the bear to Emma pushing him into her chest for a hug. Then into my chest so I could hug him. Then, without any prompting she hugged Fuzzy Bottom into her own chest and leaned into Emma and my arms letting us envelop her in a hug together.

I watched Emma beam with pride as we held our daughter together for the first time. I couldn't be bothered to hide my tears.

For the first time in ages, I was truly happy.

THE END