“Former life?”

Renewed grief etched its way onto Rev’s face. He didn’t respond for a few moments. Staring down at his hands, he said, “When I was eleven, he left the pulpit and went back to the biker world. My two brothers and I followed in his footsteps, much to our mother’s disappointment.”

Feeling guilty for dredging up his pain, I said, “I’m sorry. I seem to have a special gift today for bringing up things that make you feel bad.”

He gave me a small smile. “Don’t apologize,” he replied. “Speaking of fathers, I’m sure you’ll want to get in touch with your family. Although we found out your identity, we thought it would be better for you to contact them.”

A pang of regret stabbed me at the thought that it had been Rev who brought up the subject of my parents and not me. The truth was I had forced myself to bury any thoughts I had of them in the deep recesses of my mind. In those early weeks as Mendoza’s captive, I’d thought about my parents a lot. I wondered what they were doing and how they had reacted to my abduction. I fantasized that they had pulled strings and dispatched some Special Forces unit that would arrive at any minute to save me. But as time went on, the weeks turning into a month and then two, and no one came for me, I had to force myself to stop thinking about them. I had to reason that I had left them little to go on when it came to tracking me down.

Focusing on something else Rev had said, I questioned, “You know who I am?”

He nodded. “Annabel Lee Percy, originally from Virginia but living in Texas.”

My brows rose in surprise. “You were able to find all of that just by me telling you my name?”

Rev smiled. “My fellow Raiders have talents. Of course, it wasn’t that hard going through the missing persons reports for girls named Annabel.”

“I see.”

Reaching into his back pocket, Rev took out a phone. “Would you like to call them now?”

“No. Not right now.”

Rev’s brows furrowed in confusion at the panicked note in my voice. But at that moment I didn’t have the energy to try to explain my complicated family. I’m sure it sounded strange that I didn’t demand the phone from him to have a tearful reunion. Trying to lessen the abruptness of my reaction, I said, “I’m just a little too tired right now. Maybe in the morning when I’ve had more rest.”

Although he nodded, I could see he was confused. Fortunately, just then my attention was drawn away from Rev by a gentle knock at the door. When I turned my head, I saw Dr. Edgeway standing in the doorway. He smiled. “I see you’re awake.”

I nodded, and he started into the room. “Mind if I check to see how you’re doing?”

“No, that’s fine.”

Rev stood up from his chair. “I’ll step out.”

While I knew that I needed privacy for the exam, my chest tightened at the thought of him leaving. He must’ve sensed my apprehension because he said, “I’ll be right outside if you need me.”

“Thanks.”

Once we were alone, Dr. Edgeway came over to me. Instead of beginning the exam, he stood awkwardly beside the bed, his hand shuffling some loose change in his pocket.

“Is something wrong?”

He gave a slight jerk of his head. “Before I examine you, there’s something I need to ask you about.”

“Okay,” I replied apprehensively.

Dr. Edgeway then pulled something out of his pocket. When he held it up to me, I gasped. It was the emerald and diamond ring I had briefly worn. I hadn’t even realized it was gone. I wondered if they had taken it off me before surgery. “My ring.”

“Your ring?” he questioned in an accusatory tone.

Shrinking back in the bed, I said softly, “Yes, it’s mine. It was a gift from someone, and I’d like to have it back.”

“Who gave it to you?” he demanded.

“A—a girl.” I swallowed hard under his intense stare. “Yesterday or the day before. I don’t remember.”

His anger slightly dissipated. “Did she have red hair?”

My brows shot up in surprise. “How did you know that?”

A wounded look appeared on his face. “Because she was my daughter.”

My chest clenched in agony. “She was?” He gave a brief nod. I had first seen the redheaded girl from the window of Mendoza’s bedroom. She arrived with two other girls the day after three girls had been sold. Her appearance after a barrage of blondes and brunettes made me wonder if I might have new competition for Mendoza’s affections. I guess I hoped it more than anything. But when she wasn’t brought into the main house, I realized I was to have no relief.

Suddenly it all began to make sense. “So that’s why Rev and his men stormed the compound: to get your daughter back.”

“Yes. It is.”

A horrible feeling overcame me. “Didn’t she make it out?”

Dr. Edgeway closed his eyes in pain. The torment on his face spoke volumes of the level of his grief. “No. She didn’t.”

“I’m so sorry,” I whispered. I had only had a brief meeting with the girl. Ten minutes, maybe fifteen. But in that moment, I mourned her as if we had been lifelong friends.

Dr. Edgeway didn’t respond. Instead, he stared down at the ring. “This was a high school graduation gift to Sarah from her mother and me. She had always wanted an emerald ring like her mother had.” He shook his head. “I can’t imagine why she would have given it away.”