My Stepbrother's Dirty Little Secret novel Chapter 587

Chapter 587

Salvatore watched her, “Hazel.”

She didn’t stop, “If there’s even the smallest chance my daughter is there…” her hands shook as she pulled on ber coat, “…then she’s not spending another minute in that place.”

She was halfway to the door before Salvatore caught up beside her.

“Hazel, we don’t know if it’s her.”

She yanked the door open, “Then we’ll find out.”

There wasn’t a trace of hesitation left in her voice. Only a mother who had finally been given something she hadn’t had in months.

Hope.

No matter how small it was and Hazel Sterling intended to chase it before it disappeared again.

Salvatore’s SUV rolled to a stop across the street. He looked through the windshield. A wooden sign hung above the entrance.

ROSE GARDEN.

Flowers climbed the fence, warm light spilled through the windows. From outside, it looked like any other large family home.

Salvatore’s expression hardened, he opened the door.

Within seconds, black SUVs lined both sides of the street. Armed men stepped out in silence, spreading across the property with precision.

Salvatore scanned the building once, “Nobody leaves.”

His soldiers immediately moved, two covered the back entrance, others climbed the side fence, more surrounded the front porch, weapons remained lowered but ready.

Salvatore looked toward one of his captain, “Every exit.”

“Yes, Boss.”

“If anyone runs…”

The captain nodded once, “They won’t.”

Salvatore’s eyes returned to the house, “Everyone inside stays exactly where they are until I say otherwise.”

The front door was reached in seconds, one soldier nodded, “Clear.”

Salvatore stepped forward. Behind him, Hazel was already climbing the porch steps. She didn’t wait. She shoved the front door open herself.

The sound echoed through the house, laughter stopped, music cut off mid-song.

For one suspended second… everything became completely silent.

Hazel crossed the doorway and froze. Her lungs forgot how to work. Across the large living room stood a dance pole.

A young woman was halfway around it, laughing.

Brown hair.

Green eyes.

Her daughter.

Gianna.

The world seemed to stop moving, then the armed men poured into the room, “Nobody fucking move!”

Whoever had looked at a frightened young girl, alone in a strange city, and seen an opportunity instead of a child who needed protecting.

2/3

15 Banus

Hazel’s breathing grew uneven.

For six months…

Her daughter had been missing.

For six months she had imagined every terrible possibility. She had prayed Gianna had found kind people. She had prayed someone had given her food, a bed… safety.

Instead…

Hazel looked around the room again, a performance pole, revealing costumes. Young women barely older than Gianna.

Her heart twisted so violently it hurt. A single tear rolled down her cheek.

She whispered, almost to herself, “…My baby.”

Gianna slowly lowered one arm from above her head. Her eyes searched the room in confusion, then they landed on Hazel.

Everything else disappeared, “…Mom?” the word was barely audible.

Hazel’s knees almost gave out. That one word shattered the last piece of control she had been holding onto. She crossed the room without thinking.

Gianna stood so quickly she nearly stumbled, “Mom…”

Hazel reached her first. She wrapped both arms around her daughter with such force that Gianna lost her balance.