Nicholas

 

 

"Tell me how the fuck this happened?" I grab the front of Crew's coat. "I want to know who messed up."

He's calm. I see it immediately in his eyes. "I can't tell you how but I'll tell you what I know, Nick. I need you to sit and take a breath. You're not doing Sophia any favors by losing it."

I sit in a chair across from him. We're in his office. It's after two a.m. It took me three hours to get a seat on a flight back to New York.

During the time I sat in the terminal waiting to board my concern for Sophia went from mild to intense. At first, I thought she was ignoring my calls and texts because she was pissed that I didn't take the time to explain my connection with Del to her. When Crew called me to say that her phone had been found in an alley outside of Foster Enterprises, my world instantly went dark.

"He's not in Florida." Crew picks up printed copy of Franco Abano's mug shot. "He didn't fly out. There's no record of him on a bus or train. The best we can figure is that he rented a car and drove here."

"He's here?" I stand again. "That fucker is in New York?"

"I called Gabriel Foster an hour ago. He had his security team pull footage from the cameras outside the Foster Enterprises building. Franco was there. He kept his distance, but he was outside mid-afternoon."

"He has her." My voice cracks. "That prick took her. Someone must have seen it."

"The police are on it, Nick. I called Sebastian while you were in the air. He contacted someone in missing persons, and I just got off the phone with them. They'll be at Foster bright and early to review that security footage and to interview anyone who went in or out of the building around the time Sophia left."

"Where would he take her?" I pinch the bridge of my nose trying to think. "He must have rented a room. Are you checking that out?"

"As we speak. We have someone at her place too. If he tries to take her back there, we'll be on him immediately. I need you to remember something, Nick. Listen to me."

I look across the desk at where he's standing in front of the windows of his office. "What?"

"He's in love with her." He exhales harshly. "He doesn't want to hurt her. He won't hurt her. I believe that. I need you to believe that too."

"She's scared as fuck right now." I clench my fists at my side. "You know that she is."

"I know she's strong. Sophia is the most resourceful woman I know." He cups his jaw in his hand. "If anyone can talk their way out of this, it's her."

"What if there's no way out?"

"I refuse to believe that." He points at his phone. "I called Cadence. She's going to fill Sophia's folks in. I've arranged a private jet to bring them here."

It's all shit I should have handled myself but I'm damn grateful he's done it.

"I hurt her before I left New York today." I look him straight in the eye. "She saw me with Del and wanted an explanation."

"That would have taken all day."

I filled Crew in on the details of what happened between Del and me one night over a case of beer. He understood and told me back then to steer clear of her. I should have refused when she asked to sit next to me today. I should never have let her touch me.

"I had all day. I could have given her that."

"You'll give her that when you see her again." He moves closer. "We'll find her, Nick and when we do, you can make things right."

I hope I get that fucking chance. If I don't, I know my heart won't survive this loss.

 

***

 

"Sophia tells us that you're an author." Her mother dabs a tissue over her cheeks. "We haven't read your book yet, but it's on our list."

I smile weakly at her. Doris and Robert Reese are good people. They're strong. I sensed it when we met in the lobby of Foster Enterprises. Her mom embraced me and her dad offered his hand. His grip was weakened by the sorrow on his face.

He feels he let his little girl down. I'm the one who did. I didn't press Sophia about the security detail I wanted on her. I let it slide because I thought I had time. That piece of shit Franco was in Florida, dating another woman. I had no idea he'd bail on that and head to New York to take Sophia away from us all.

"Can I get you anything?" Cadence approaches us from the left. She's been here all day with her husband. She's spent most of the time crying in his arms.

"Not a thing, dear." Doris leans her head against Cadence's arm. "I think you should go home and rest. This stress can't be good for the baby."

"He's strong." Her voice cracks. "He's like Sophia."

Doris sniffles her way through a response. "Sophia won't let him hurt her. She'll fight back. I taught my daughter to fight."

"We taught her well." Robert kisses his wife's cheek. "I'm going to find the detective we met earlier. I'll see if she has an update."

I nod as he walks toward the door of the conference room that Gabriel arranged for us to use as a meeting place. He's been in and out himself all day; his brow etched with worry.

"Do you think there will be some leads from the press conference we had?" Doris turns to face me directly. "I think Franco will give her back to us when he sees how much we love her."

Franco is a sick bastard who doesn't give a shit about anyone else. The press conference that was held an hour ago was meant to draw tips from anyone who had seen Sophia or Franco in the past twenty-four hours. His picture, along with hers, splashed across the screen before Sophia's parents took the podium. They both cried through an emotional explanation of what she meant to them.

I couldn’t keep it together. With Crew by my side, I sobbed as I watched as the city learned that a beautiful, talented and loving woman was missing and a cold-hearted stalker was the man responsible.

"I think the press conference might change everything." I rest my hands on her shoulders. "Your daughter will come back. I need her to. I love her too much to lose her."

"She loves you too, dear." She reaches up to cup my cheek. "You're the first boy our Sophia has ever loved."