Gabe

After a few blissful days with Alicia, it’s back to reality. We have a few leads, a couple of reliable ones at that, and should be able to come to a conclusion soon.

It’s bittersweet, to say the least.

A part of me doesn’t want to leave Alicia, but a part of me knows it’s for the best.

My personal cell phone buzzes as I head to the station, Blake having called yet another meeting. My aunt’s name flashes on the screen, and I quickly hit accept.

“Hey.”

“Oh, look who it is. The good brother,” Mason taunts, his voice filling me with unease.

“Mason? Where’s Aunt Maria?” My pulse picks up speed. What did Mason fucking do now?

“Now, now, older brother. You know I don’t like a lot of questions.” He sneers, causing my blood to boil.

“Then, put on Aunt Maria.”

“She’s fine, not to worry. But Uncle Lenny is looking for you.”

“Why? I’ve got nothing for him.”

“Yes, you do, you know what you fucking did.”

I pull over, unable to concentrate on the road. I grip the steering wheel. “Who the fuck cares. I’m done dealing with your foolish games. Put on Aunt Maria. Now.”

Mason laughs, and I hear Damon’s distinct voice in the background. My two younger brothers couldn’t be more different yet alike in so many ways. I often wondered if I was a milkman’s baby.

“Fuck off, Gabe. I don’t have to listen to you. Besides, Aunt Maria isn’t here.”

“Where is she?” I grind out.

“Again, fuck you, Gabe. But if I were you, I’d get here quick or you’ll be hurting when more of your family dies. Murdered in cold blood. How does that sound?”

I don’t answer. He’s baiting me, and I’m not going to fucking bite.

“What’s wrong, bro? Cat got your tongue? Fuck your job and get back here or you’ll be sorry after all our family is murdered. It’ll be your fault. Do you really want more bloodshed on you? You know, our mom was probably the worst. So much blood.”

That’s it. I punch the steering wheel, the horn blaring on the truck. “You fuckers are vile disgusting wastes of space, and I’ll make sure you get what you deserve.” I hang up the phone before the assholes can speak and get out of the truck.

I need to move, to think and process this new information.

I have to save my family. I have to go back to the city. Deal with this shit once and for all. I’m tired of it dictating my life.

I’ll tell Blake something came up. Joe deserves to know too. I’ll hurry home, take care of business, and finish this shit, making it back in a few days.

Back inside the truck, I steer toward the townhouse, my mind racing.

Images of my aunt and uncle tied up, tortured, and beaten run through my head.

My own parents’ bloodshed. The pain is still fresh and raw, as if it happened yesterday instead of years ago. Will it ever heal? Will the mental images and screams ever go away?

I brace myself about what I may see when I get back.

I pray my aunt and uncle are okay. My brothers being the tricksters they are, you never know if they’re telling the truth.

I’d fucking kill my uncle and lock up my brothers if it were true.

They’d never see the light of day again.

* * *

Alicia

A few days go by in a blur, time speeding along faster the busier I stay. I visit my mom in the hospital while I try to find hospice care. It’s hard and expensive and the stress is eating me alive.

I stuff a couple of chocolates in my mouth as I brush out Emily’s hair, a cute little girl at the shelter. I’ve been waiting for an hour now for Kayla, and she’s still nowhere in sight.

I move on to Emily’s nails and try to keep my mind from wandering.

Too bad it doesn’t work.

Gabe’s been out of reach for the past couple of days, his phone going straight to voicemail. He hasn’t reached out to me, and it makes me regret sleeping with him.

Why did I trust so easily when I never trust anyone?

What about Gabe makes me lie down and spread my legs no matter what he says?

I shouldn’t have accepted his answers, should’ve demanded more.

But instead, I give in to his kisses and his words.

I rack my brain. I’ve got nothing.

Finishing up Emily’s hands, I glance around the room, my mind back on Kayla.

“Have you seen Kayla lately?” I ask Emily, and she shakes her head.

“Hmm, I’m going to check with Mia. Have a good rest of your day, hon.” I hug Emily before heading off to find Mia.

After several minutes of walking in circles around the building, I find Mia in her office, buried behind mountains of paperwork. I knock softly. “Hey, Mia?”

Her head pops out from behind, and she breaks into a smile. “Alicia! Come in.”

I shuffle in. “Have you seen Kayla?”

Her face falls and so does my stomach. “I’m sorry, I meant to find you earlier and I got sidetracked. She was adopted earlier.”

I stumble back and blink. “Wait, what?”

Mia nods and frowns. “Yeah, it happened quick. A few girls went together to a nice family.”

“But...but…I didn’t even know a family was interested in her.”

Mia shrugs. “Like I said, it happened fast. They came in yesterday and were extremely interested. All of their paperwork checked out. They adopted Tamara and Ava as well.”

I shake my head, unable to believe she’s gone. My heart aches, and I realize I love Kayla. We’ve become so close, it just happened. No.

No.

I want her.

Mia comes over and pulls me into a hug. “I’m sorry, hon. I know you two had gotten close.” She rubs my back.

I pull away, tears filling my eyes and threatening to spill over.

I think back to all the girls, my mind scanning over the last couple of weeks. More and more seem to be adopted fast and in groups. Now Kayla.

I need to speak to Gabe.

“I’ll see you tomorrow, okay?” I say before I leave.

“Okay, Alicia. Take care.”

My mind races as I run out the door. As soon as I’m in my car, I pull Gabe up on my phone and hit send. Straight to voicemail.

Fuck. Where is he?

* * *

“Gabe, finally. I’ve been trying to reach you for days. Where are you?”

“Hey, I’m sorry. I had to leave suddenly, a personal issue, and I couldn’t have my phone for some time. I listened to your messages. What’s going on?”

I pace my mother’s kitchen, my cup of coffee going cold. I must’ve dialed Gabe’s number a hundred times these past two days. An uneasy feeling sits in my stomach. My gut tells me Kayla is in danger. I don’t know why, and I don’t know where it’s coming from, but it’s there.

It’s driving me fucking nuts, to be honest. I can’t explain it. I’ve tried to, I’ve racked my brain over and over. I’ve come up empty, but I still have the feeling Kayla isn’t safe, and I need to act on it or I’ll never forgive myself.

“Kayla, the teen from the shelter. She was adopted three days ago and something nags at me that she’s not safe. Girls have been adopted in groups lately and it seems suspicious.”

I hear Gabe’s sharp intake of breath, and my hands begin to shake. I’m right. I know I am.

“Have you told Mia?”

“No, I wanted to talk to you first. I’ve been killing myself trying to dig for information, but I can’t find anything.”

“Alicia, you need to stay out of this. You getting involved will not be a good thing.

“Are you serious? I need your help. Wait, do you know something?”

“I can’t help you, and you need to stay out. Trust me.”

My breathing picks up speed, and I slam my hands on the counter. “All you ever fucking say is to trust you. Why? Why should I trust you when you won’t answer my simple questions?”

“Because I tell you to.”

“Because you tell me to? Are you fucking serious?” I kick the chair and pick up the vase of flowers on the table. I hurl them across the room, the vase shattering and the flowers going everywhere.

“Dead serious.” His tone is harsh, and tears pool in my eyes once again.

“Fuck you, Gabe,” I scream and hang up the phone before he can say anything.

I collapse onto the floor in a heap and scream until my voice is gone and the sobs take over.

I should’ve known better. Why did I ever believe him?