Chapter Five

 

 

Cole carried a sleeping Mia while they walked home hand in hand. She was already in trouble because she was beginning to think of this as home.

He laid her down on her bed, and she changed her into her night clothes. After she was tucked in she gave her a kiss, she left leaving the door slightly open and a night light on in case Mia woke up.

Cole was sitting on the couch slumped back with his eyes closed.

“Hey, you look like you need some sleep.”

“Maybe a little.”

“Where am I going to sleep?”

“I was hoping with me, or I can sleep on the couch, and you can have the bed.”

“Nonsense why should I inconvenience you?”

“Because you’re not sleeping on the couch.”

“Cole.”

“No.”

“I don’t want you on the couch. You have a child to take care of. I want you well rested.”

“You want to take care of me?” she whispered it because it sounded utterly ridiculous to her.

“Yes.” She dropped onto the couch next to him and leaned her head back closing her eyes.

“No one has ever wanted to take care of me. Maybe my mom wanted to when I was a baby, but to be honest, I doubt it.”

“It shouldn’t be that way. To be allowed to have offspring is a privilege and they shouldn’t be treated wrong.”

“It’s a right, and almost anyone can have children. Sometimes the real sadness is those that want them can’t conceive them.”

She pondered the ceiling for some time before she spoke.

“Is my sleeping with you a way to pay you back for all you’ve done?”

“Explain.”

“You be nice to me, and I have sex with you.”

“I’ll sleep on the couch.”

He stood and walked away.

“Wait. I didn’t mean to offend you; I just wanted to know.”

“Where I come from it’s a privilege if a female chooses to share her body with you. I have never forced a female and I never will.”

“Please forgive me. I questioned your honor, and I didn’t mean to. It’s just been that kind of day. We should go to bed.”

“I will show you to the bedroom.”

“Together.” She took his hand and walked down the hallway with him.

They walked back into the room where he had taken her earlier so she could shower and change. Picking up a pajama set that consisted of shorts and a tank top she went into the bathroom to get ready for bed.

He was sitting in the chair dressed in a pair of low waisted joggers when she came out. She crawled onto the bed and patted the mattress. He stood and turned off the light lying next to her. She scooted over, and he opened his arms. She wasn’t missing this opportunity, and the voices in her head could argue among themselves. She was sleeping in his arms.

 

*~*~*~*

 

 

When they woke up all it took was a look in the fridge to know they were going to have to go shopping. It took one call to find a sitter for Mia and at least five hands raised to do it.

She smiled on her way to the car. Last night she slept in Cole’s arms and felt safe. It was the best sleep she had in years. There was no fear that her mother would walk into her room and abuse her. There was no fear that Mia was in danger. Her life almost felt like it was perfect.

She was putting the food into the car with a silly grin that she couldn’t make go away.

“Hands up in the air.” The guns pointed at her made her heart speed up. Were they going to kill her? They were the police, but she knew better than to trust them.

“Where is he?” The officer in front of her spoke up. He looked like he was the one in charge.

“Who?”

“Your abductor.”

“No one abducted me.” Cole had gone back into the store to get the sauce she had forgotten. Now she was glad for her forgetfulness. As long as he wasn’t hurt and Mia was taken care of, she would survive whatever they did to her.

“Jessie, what’s going on.”

“Cole, don’t.”

“Hands in the air.”

“Where’s your child Miss, I promise we will protect her.”

“She’s safe.”

“Hands above your head.”

They walked over and handcuffed him. “You’re coming with us and so are you, Miss. There’s an Amber alert out for your child. You need to tell us where he is holding her.”

“Her name is Mia, and she isn’t missing, neither am I. If he abducted me, we wouldn’t be getting groceries.”

“We’ll sort this out at the station.”

“What about my groceries?”

“Put them in the car, but it doesn’t move.”

“Tell that to my milk, eggs, and meat.” She complained softly but stowed the food away.

“He’s quiet.” An officer had a gun on Cole who was standing perfectly still.

“Put him in the wagon. He’s probably too big for the shocks to handle in the car.”

They led her to the back of the car and watched as she got in. She looked around there was no way out of the back of a patrol car. She’d stay here until they let her out. She lowered her head trying to control her breathing. Tight places bothered her. She was fine with heights but things like closets or even showers, if they were small, made her want to hyperventilate and knowing she was at their mercy because she couldn’t get out was making things worse.

Don’t panic.

They’ll use it against you.

We’ll find a way out.

How they have Cole? It’s not like he can come to our rescue this time.

She would have to find a way to save herself and Cole.

They opened the door when they got to the station allowing her heart beat to slow down a little. They walked her into the station and down a hallway until they came to a small room where they placed her. They left her there for hours before an officer finally came back to get her. They were trying to scare her. She refused to be scared as long as Mia was alright. Finally, an officer came for her and walked her through a narrow hallway until they got to the back of the station where there were several small offices.

“This is Detective Baker he has some questions for you.”

“Miss…?”

“Murphy. I’m surprised you don’t know my name.”

“Miss Murphy please have a seat. Did you know there is an Amber alert out for you and your daughter?”

“Not until I ran into the officers who picked me up.”

“We take Amber alerts very seriously here.”

“I take them seriously also. I’m always on the lookout when one has been issued.”

“Then you understand our need to know your child is safe.”

“I do.” She reached into her back pocket and pulled out her phone and called Deja. “Hi, can you send me a picture of Mia? Thanks.”

She waited until it made the you have a text message noise and pulled it up. “She is so adorable.”

Mia was on the floor surrounded by blocks building with Deja. She handed her phone over.

“As you can see she is well.”

“It does look that way. Look, Miss Murphy, you were abducted along with your child.”

“I wasn’t abducted, and I told the officers that insisted I come here. I was with Cole. I went to him he did not come to me. All that food going to waste in my car is for the three of us to eat. I’m not scared; Mia’s not in any danger unless there is a danger of being spoiled. That’s it.”

There was a knock on his door. Standing beside the cop who brought her in was a tall, distinguished man. He was the type of man she always wanted to find, but now that she met Cole no one else seemed to measure up.

“Detective Baker this is Mr. Thornton. He represents both Miss Murphy as well as Mr. Loup.”

“Mr. Thornton.”

“Detective Baker. How are you today Miss Murphy?”

“Jessie, please. I’d be better if I weren't brought to the police station on false allegations.”

“Tell me what has happened.”

“According to Detective Baker, there has been an amber alert issued for my daughter and me.”

“Detective who issued the alert?”

“The mother.”

“Miss…Jessie, how old are you?”

“Twenty-five.”

“Are you still under your mother’s care?”

“No sir, I live at home while I am putting away money to get my own apartment, but that is it. I pay rent and buy food as well as take care of my daughter.”

“Isn’t she rather old to have an Amber Alert issued?”

“When the alert was filed, we were informed that she was mentally incapacitated.”

“She doesn’t appear that way to me. We can bring in someone to talk to her if you feel that is needed Detective Baker.”

“No, she is free to go.”

“What about my other client Mr. Loup?”

“He is charged with Miss Murphy’s abduction.”

“I wasn’t abducted. How many times do I have to say that?”

“Detective Baker.”

“He is free to go also. Miss Murphy if I can have a number to contact you if needed.”

“Detective, here is my card I will provide any contact between my client and the police department.”

“Jessie.” He held the door open for her and directed her back to the front where they took a seat to wait for Cole.

As she sat there waiting for him every minute felt like an hour until he finally came out.

“Cole.” She got up and ran to him hugging him tightly. “Are you alright? Did anyone hurt you?”

“Miss look at him. Unless we run a Mack Truck over him nothing and no one is going to hurt him.”

She plastered a smile on her face and walked out the station still holding Cole close. They got into the back of the lawyer’s car and waited until he took off.

“Deja called me and asked me to represent you. I noticed there were two men in the background paying close attention to both of you. If you go to court, I will be there with you, but I suspect they want something and are hoping you can lead them to it.” He pulled over on Second Avenue and let them out.

“Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.” He winked at her and left.

Cole growled.

“Stop that, someone may hear you. Do you think we’re being followed?”

“Definitely. I need you to put your arm around me and stay silent until I give the all-clear.”

She slipped her arm around his waist and leaned into him as they began to walk up the street. This walk never felt this long. She did it every evening when she was going to work, but today she was aware of every person and every sound. There were familiar faces sitting outside or talking to neighbors. She even saw some children she recognized running up and down the street.

It was when she saw the gun metal gray Mercedes that she faltered. Cole tightened his grip around her waist and threw her a quick glance but said nothing.

She understood if she wanted to get by them she needed to be totally quiet. It didn’t make any sense, and she didn’t ponder it too much. Cole was different if she were honest with herself, she knew it the moment she first met him. They were all different, but they accepted her from the door, unlike her mother who was supposed to love her.

They walked past the car, but it was empty. Up ahead of them she could see the two males from the police station pacing where it looked like the street dead-ended. This was her second time noticing that. Did Cole and his people not want to be found? What kind of technology did this take and why couldn’t they just walk through it like she did?

Cole stopped and picked her up. Once again, she was surprised by the amount of strength he had. He started to run going between the two men that were leaning against the wall. They never looked in his direction. They didn’t stop until they were standing in front of his house.

She stared at him when he put her down; there were so many questions she needed answered, but didn’t know how to ask.

“Whenever you’re ready I’ll answer all your questions.”

She gave a quick duck to her head to acknowledge she heard him. What he said was good enough for right now. The house was quiet when they walked in.

“What about our food?” Was it weird to be thinking about food?

No, you know Mia is being taken care of.

You and Mia need to eat as well as Cole. You don’t get that big on milk.

She sat on the couch and started laughing. The terror of the last few hours being released in a frantic, high-pitched laugh that caused tears to flow from her eyes.

“Jessie?”

“I’m fine.” She clutched onto the hand he stretched towards her. “It’s just that I never expected any of this. It feels so unreal although I knew it was happening. I never thought it could happen to me.”

He pulled her in for a hug and rocked her back and forth.

“The food is in the kitchen.”

“How?”

“I asked Declyn and Enzo to come get the car.”

“How did you ask them? When would you have had a chance?”

“I was watching you through the big plate glass window at the store. I called Declyn told him what was happening. I knew he would take care of everything. Then taking a page from your playbook, I destroyed my cell phone so it wouldn’t fall into the hands of the local authorities.”

She wrapped her arms around him. “That was fast thinking. Thank you.”

She placed a kiss on the side of his lips that made her heart beat faster. “We need to go get Mia.”

“Come with me.”

“I love this room it’s beautiful?” Deja was sitting in the glider. “I love the bed, and it looks like Mia loves it too. She should sleep all night long. She ran and played, chased Ven, and was chased by Ven and Enzo. She laughed like the happiest girl ever, and she finally managed to say Ven, but don’t tell Xander and Caden because they’re in a race to see whose name she learns first.”

Jessie found herself blinking fast trying not to cry. Mia never knew love like that from anyone except her. To know she was in a place where everyone loved her child allowed her heart to relax so she could enjoy life for a few minutes.

“I might have to take this glider with me. It’s incredibly comfortable.” She walked over to Jessie and hugged her. “Take a deep breath we’ll find a way through this. You to,” she turned to Cole. “Have a good night.”

They watched as Deja walked out the door.

She was standing there rocking like she was holding Mia in her arms. The thought of all he had done for her in such a short time was making her weepy. Not just him all of them.

“I’m getting weepy thinking about how you have treated me.”

“I think it’s because you’re hungry. Shall we find something for dinner?”

“I’ll be right out.”

“Okay.” He turned to leave but couldn’t before he went to Mia. “I will protect you, Casca.” He leaned over and placed a gentle kiss on her cheek.

She walked over to her daughter after Cole left the room. If any other male besides Cole had tried to kiss Mia, she would be going to war or jail. Seeing him kiss her made her wish that he was her father.

“I love you, baby. I’m going to do everything I can to make sure you’re taken care of.”

She leaned over and kissed her before leaving the room to see what Cole was up to.

She was going to have to tell him, no more pretending it was all an illusion. Fear twisted her gut. Would he understand?