Nine

 

CRYSTAL

Two hours later . . .

 

Who knew taking a sixteen-year-old to the mall would be tiring? Mads was getting restless with all things hotel and Vegas so we planned a day out for her. I decided that maybe we could go to the mall to browse, just us girls. At first, Conti wasn’t up for it. However, I told him I would need the practice. Once he gets a job in Hawaii, it will be just Mads, our new nurse and me. Defeated, he reluctantly agreed saying he'd make sure the rooms were all packed up for our trip.

The plan was that we would head back to Hawaii on Kai’s plane that he sent back to us, since they headed back a week after the wedding. However, after the talk that Conti and I had this morning, that changed. He said he'd call and make the arrangements that were needed. My nerves begin to get the better of me as the thought of our talk floats back into my mind.

 

“What are you going to do while we’re at the mall?” I ask as I snuggle closer to his chest even though I really needed to get ready to leave.

“Think of more ways to get you naked before we leave here,” he whispers into my ear causing me to giggle. “Actually, I’ll be calling work and setting up our move from Florida.”

My head bangs into his chin when I jerk it off his chest. We didn’t talk about him moving to Hawaii. I just thought that I'd move with him.

“What?”

“Did you really think that I wouldn’t live with my wife?” The look he gives me isn’t one I like to see on his face.

“No, that isn’t what I meant. I just thought I'd move to Florida. Is moving good for Maddison? You told me she doesn’t do well with transitions and new places. I want what’s best for her.”

Gazing into his eyes, I try to convey the love I have for her. I’ve even begun to think of her as my child. It might seem weird when she’s sixteen and I’m only twenty-two, but her mentality is what makes it seem like she’s my child, and not my sister-in-law.

“You love her.” The smile that graces his face with that statement has tears starting in my eyes.

“Of course I love her.” I choke out at him. Clearing my throat, I continue. “She stole my heart that night on my deck when she smiled at me.” My throat seems to tighten with the emotions flowing through me. After a moment, I take a deep breath and push them away. I need him to answer me. “Now, the question, Conti. Is it wise?”

“I talked with Mari and we both agree, that yeah, it isn’t ideal. Like you said, transitions are hard on her, but if we do it then it needs to happen ASAP. You told me that night in Kansas City just how important it is for you to live in Hawaii. That it makes you feel closer to your parents. I refuse to take that away from you.” Tears start to fill my eyes that he remembered something so important to me. “She’ll adjust better since she's come to trust you. Plus, she's been to your house, which will help as well.” His green eyes meet mine and I get lost in their depths. “Thank you, for loving her.”

The kiss he consumes me with has me needing him again even though we just finished having sex thirty minutes ago. I guess it’s time to celebrate the fact they're moving to Hawaii.

 

Mari’s laughter draws me out of my memory. I’m grateful because getting turned on at the mall play area isn’t exactly a smart thing to do.

Looking over at the beautiful Hispanic woman sitting to my right, I smile kindly at her. When we told her of the plans she cheered and was extremely excited for us. We asked her to move with us and she declined, explaining she needed to be with her family. My heart dropped and I began to panic, until she said she had someone in mind that would probably love the idea of moving to Hawaii. Even though that was comforting, I knew it would be a challenge. It was another transition that Maddison would have to go through. Seeing the sadness that was shining bright in her eyes at the thought of not being with them again, almost has me demanding that I just move to Florida. However, I know Conti would deny my request since living in Hawaii makes me feel closer to my parents. She's been with Conti and Mads since he got custody of her. But I know that it won’t do any good, since Conti is determined they're moving.

Mari shakes her head with a smile when she hears Mads squeal again, as she whips down the slide in the play center area. Glancing back over, I spot a mom who’s giving Maddison a look of disgust.

“Is it normal to want to kick the other parents' asses who are giving her dirty looks? Don’t they realize she just wants to have fun with the other kids?” I growl loud enough for the woman to hear. Redness colors her face as she turns back to her son on the bouncy thing.

“Yes, it’s normal to want to do that, but you have to understand, most don’t see the bigger picture or at least they don’t want to. The best thing to do is ignore them, and keep doing what you’re doing,” she quietly replies.

“Am I doing it right? Am I able to take care of a child like this, Mari? I don’t know if I can do it. I wish you were moving with them. It would be so helpful.” Looking into her eyes, I continue as tears start to fall down my cheeks. “I want to be perfect for her. The thought that I won’t do the right thing or that I’ll make her worse is frightening.”

“Just love her, like you have been, Crystal. Everything else will come with time.” Her hand reaches out and squeezes mine in a comforting nature.

Swallowing down the emotions, I squeeze back then return my attention to Maddison. She rushes over to us with a huge smile on her face. My heart melts as she sits in my lap wrapping her arms around my neck.

“I’m having so much fun, C.,” she practically screams at me causing me to cringe. “I need to potty, Meme.”

“I’ll take her, Mari. I need to get away from the looks.” Mari smiles as she sits back down. “Is that okay, Mads?” I ask.

“Yes!” Mads jumps off my lap and grabs my hand. “Hurry I want to play more!”

Laughing, I proceed to walk her to the restroom which, thankfully, is completely empty so we have no lines to deal with. Quickly, we do our business before heading back out into the food court.

“Cinna, C. I want a cinna!” Mads jumps up and down and points across from us. My eyes travel the entire area looking for a movie theater, but I come up empty until my eyes land on Cinnabon which I now realize that is what she's talking about.

Chuckling, I nod and we start to head over to get her a cinnamon bun. It’s right by the exit, so I wrap my hand around hers tightly, scared she’ll get away from me.

After grabbing our order, I turn to the condiment counter to get some napkins. Before I can turn away, something pokes my back. My head whirls to the left and I spot a man standing very close to me. I go to take a step away, but whatever’s against my back is pressed even harder into me. Looking again over my shoulder and down, I realize it’s a gun. My head snaps toward Maddison and I see another guy is behind her with a gun of his own in his hoodie pocket, it’s pointing right at her.

“Come with us. Don’t let go of the girl. One sound, one wrong move and I have him shoot her,” a voice whispers into my ear.

Nodding, I gently guide a clueless Maddison out the double doors. Once we’re in the back of the van, I pray that Mads will continue to be unaware of what’s going on. The last thing we need is her to break down before we’re saved.

 

One hour later . . .

 

“Why did you take us?” I ask the guy standing in front of the only way out.

“Why not ask the other two who are in here with you?” He slams the door behind him.

Holding Maddison closer to me, I look over at the man and woman who are in here with us. They look like they're jonesing for drugs badly. When we were pushed in, they started begging for more. However, their pleas just caused the other guy to slap them. I have no fucking clue who these people are. I've never seen them in my life.

“What?” the man screeches, as he itches his arms.

“Why did they take us? Who are we to you?”

The shrug of his shoulders pisses me off and has me gently pushing Maddison off my lap. I want to fucking hit him.

“No, C. Don’t leave me!”

“It’s okay, Maddison Elaine. I’m not going anywhere, sweet girl.”

The gasp from the corner has me looking back again at the woman this time.

As I gaze at the woman things begin to click into place. I see the connection.

“I want my bubby,” Maddison cries out.

“I know, Mads. He’ll be here soon, sweet girl,” I try to reassure her.

Taking a deep breath, I say a quick prayer that we’re found soon. Maddison’s on the verge of a breakdown, and I don’t know how to care for an autistic teenager. I’m going to have to learn since Conti and I are now . . .

The basement door opening brings me out of my thoughts. Glancing up the narrow stairs, I spot the ropes in his hands. My gut clenches at the sinister smile on his face. He’s fixated on Maddison. My arms tighten around her as she starts to cry harder. The ringing of a phone is the only saving grace we have at that moment as it stops him from entering the room. Before he turns on his heels, he looks at me and smiles. I know right then and there that if I don’t come up with a plan, Conti won’t be seeing his sister or me again.

 

CONTI

 

Pacing the hotel isn’t helping my anxiety at all. For the past four hours I’ve been flipping my shit. When Mari called saying she couldn’t find Crystal and Mads, I immediately called in my favors to get the security footage to see where they were.

Observing two men take them both, and the calm manner they cooperated in, didn’t make any sense. It's like they knew them. Upon further inspection of the videos, we realized it was at gun point. The license plate led to a dead end, and now we’re waiting on facial scanning to see if we can find out who we’re dealing with. Thoughts of this morning rush back, and the need to find them grows even stronger.

“Come with me,” Kai murmurs to me and jerks his head toward the other room. He arrived an hour ago when I called to tell him about Crystal and Mads being kidnapped. Glancing over, I nod at my friend, Curt, who booked an emergency flight here to help work the case.

After following close behind him, I take a seat on the bed while he shuts the door.

“How by the book, red tape are you?” He stands with his arms crossed waiting for my answer.

“What do you mean by the book, red tape?”

“Are you willing to cross lines that should never be crossed with a badge in your pocket? Are you willing to do whatever it takes to get your girls back?”

“What kind of fucking question is that? You're goddamn right I’m willing to do whatever it takes to get them back.” I reach in my back pocket and pull out my badge wallet, throwing it on the ground. “That fucking thing means nothing to me if I don’t have Crystal and Maddison by my side. That’s why I work as a detective. To keep this world safe for them. Not because I have to follow some fucking rules. Especially now that Crystal’s . . .” my voice trails off. We'd decided not to tell anyone yet. However, the need to have him understand just how important it is, now that she’s expecting, has me nearing the point where I break that promise to her.

The smirk on his face tells me he knows something, and it has my blood boiling.

“Good to know. A friend’s waiting for you outside in a black SUV. I’ve got you covered here. His name–” Before he has a chance to even finish saying the name, I'm already walking out the door leaving my badge on the floor with him.

“Curt, I need air. Don’t follow.” He sits back down with a confused look on his face. I may be willing to risk my career to save them but risking a friend’s career isn’t something I'm willing to do.

Stepping out the hotel door, I spot the black SUV sitting in front. As the window rolls down, I notice the person behind the wheel. The smirk he gives me makes me clench my fist.

I swear to the gods Kai talks about that this fucker in front of me better not have taken my girls. I’ll murder him with my bare hands if he did.

“Conti.”

“Roman, what the fuck's going on? Please tell me your fucking guys didn’t kidnap them!” I roar.

“No, amigo. But I know who did and what we need to do to get them back. Come, we have no time to waste.”

Roman begins to tell me who has my girls and why. Anger fills my veins and the lines between the right and wrong side of the law fades even more.