Page 52 of Bittersweet Redemption

He wipes his runny nose on his jacket. “Mommy isn’t home,” he tells me through sobs.

I look over to their house. “What do you mean? Her car is in the driveway. Did you forget that you moved back to your house?” I playfully squeeze his little shaking shoulder.

He shakes his head. “No. She wasn’t at the bus stop and I went inside and she wasn’t there.”

My stomach immediately sinks. My mind goes to the notes we got. Could something have happened? Did they make their move? “The door was unlocked?”

“Yes. Her stuff is there, but she’s not.” Holy shit. My hand starts to shake at my side, but I keep myself calm. If I freak out, it will only make it worse for Roman. Willa wouldn’t want that.

I look from the house to Roman. “Ok. You stay here. I’m going to go check it out.” He nods and wipes his nose again as I take off toward their house, my phone out, dialing the one person I trust to help me.

“Hey, Kai.”

“Kellan.” My voice sounds panicked, and Kellan immediately picks up on it.

“What’s wrong?”

“Willa is missing.”

I hear some paper shuffle. “What do you mean she’s missing?”

“I mean, I just got home, and Roman’s on my front steps crying and telling me his mom didn’t get him at the bus stop even though her car is in the driveway. He said all her stuff is in the house, and the door was unlocked.”

“Shit. Did you go look?”

“I’m on my way now.” I step carefully through the grass connecting our yards.

“Don’t touch anything. You need to call the police.”

“You think I’m going to trust the police with this after what they did to me?” Kellan, of all people, should know I’m not going to the police unless I absolutely have to.

“If you don’t, we’ll have no leg to stand on when we catch the guy.” Fuck. I guess we have to, then. I hear Kellan tell Riley to call the police and have them come to my house. “I’m also texting River.”

“Ok, thanks.” My heart stops when I look down at the welcome mat. “Shit.”

“What’s going on?”

“There’s blood splatter on the front porch.” My heart is racing, and my head is spinning. My girl is hurt. She’s hurt, and I wasn’t here to protect her. I should’ve gone to the store earlier or not at all. If I had been home, I could’ve heard something. I could’ve done something, and now she’s gone.

Deep breaths. Freaking out isn’t going to help me. I know that. I have to stay calm for Roman. I look back over my shoulder to where he’s still sitting. “Can Riley come get Roman? I don’t want him to worry. He’s already pretty upset.”

“Yeah, we’re on our way. And remember, don’t touch anything.”

“Yeah, yeah. Got it.” I hang up, step over the blood splatter that makes my stomach churn, and open the door with my foot. Thankfully, Roman didn’t shut it all the way when he left. As soon as I walk in, I confirm what Roman said. Willa’s bag, shoes, and jacket are inside the front door like she had just gotten home.

I call her name a few times and do a quick walk-through, but when I don’t immediately see anything, I head back to sit with Roman so he’s not alone.

“Where’s my mommy?” he asks as soon as I walk up. Shit. It breaks my heart to see him so upset.

Taking a seat next to him, a sigh escapes me. “I’m not sure, kid. But we’re going to find her. I promise you, I’m going to bring your mommy home to you, ok?” It’s a big promise to make when I have zero clues on where she went, but I’ve got to believe she’s ok. If the person who took her is obsessed with her, he’d want to keep her to himself, so I believe she’s alive. I feel like I’d know deep down if she wasn’t.

“Ok.” He slips his backpack off and then helps himself to my lap. I wrap my arms around him and let him cry on my arm. I haven’t spent much time around kids, so I’m not sure how to comfort him in this kind of situation, but I figure holding him to show him I’m here for him is a good starting point.

River arrives first, followed closely by the police, and sits with us while the police do a cursory walk-through of Willa’s house. I hear them shouting “Clear!” as they move from room to room, confirming what I already knew: She’s not in there.

Kellan and Riley show up shortly after the police finish their walk-through. Riley immediately pulls Roman into her arms to comfort him.

“Kai, they want to see the security footage. You got the logins for her system?” River asks.