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They stayed like that until we entered the residential neighborhood that Carter had found. My nerves got the better of me and I chewed on my bottom lip wondering whether or not it was Stryker’s father that he’d found.
The houses that I looked at from the car window would have a nice price tag to them, which begged the question as to why would he have sold his son if he owned such a large house. I knew a lot could change in ten years, but still.
A well-maintained lawn with a large SUV parked alongside the house. Carter navigated their car onto the driveway beside the SUV, bringing it to a stop. The engine idled while we looked at the impressive house.
It was built of red brick with a dark wooden front door and matching window frames. Flower planters covered the bottom of the windowsills, which gave the property a welcoming feel. While I admired the outside a curtain twitched to the left of the front door. I couldn’t make anyone out, but I knew we were being watched.
“What’s the plan?” Millie asked, breaking the silence having focused on the twitching curtain.
“Let’s just see what happens.” I opened the door and jumped out.
I needed to do this for Stryker.
He wouldn’t talk about his father, but my heart wanted to believe that there was something more going on back then because the thought of his father just handing him over to Declan was wrong on so many levels, and it hurt.
“Show time?” Carter fell into line beside me.
“This has to work out. It has to, Carter.” I watched as he rang the bell, followed by a couple of raps of his knuckles against the hardwood door.
“Just remember you’re not alone, Evie.” Millie put her arm around my waist.
The door opened a fraction, the security chain still up, and all we could see was a tanned face behind a trimmed beard. “Can I help you?”
My voice wouldn’t come to me but Carter had no trouble. “We’re looking for a Peter Rivers who filed a missing person report ten years ago.”
Surprise crossed his features. “Why do you want him?”
“Is it you?” I stepped forward and asked. “Please…”
His eyes looked resigned, as he whispered, “Yes.”
“We’re friends of Jake.”
His eyes widened in surprise.
“Mr. Rivers, I don’t know why we’re here other than Stryker needs our help.” I paused. “My name is Evie, and I’m in love with your son. These are my friends, Millie and Carter. We know what you did to him ten years ago.”
Peter Rivers flinched, looked from one to the other before he closed the door in our faces. Seconds later, the door opened wide and he ushered us inside. He looked outside and slammed the door closed, the security lock going back on.
He was a tall man, not as broad in the shoulders as Jake, but even for forty-seven he was a handsome man. His trousers and shirt looked good quality, which gave the feel of money. He had lots. I wasn’t sure what I’d expected but he was a surprise.
“I wondered if he’d ever get friends to help him. I’ve hoped. Longed. But no one has ever showed up here before.”
“Mr. Rivers, please help me, us, understand what happened back then and maybe we’ll be able to help him now. I want to have a chance at something with him. But even if things don’t work out, I want him to have a life.”
“Let’s go through to the kitchen and I’ll put some coffee on, and then, I’ll tell you about back then as well as how I’ve come to have this.” His arms spread wide and his meaning was clear. He’d tell us how he has such an amazing house.
He led us through the foyer of his large home, which made my head hurt. Why would he sell his son when he had this? I couldn’t get that thought out of my mind. Why? Why? Why?
And then I caught a glimpse inside of another room and became rooted to the spot.
Stryker was everywhere.
As if in slow motion, I moved into the room, not knowing where to look first. Each wall had an assortment of pictures in different sizes and they were all of Stryker. No one else, just the man who held my heart.
Before I’d even considered moving closer, I stood in front of a large framed picture of Stryker as a young boy of maybe eleven or twelve with his father. There was no doubt in my mind as I looked at Peter’s face that he loved Jake very much. The same expression was reflected on Stryker’s face.
“I love my son, Evie,” Peter whispered, unable to hide the emotion behind his words. “I’ve loved him since the day he was born, and through the struggle of being a single man with a baby. My girlfriend left when he was two weeks old… I’ve always loved him, and all that I have now I’ve done so that he’d have something when I managed to buy him back.”
