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Don’t panic, I tell myself. It’s kind of too late for that, though. My heart rate is, like, ten times faster than normal.
Shit.
Was I wrong to trust Matteo with Jack? Did he take my son away from me? Did he change his mind about waiting for me to be ready to go home with him?
Maybe I should call 911. I run to my bedroom and seize the phone I left on the nightstand.
What do I tell them? I think my new boyfriend, who also happens to be the father of my son and a mafia prince, has kidnapped my son? They’d tell me to quit making prank calls and hang up on me.
I stare at my phone screen.
Maybe I’m jumping to conclusions. Maybe Matteo has just taken Jack outside to play. Rushing to check the backyard, I make a call to Matteo. Busy tone.
Is he on the phone with someone? Or has he blocked my number, now that he doesn’t need me anymore?
It’s possible he took Jack to the park. Yesterday, I told him we do that almost every day. Maybe Jack woke up and wore Matteo down with his pleas to go outside.
I can’t believe Matteo would just take off like that without telling me. Now that he’s here, I’m willing to take small steps toward seeing him as an equal co-parent. But taking Jack away without any warning is just wrong. He wouldn’t do that, would he?
How much do I really know about Matteo?
Damn it. It’s entirely possible that Matteo has kidnapped Jack. He could be talking to his lawyer right this moment, fighting for full custody over Jack. The legal system probably doesn’t look too kindly on moms who fake their own deaths to ensure they get custody.
Perhaps Matteo is just giving me a taste of my own medicine.
“Matteo!” I yell out as I circle the house. I continue shouting as I head toward the front, craning my neck to find him.
Where’s my baby? Everything I do is for Jack. If I lose him, I don’t know what I’d do.
Matteo
Is that Grace’s voice calling me?
She emerges from the side of the house, looking like she’s about to cry.
I rush to her side, my heart thudding in my chest. “What happened?”
“Where’s Jack?” she asks, her voice shaking.
“He’s not inside? He was sleeping when I went out to make a call.” I spoke to some people at home who got me so angry I had to shout down the phone. I didn’t want to wake Jack up from his nap.
Grace shakes her head. Her lips tremble. “Where’s Jack?” she repeats.
“I don’t know, but we’ll find him. Wait here.” I guide Grace to the steps leading up the porch and tell her to take a seat while I go back inside and check every little hidden nook of the house I can find. And still, no Jack.
Fuck. That fucking old fucker.
“Come with me.” Putting my hand around Grace’s quaking shoulders, I open the car door for her and drive.
Connecting my phone to the car’s audio system, I redial the last number I called. “Hector, it’s me again.”
“Hey, boss. I was just about to call you back, but—”
“I don’t have time for small talk,” I cut him off. “You said Tom and Patrick are here. Do you know where they’re staying?”
“Yeah. This hotel downtown. I forgot the name.”
I groan. “Find out. Find out now, and call me back. Quick. This is urgent.”
I hang up.
“Where are we going?” Grace asks.
“My dad’s men are in town..”
When Grace speaks, her voice is filled with accusation. “Your dad knows about Jack?”
“Yeah. I’m so sorry. It was my fault. I said the wrong thing when he called last night.”
“Why did you do that?” Grace raises her voice. Her fists land on my arm, but it’s my heart that hurts. Her fury echoes in my rented car. “You told me you were keeping us a secret, and yet you told him. I shouldn’t have trusted you. I should’ve run away the first chance I had.”
“I’m as surprised as you are. And I don’t like this either.” I know my words offer her no consolation, but I have to try. I want her to understand I’d never betray her trust. “I had no idea he’d move this quickly.”
“So you knew he was going to do something?” Grace’s voice grows shrill.
“I was just starting to put the pieces together,” I explain as I turn onto the highway. “I called home just now to learn that my dad has been questioning my housekeeper about my orders for her to clean the bedrooms and stock the kitchen. I guess he found out I’d been preparing the house for your arrival and tracked me down.”
“So my baby is with your dad?” Fear drips from every syllable she utters.
“Jack can’t be that far.” As Grace begins to sniffle, I keep my eyes on the road. I need to focus on getting us to the assholes who have obviously kidnapped my son.
