“Olivia?” The hope in my Mom’s voice as I crept into the hallway broke me. I looked up and found her in the doorway of the lounge, still in the previous days clothes and her hair scraped back from her face. She looked exhausted and it was obvious from her red eyes she had been crying.
“Sorry Mom. It’s just me.”
“Yes, of course. Sorry Kade. I was just…..just hoping….” Her words drifted off as her eyes welled up with tears. I took the two strides and hugged her as tight as I could, trying hard not to let my own emotions take a hold of me. I didn’t have time to fall apart.
“We are going to find her Mom. She’s going to be alright.” I tried to soothe, but I knew I didn’t sound as convincing as I wanted to. I was just so fucking scared we wouldn’t find her. Not one of us would ever be able to live our lives knowing Livy was out there somewhere, being tortured and abused. Until she was returned safely to us, our lives would forever be on hold and dedicated to getting her back.
“I know son.” My Mom replied as she took a deep breath. She pulled back from my embrace and put her hands on my shoulders. “I know you will bring her back home to us.”
“Any new leads?” My Dad asked as he appeared behind Mom and pulled her into his side. She sank into him, wrapping her arms around his waist.
“Nothing yet, but every cop in and out of the city is looking for her and for that van. We’ll get something soon.” I assured them, hoping to take some of the pain and worry from their faces.
“Kyle’s still at the office with Cole working on it too, and Matt headed out to Creal Springs to ask around. You’re right, we’ll get a lead on her soon.” Dad agreed.
“I just need to take a shower and change my clothes, then I’m headed back in.” I explained, eager to get done and back to the search.
“What about the stabbing that sent all the protesters running? Did you find out if that was the kidnapper?”
“It seems that was just a bad coincidence. One of the protesters started an argument with a drunk who had just been released from lockup, and his friend who had just bailed him out. A knife was pulled and the protester ended up on the pointy end. He’ll live though, and we arrested the two guys responsible, but it had nothing to do with Livy being taken. It just turned out to be a lucky distraction for the kidnapper.” I had questioned the two guys myself, needing to be sure they weren’t in any way linked to Livy being taken, but there really was no link.
“I just can’t believe this is happening again. She’s been through so much already. How much more can we really expect her to get through?” My mom cried, voicing my own fears loud and clear. We would get Livy home, of that I was determined, but by the time we did, would she ever be the same after once again being at the hands of that cruel and vicious motherfucker?
“She’s strong, Honey. She’ll get through this, just as she has everything else.” My Dad assured her, but I saw the concern in his eyes as he hugged Mom and looked over to me.
“There’s only so much one person can handle before they break Grant, and poor Livy has had to deal with far more than any one person ever should.”
“You’re right Mom, and I can’t explain how scared I am that she is with that sonofabitch again, but all we can focus on right now is getting her home in one piece. Once she’s here, we can deal with whatever else we need to do to take care of her.” I said firmly. I couldn’t think too hard about what she was suffering, about what would be left of her when we got her back. All I could focus on was getting her back. As long as she was alive and with us, we would find a way to help her through whatever came after. “I have to shower and change, then get back. I need to find who lured Livy to the precinct using my damned name.”
I turned and hurried up the stairs before my Mom could say another word. If I heard any more of her fears or saw her break down again, it would have me crumbling and I needed to stay strong. I needed to keep it together until our girl was safe again.
CHAPTER 24
OLIVIA
I had no idea how many hours had passed since I had woken in that dark space, but it had been over a day I was sure.
Hailey was still refusing to speak, but she had let me run my hands over her body to check her injuries. She had a badly swollen right ankle and her bare legs were covered in scratches and cuts. She still wore the dress she had on the day she was taken, but it was torn in places, and beneath it I had felt more swollen areas and cuts. Her ribs felt intact, but were definitely bruised judging by the way Hailey leapt in pain when I
