Page 27 of Behind the Mask

She opened her mouth to speak but I put a hand up silencing her. "They need to know. They can't be left in the dark anymore, especially if someone is physically trying to hurt their daughter."

My gaze went to Mason's as he crossed his arms over his chest. He was ready for an order. "Do your best to follow Wilson. I know he's tied to this somehow and if he is, that's our lead in getting Olivia back."

He narrowed his gaze on me. "Okay, what are you going to do?"

"I'm going to her house. I have a feeling that's the best place to start looking."

A few moments later, we left the locker room and went our separate ways. I noticed the press lingering around in the hallway waiting for me to come out, so I dodged them and went out the back door to where my truck was parked.

My phone buzzed again in my pocket as I unlocked the door and got in, ignoring the phone once again. I had no idea why Vanessa was trying to call but at the moment I didn't care. Maybe I should've because she was carrying my baby, but all that registered in my mind was making sure Olivia was safe. After that, I would make sure everything was okay with Vanessa.

As I took the fifteen-minute drive to Olivia's, I realized how fucked up my priorities were. Vanessa at one point was my fiancé, I had cared about her, but it was Olivia that consumed my mind day in and day out. She was the one I knew I wouldn't be able to survive without. I felt like an idiot because I didn't fight for her in the beginning, I just let her go. I should have followed her, made sure she was safe. I should have never taken the job in Texas, and I should have stayed here trying to do whatever I could to bring her back.

As I pulled up to her house, I quickly got out of the truck and climbed up the tree knowing this would be the quickest way of getting in, because Olivia's parents never left a key under the mat on the doorstep. Putting my keys in my mouth, I opened the window easily, glad that she normally left it unlocked. But once I got in and saw the sight in front of me, everything stopped.

There she was, lying on the bed peacefully as if nothing had ever happened. But I knew differently. I pulled the keys from my mouth and set them on the nightstand, surprised I didn't wake her from the noise. Going over to her, I removed the hair out of her face and noticed a few black and blue bruises that outlined her right cheek.

Her breathing was regular, which was a relief knowing she was alive. I pulled out my phone and quickly called Mason and Lindsey letting them know I found her. After a few minutes, I pulled my gaze back to Olivia's sleeping form.

Sitting on the edge of the bed, I traced the outlines of her face gently, hoping she would wake up, but nothing happened. Getting braver, I leaned over and placed gentle kisses over her face, hoping she would react to my touch, but once again nothing.

I got up and flicked the light on, hoping she would wince and wake up from the brightness but again, nothing. Fear began to escalate when I repeatedly tried waking her up and nothing happened.

I pulled back the covers and saw blood staining the white sheets, leaking from her abdomen.

Everything I did after was a blur.

I rushed to get my phone out and called the ambulance and when they arrived, I stood back and watched them strap the love of my life to a gurney, not knowing if she would wake up.

Chapter Twenty-Two

Olivia

Two hours earlier...

There were multiple types of monsters in the world. Those that stole joy from others and those that enjoyed causing pain. Last but not least, there were the serial killers. The ones that got away with murdering one person after another and putting the police on a wild goose chase that would never end.

I couldn't tell which monster Brad's father was. Obviously, kidnapping me and threatening my life was not one of his best qualities, but I wasn't sure how far he was willing to go.

"I'm pretty sure I told you to never come back here. I told you, your parents were at risk, your boyfriend would lose his chances at having any future ahead of him other than being locked in jail for his crimes… and yet… you come back."

The tape that covered my mouth made it nearly impossible to talk, and even though I couldn't, I didn't want to. I didn't want any part of it. He was right. He threatened not only my life, but my parents and Axel's as well. Brad's father had something on Axel that I didn’t know anything about, and even though he had kept secrets from me, I still loved him. I didn't want any harm to come to him.

The threats started shortly after Brad had taken advantage of me, right around the time of graduation which was… convenient. At the time I was weak, scared, but most of all grieving for the loss of my unborn child. The whole thing was messed up.

I had assumed he told his father about the whole situation because later on I started getting threatening emails and messages from an unknown sender. Eventually, after scaring me half to death, he came out and said who he was and that he could ruin my life, my parent's life and Axel’s, if I didn't leave town and stay gone.

Looking back, he was right. I should've stayed away.

Before I left, I had applied to a small college a couple of towns over. It was another small town, somewhere I could be left unseen and unheard of. I made a couple of friends, some I worked with at the bar I bartended at, but they weren't friendships that would last a lifetime. I didn't want that. I was hurting at the time; I was scared and I didn't want anyone to know of my past or to start digging in places I didn't want brought up. So, I kept my head down while I tried to get my degree in business. Eventually, I had gotten my degree in business so that I could successfully run my own dance studio.

Cruel eyes bore into mine as he gave me a sick, twisted smile. The mayor was a pig. Everyone knew it. And his son was no different. He took up the role as politician very seriously and cheated on his wife of twenty-four years with a young intern.

I hated the way his twisted gaze roamed down my body, and more than anything I hated being tied to a bed where he could easily take advantage. I was unable to move, and I was scared out of my mind. All I wanted was to go back to before Axel and I broke up. I wanted him to take me in his arms and tell me everything was okay. But if anything, it was far from it. And I had a feeling it was only going to get worse.

"Did you know you're pregnant?" The scalpel in his hand shined in the light as he waved it back and forth. His lips curled into a sneer.

My stomach lurched. I closed my eyes and prayed. I prayed someone would find me. He had to be lying. He was just testing me to see if he could get a reaction from me.

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