Page 53 of Fake Married to the Grumps

“What’s going on?” My grandfather chirps in and exchanges confused looks with George, who’s also staring at Julia sternly.

The other guests around the garden start whispering in hushed tones, and it gains the attention of many others.

Tom and Robyn are staring my way too, as Julia keeps struggling with her frantic words.

“Joe took Nelly, Ethan. I told him I wanted no part of this. I wouldn’t help him hurt anyone, so he acted on his own. He’ll call soon and ask for a ransom.”

“Where did he take her?” I growl, my entire body stiffening with the build of my anger. “If you know where, then you’ve got to tell me.”

“Ethan, you can’t go there on your own. It’s too dangerous,” Tom stops me, and I realize then that he joined us and has heard every word Julia said.

“I can’t let him hurt her, Tom. This is all my fault … I shouldn’t have let her go. I shouldn’t have …” The thick lump in my throatstops me from saying anything else. I can’t think properly as intense fear grips and tightens my heart.

The only thought pounding through my mind is finding Nelly.

All night I’ve tried to talk to her and say how I’ve missed her, but each time she’s close and I stare into her eyes, I freeze and forget all the words I have lined up in my head.

Tom’s eyes land on mine as he continues. “Still, we should call the cops and …”

“Tell me where she is, Julia,” I say through gritted teeth, facing her with the full blast of my growing anger. “If he hurts her, I’ll …”

“Easy, son,” George speaks in a collected tone, and he steps between me and Julia to keep me from advancing any further.

Julia keeps murmuring her apology while keeping her chin low, but her tears don’t move me. Nelly’s the only person on my mind. Losing her would mean the end for me.

How did I not realize it until now?

I’ve been so focused on protecting my heart, I failed to realize she’s my heart.

Now I might never see her again.

Fear grips my insides and twists until I recoil from the ache. It’s a relentless pounding in my heart and temples. It suffocates me, pressing down on my chest till it’s impossible to breathe.

A frustrated growl follows as I feel my eyes sting.

“We can get to Joe in time and find out what he wants while the cops try to catch up. I’ll go to the station in person.”

“I’ll go with you,” Tom adds, and my grandfather gives me a soft nod of encouragement.

“Julia will take you to where Joe is holding Nelly,” George says, and Julia only nods before wiping her cheeks with both hands.

“I’ll go too,” Robyn volunteers. "I've got tons of experience dealing with people like Joe. Tom knows that really well."

“Good,” I say, then motion for Julia to lead the way to the parking lot. “We’ll use my car.”

I race down the road at full speed, not caring for anything else but the woman I’ve fallen in love with.I hope I can get to her before Joe tries anything.

And I hope she’ll forgive me. Even though it took me this long to admit to myself that I love her.

***

Robyn texts the address to Tom while we’re parked outside of the warehouse.

The night’s full of stars today, and there’s a chill in the air that leaves an unsettling feeling in the pit of my stomach.I never would have expected Storms to go this far.

Plotting to hurt Nelly or make me pay ransom for her is a criminal offense.He will pay for this and I will make sure of it.My right-hand forms a tight fist on my thigh, and I struggle to contain my boiling rage.

“I’ll go in alone. You two stay here and wait for the cops to arrive, got it?”

---