Page 74 of Twisted Love

“What’s wrong?” I ask, my voice sharp.

Her eyes dart toward the conservatory and back to me. “It’s Mrs. Jackson,” she says, hesitating. “Charles Belafonte came and took her away.”

“Charles?” I thunder, disbelief giving way to red-hot fury. “What the hell was he doing here?”

“I don’t know,” Nora says quickly, her words tumbling out. “He just showed up, and said he needed to see her. I wanted to call the police, but Mrs. Jackson said she would take care of it. They seemed to be on good terms. She told me it was fine, but something felt off.” She pauses, her brow furrowing. “She didn’t say anything, but she looked at me as she was trying to speak to me with her eyes before they drove off.”

My stomach twists. Speak with her eyes? I knew then that Raven wouldn’t have left willingly with him, not like this. Not when we have started to fall in love with each other again. My mind races, piecing together the fragments of what I know about Charles, about his obsessive nature. Panic grips me, and without another word, I bolt upstairs, taking the steps two at a time.

“What can I do to help, Mr. Jackson?” Nora calls after me, but I can’t stop. I need answers.

I burst into her bedroom, my eyes scanning the space for anything—anything—that might explain what has happened. The room is still. Too still. My gaze lands on the bathroom door, slightly ajar. My chest tightens as I step inside.

That’s when I see it.

The test.

It’s perched on the counter, a single object that feels like it’s sucking all the air out of the room. My heart pounds as I step closer, picking it up with trembling hands. The little 3+ sign stares back at me, its meaning unmistakable. I stare at it with shock.

The indicator says 3 +.

She’s pregnant. She’s three weeks plus.

A rush of emotions hits me all at once. Shock. Joy. Fear. My legs feel unsteady. She’s carrying my child. Our child.

But the joy is quickly overtaken by a wave of fear like I’ve never known. It surges through me like a fucking current. Charles has taken her. My wife and our baby—my family—are in danger. A chill creeps up my spine, and I know I can’t waste another second.

I stumble out of the bathroom. My thoughts are a chaotic blur as I race back down the stairs. Nora is still standing in the foyer, her worry evident as she watches me.

“Did they say where they were going?” I demand, my voice hoarse.

“No,” she replies, shaking her head. “They just left.”

“Damn it,” I mutter, yanking the front door open. “I’ll find her.”

My hands shake as I dial Annabelle’s number on the way to the car. She picks up after a few rings, her voice surprised and cautious. “Earl? Nice to hear from you. After the gala, I never thought I would again.”

I cut straight to the point. “Annabelle,” I say, my voice sharp. “Are you still in town? Do you know where Charles is right at this moment?”

There is a stunned pause, and then she speaks, her tone guarded. “I think so. Why? What’s happening?”

“Just answer the question,” I snap, starting the engine. “Is he staying anywhere nearby? Did he say anything to you?”

“No. I—I don’t know,” she stammers. “Earl, what the hell is going on?”

I become sick with worry and I know then that this is going to end very badly. “I need to know where he could have gone, Annabelle,” I say, barely managing to keep myself from yelling at her. “He went to the house and kidnapped Raven, Annabelle. He kidnapped her. She’s nowhere to be found, and her phone is switched off.”

For a moment there’s a silence on her end. I can almost hear her brain scrambling to process what I’ve just said. “Charles... he wouldn’t...” Her voice falters before she groans, “That idiot. That absolute moron.”

I clench my teeth, gripping the steering wheel tighter as my car zips through the streetlights. “Annabelle, listen to me. I need you to focus. Think. Where would he take her?”

“Earl, please,” she pleads, her voice shaking. “No matter how stupid he is, he wouldn’t hurt her. He’s not?—”

“Annabelle!” I bark, cutting her off impatiently. “I don’t care what you think Charles’s capable of. He’s already crossed the line by taking her. Now focus. Where could he have gone?”

Her breath catches, and I hear the faint sound of her pacing. “I—he... it could be anywhere. He could take her anywhere. He's allowed to take her anywhere, right …” She trails off, muttering something I can’t make out.

“Annabelle!” I snap again, losing all patience now. “He’ll need somewhere secluded. Somewhere unexpected. Think.”

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