Page 77 of Unconditional

ChapterThirty-Five

THEO

It’s been two days since my piccola was taken.

Two days of absolute torture.

I want to burn the whole world down. I want to interrogate everyone who was in that damn town when she was taken. I want to hit anything and everything.

I have never felt fear or rage like it.

I’m still at the Maxwell’s home—along with everyone else—although I have been out several times, searching. I knew I wouldn’t find anything, but I had to do something.

The police have nothing to go on and they interviewed Melody. She and Dean were in a restaurant at the time and there are several eyewitnesses, so they have been ruled out. They never questioned whether she paid someone else to do it, so I asked Mel myself. She laughed and called me crazy. I reminded her of the things she has done, which soon shut her up.

Do I think she is responsible?

I’m not sure. It’s too much of a coincidence for her not to be involved, especially after the article that was released. I’ve been told by Tessa that the showground has been swamped with reporters wanting a story on my relationship with Thalia. The vultures don’t know the location of the Maxwell’s house, so we haven’t been swarmed by them there. I’m grateful for that. We don’t need to deal with that along with everything else.

They don’t know Thalia is missing. I thought Mel would have announced it by now just to incite more interest. But because of who Thalia is, the police have insisted on keeping it quiet, meaning Mel and Dean have had to sign some sort of NDA which doesn’t allow them to speak out to the press.

A hand squeezes my arm rousing me from my thoughts. I glance over to see Elena, her eyes red and glazed, and a small smile curving her lips. My chest tightens almost painfully. I know exactly how Elena feels, how my piccola’s family feels. Because I feel it too. We all feel helpless, heartbroken.

Taking her hand, I wrap my arms around her. She sobs against my chest breaking me further. “I can’t lose my baby,” she chokes out.

Christian looks over, as does Evan. The latter sneers at me, and I know he wants to say something, but he keeps quiet. It’s no secret he doesn’t like me, but he knows there are more important things happening right now. His concern for his sister outweighs his hatred of me. Christian strides over. He bends, taking his wife’s hands and pulling her into him before peppering kisses all over her tear-streaked face.

“Baby, we will get her back. I promise you,” he rasps in her ear, but I hear the catch in his voice. He’s barely holding it together himself but is trying to be strong for his family.

I glance over at my parents. They smile softly at me. They have been a godsend and I’m so happy they’re here for me. Aside from Thalia, making up with my father has been the best thing to happen to me. I couldn’t have gotten through this last year without them.

My head snaps up when footsteps sound and a tired-looking Aria and Francois enter. They are comforting each other—although I thought that should have been a job for her boyfriend. He seems to have disappeared. Is he visiting Greg in the hospital?

“Any news?” Aria asks, her voice quiet.

“Not yet,” Evan answers, running a hand through his hair. He looks just as tired. We all are. No one has slept in nearly two days. His girlfriend wraps her arms around him. He squeezes his eyes shut and shudders. I look away giving them a private moment.

I think of my piccola. How scared she must be. I’ve only just gotten her back and now some fucker thinks they can take her from me. I shoot off the couch feeling eyes on me at my sudden movement, but I don’t care. I can’t sit here any longer. Racing out of the room, I fish my car keys out of my pocket just as I hear my name being called. Ignoring it, I rush out of the house and into my rental vehicle.

Turning the ignition, I peel down the driveway only to hit the brakes when I see a figure with dark hair stumbling towards the gates. My heart jump-starts in my chest. I would know her anywhere. I can feel her. Feel the invisible string between us, pulling me towards her. Jumping out of the car, I run as fast as I can to where she is standing. My heart breaks in my chest as I watch her try to work the keypad. She looks disorientated and drunk as she sways. She pushes a button and opens her mouth. But before she can speak, I am calling her name.

“Thalia!”

Her head snaps up at my voice, then she bursts into tears, falling to the floor in a heap. I hit the buttons I know will open the damn gates and race to her. Falling beside her, I pull her into my lap. She cries as I smother her tangled hair and wet face with kisses. “Baby? Piccola?” I whisper, my voice a broken sob. I feel my eyes leaking with tears. This girl. My heart. My life. My whole damn world. She’s here. In my lap. I will cry a thousand times over in front of the whole world if it means having her here in front of me now. “Thalia, look at me, baby. Please look at me. I need to see that you’re real. That you’re okay,” I plead.

She shuffles, then looks up at me. Her big grey eyes are wet making them shine even more. I search her face, looking for any sign that she’s hurt and find none. Gently, I push her back, my eyes tracing over every part of her that isn’t covered in clothing to look for any sign of injury. When I find her beautiful smooth skin clear, I ask the question that kills me. Although I’m eager to know that my girl hasn’t been hurt in any way, I don’t know if I’m ready to hear it if she has been. But this isn’t about me, and I need to know. “Did anyone touch you?”

She stares at me, her eyes blinking, then shakes her head. I release a breath I didn’t realize I was holding and crush her to me, never wanting to let her go ever again. If I could chain her to my side, I would. I rock us slowly, trying to soothe her, and me for that matter. I don’t know how long we sit like that, but we’re snapped out of our bubble by shouting voices.

Turning, I find the whole Maxwell family, plus my parents and Evan’s girlfriend running towards us. I growl. I know she’s about to be ripped away from me and I can’t bear the thought. I hold her tighter. Her head pops up, looking to her family and the sobs that had stopped start again.

Bodies drop down beside us, whose I’m not sure. All I care about in this moment is that my piccola is in my arms. A male hand wraps around her bicep and I want to rip it away from her.

“Sweetheart, princess. Jesus, are you okay?” Christian tries to pull her from my hold, but I don’t let him. He scowls at me. “Give me my daughter, Theo. I need to know she is okay.” He’s trying not to snap at me, but I can tell he’s close. Elena, who is on the other side of me, presses kisses all over her head, before looking at me.

“Come on, let’s get back to the house,” Thalia’s mama says. I nod, then rise along with everyone else. But I don’t release my baby; no, I keep her safe in my arms. “Bambina,” Elena rasps softly.

Thalia smiles as she looks at her mother and it’s the best thing I have ever seen in my life. “Mama,” her voice cracks and Elena bursts out in tears.

---