Page 95 of Love Me Again

“COLEE!”

I jump awake and sit upright, panting into the darkness. I reach over and turn the night lamp on, blinking till my eyes adjust to the light. I look back when I feel a warm hand on my shoulder and close my eyes, biting my lip.

“You okay, baby?” I heave a sigh and turn my head to look at my beautiful wife blinking up at me sleepily. I pull her into my arms and hug her tight.

I sigh, closing my eyes while I inhale her scent. “Thank god. I just had a horrendous nightmare that you and Alaia were kidnapped, and you were crying, pleading for me to save you.” I exhale, and Shayla pulls back a little, looking at me with those gorgeous green eyes of hers.

“It was just a dream, baby,” Shayla assures me, her hand stroking my face lovingly. “I’m right here, and look—our daughter is asleep in her bed.” She says, looking over at Alaia, who was indeed peacefully asleep in her crib beside her. I take her face into my hands and kiss her again and again.

“Thank God. I was so scared, baby. I thought I lost you both.” I whisper, pulling back to look into her eyes, and she smiles at me affectionately.

“I’m going to be with you forever, baby. I’m locked away in your heart, remember?” She declares, rubbing my jaw with her soft fingers, and I close my eyes, leaning into her touch.

“Of course you are. Please don’t ever leave me, baby.” I beg, looking into her beautiful face, and she grins, kissing me softly.

“I’ll be with you for as long as you love me, honey.” I smile and brush my nose over hers softly.

“Good, because I’m going to love you forever.” Shayla laughs and curls her fingers around my neck, and draws my lips to hers.

“Shayla.” I jump awake and look around the empty living room and sigh, closing my eyes when that ache in my chest returns full throttle. It was just another dream; they’re not here. I’ve been having the same reoccurring nightmare for days. I keep seeing Shayla crying while holding Alaia and calling out for me to save her. I look over at the clock on my phone, and it’s showing 6:25 am. It’s been four days, and still no word on their whereabouts. The police have no leads and no clue why someone would kidnap Shayla and Alaia and have not asked for money yet. I found Blake, and I went over there with Josh and Sam the night before. I know the police said not to, but I couldn’t just sit around anymore. It was driving me crazy. I didn’t even care if I got arrested.

As soon as his housekeeper had opened the door, we all stormed in. “Where’s Blake?” I barked at her, and she jumps back, terrified, and points down the corridor.

“In his study.” She replied in a thick foreign accent. We stormed over to where she was pointing, opening every door till I found the one I was looking for. I barge in with Sam and Josh hot on my tail. Blake turns and looks at me first, then Josh and Sam with a frown. He hangs up the phone as I stride over to him.

“Where is she?!” I bark, grabbing him by the collar of his shirt. “Where’s my wife?!”

Blake looks at me, his scowl deepening. “Cole, I don’t know. I honestly don’t. I haven’t seen or spoken to Shayla since Christmas when I saw her at the mall.” He explains, and I search his face. “Why would I kidnap your wife and baby. I have my own daughter to think about.”

“You’re lying!” I hiss through clenched teeth, and he sighs, closing his eyes. “I saw the way you look at her. You pretended to be her friend so that you could get close to her, didn’t you? Huh, didn’t you?!”

“Where the fuck is my sister, you little prick!” Sam bellows, fighting in Josh’s hold to get to Blake, who opens his eyes and looks at me.

“Cole, I get your upset, and you're right; I was attracted to Shayla initially, and did I hope we could have been more. Yes, I did entertain the thought for a minute or two, but she’s in love with you man, she made that clear to me from the beginning. Why the fuck would I waste my time kidnapping a girl who is in love with another man and will never love me. I have a daughter myself. I’m all she has. I would never do that to her; she’s my whole world.” Blake explains, and when my hold loosens on his shirt, he pushes me off him. “The police are already investigating me, and I’m cooperating and ready to do whatever it takes to help them find Shay and your baby. I have nothing to hide. I didn’t kidnap them, I swear.” He adds earnestly, and I back away from him. If it wasn’t Blake, then who the fuck has them?

“If it wasn’t this dickhead, who the fuck was it then?” Sam snaps agitated as he paces back and forth. “Where the fuck are they, man.” He groans, rubbing his head irately.

“Cole, I care about Shayla, she’s an amazing person, and if there is anything at all I can do to help, all you have to do is ask.” He offers as I stare at the ground numbly.

“I don’t understand.” I utter, shaking my head, my eyes drowned in tears. “I just want them back.”

Blake nods and puts his hand on my shoulder. “I’m so sorry, truly I am. Shayla is the last person to deserve this. I’m going to do whatever I can to help you find them.” Blake says, and I lift my gaze to look at him.

“I appreciate it, thank you,” I reply, and we shake hands before I turn and walk out of his office toward the front door. I stop when I see a little girl in the housekeeper's arms in the living room as I pass by. My heart clenches painfully, and I bite back the sob and rush out of his house.

I rub my hands tiredly over my face and stare up at the plain white ceiling. Four days—

that's all it’s been, but to me, it feels like four years. This house is too quiet without them, the silence is deafening, and I feel like I’m drowning slowly. My phone suddenly rings, and I jump and snatch it off the coffee table—an unknown number. I press the green button and answer it hurriedly, my heart pounding. “Hello?”

“Good Morning Mr Hoult. I’m calling from the Chatham police station.” My heart rate accelerates. Oh, God. “We need you to come down to the station immediately. We found a baby, and we believe it may be your daughter.” The man on the other end says, and I feel a flood of relief wash over me.

“Are you sure?” I ask, my voice barely an octave over a whisper.

“Yes, sir, there's a note here to call you. If you could make your way down to the station, and you can identify the baby.”

I stand up and nod, “Oh my God, I’ll be right there.” I grab my keys and run out the door. I stop when I see photographers at the gate. They start shouting and snapping photos as I rush over to my car.

“Move!” I shout as I try to drive out of my gate. The police officers guarding the house rush over and push the photographers away from my car. “Fucking vultures.” The news of Shayla and Alaia’s disappearance was all over the media, an urgent appeal with photos to anyone who might have seen or have any information on their whereabouts to get in touch with the police.

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