Page 97 of Love Me Again

“They think she might have made a deal with whoever took her. Her life in exchange for Alaia to be returned home safely.” I sigh, dropping my gaze to the ground; I couldn’t stand the look of despair in her brother’s eyes as the possibility of his sister being killed dawns on him.

“Nah, nah, nah.” He shakes his head vigorously and stands up, his hands on his head. “I refuse to believe that she’s gone. She’s fine, you hear me. SHE’S FINE!” He shouts, breaking down, his shoulders shaking as he sobs uncontrollably. “We can’t lose her too!”

I hear her mother's sobs behind me as she hugs Alaia. “Your sister will come back to us, Samuel. She will. She has too.” She cries, walking over to us. “Pull yourselves together. We have to stay strong for her and pray that she finds her way back home to us. Alaia needs to be fed and bathed. Does Shayla have any more of her milk frozen in the freezer?”

I shake my head sadly. “I don’t think so.”

“Sam, go out and get some formula,” Sara tells her son, who nods, wiping away his tears. “We will not fall apart. Do you understand me?” Sam and I nod, and she gestures with her head for him to go, and he walks to the door. “Ask them what the best one is for three-month-old babies.”

Sam opens the door, and I hear muffled voices. I look back and see Aimee and Josh walk in. Aimee runs over to Alaia and starts to cry when she sees her. “Hi Princess, I'm so glad you’re okay.”

I sigh, closing my eyes. My head was thumping unpleasantly, and Josh squeezes my shoulder, taking a seat beside me. “How are you holding up, bro? Is there anything you need me to do?” He offers, and I shake my head silently.

“I just want her back, man. Why aren’t they calling? What the fuck do they want with her? I’m trying to make sense of all of this in my head, but nothing adds up. It makes no sense. Why would anyone want to hurt Shayla? Is someone trying to hurt me? I don’t understand Josh, help me figure this out, bro. I’m losing my fucking mind.” I cry helplessly, and Josh hugs me.

“We’re going to figure it out, bro. One way or the other, the people responsible will be found.” He assures me, and we pull apart when the door chimes again.

“I’ll get it,” Aimee announces and walk to the door to answer it. “Uh, Cole?” She calls out to me, and I stand up and walk over to the door and see a police officer holding a box in his hands. “Looks like a package.”

I frown and eye the box. I didn’t order anything— unless Shay did. She’s always ordering something for Alaia. “This was just delivered for you, sir.” The officer says and hands me the box before he turns and walks away.

I walk over to the sofa with the box and use the letter opener to rip open the tape. I open it, and my blood runs cold in my veins. I stare at the box unblinking before I stand up and reach inside with trembling fingers and pull the dress out of the box and hold it up. “Oh, my God.”

“Is that...that’s Shayla’s dress,” Aimee states, horrified, and clamps her hand over her mouth. “Is that blood?!”

“Oh, fuck.” Josh mutters, staring at Shayla’s torn and blood-stained dress. I drop the dress like it burnt my fingers, and it falls to the floor at my feet. I stood frozen in my spot, unable to move or make a sound. Josh runs out of the house to probably tell the officers to catch the person that delivered the box. I hear Aimee’s whimpers of despair as I stood there completely and utterly numb. I can hear my heart rate slow drastically and beat deafeningly in my ears. If I didn’t believe it before, I believed it now. Shayla wasn't coming back. They sent me her dress only to confirm my suspicions. I felt my stomach lurch at the thought of Shayla being hurt or worse. I run to the sink in the kitchen and dry heave. I had nothing in my stomach to throw up. I slide down to the floor, panting forcefully. She’s not coming back. It wasn’t until a little while later I heard Shayla’s mother's scream when she saw her daughter's dress.

I couldn’t believe it— I didn’t want to. I didn’t want to accept that my Shayla was gone. She couldn’t be. “Cole.” I blink, and tears fall from my eyes when I slowly lift my eyes to look at Detective Scott and Josh standing in front of me. Josh was crying behind the Detective, and I stare at him. “A body has been discovered matching your wife’s description.”

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