Page 30 of Coming Home

“I’m okay. We’re okay. We are at the penthouse, but I am trying to get Stephen safe, and at the moment we can’t find him. Scarlett is scared for his safety.”

“I have packed mom up, and she has gone to stay at Aunt Jenny's. Let me grab a few things, and I will be over to your place in 30 minutes. You are not doing this alone; I am going to be with you.”

“Thanks, Marco.”

“Anytime, brother.”

I hang up the phone, knowing that support is coming.

I head back to the bedroom and see Scarlett sitting on the edge of the bed. I sit next to her and grab her hand and start caressing her fingers, something I never did before I met her, but the need to nurture her is strong in me. It seems to calm her, and it calms me too.

“Don’t worry, Princess, we are nearly there. We just need to gather more evidence and then we will hand it all over to the police.”

I pull her close to me, and she lets out a breath. I notice that she is shaking, a symptom that tells me it is all getting too much for her.

“It’s late, why don’t I organize some food. Marco is on his way over to help, and we may be waiting a while for Romeo to get back to us on Stephen.”

She nods and follows me out to the kitchen. As I grab a bottle of wine, my phone pings, it is Romeo already.

“Give me an update,” I say, not wanting to waste time on formalities and put him on speaker phone, so Scarlett can hear as well.

“Stephen is not here. Looks like there was a struggle. There are papers everywhere, upturned desks, and streaks of blood in the goods elevator. I am trying to tap into the security cameras now, but it looks like they went out the back way via the loading dock. Whoever took him knew their way around the building.”

“FUCK!” I yell, rubbing my eyes with my hands, not wanting to look Scarlett in her eyes as I hear her gasp in shock.

“My men and I will photograph everything, but we won’t disturb the crime scene. I will report back once we know more.”

I hang up and look at Scarlett. I thought she would look distraught, but I see something else. I see defiance, and my eyes widen taking in this new look. Before I can say anything, the elevator pings and Marco walks in.

“Brother,” he says as he comes, and we do the hug/slap brotherly embrace. He looks at Scarlett and says, “Scarlett, I'm here for you. I'm here for both of you.”

“Thanks, Marco,” Scarlett whispers quietly, still lost in her thoughts.

Marco orders some food from the closest Chinese takeaway place as I pull Scarlett to the couch and settle her in my arms. I’m not sure what she is thinking since Romeo’s phone call, but I feel she is different. She doesn’t look scared or panicked any more. I can feel her anger permeating through her; I feel her body vibrating with strength, her muscles tense like she is ready to pop.

Her eyes are laser-focused, and she cracks her knuckles. My phone rings, grabbing her attention as well, and I look down at it on the counter, shocked to see it is old man Ray. I pick it up on speaker again and wave Marco over to listen.

“What are you doing, old man?” I say between gritted teeth.

“Put my niece on the phone?!” he yells at the top of his lungs, his anger barely contained.

“Uncle Ray, I am here,” Scarlett says, her voice stable and strong. Her continued strength astounds me even now.

“We have enough evidence to put you away for life, old man, for the money laundering scheme and murder, so you better tell us where Stephen is and hand yourself in...” I know I am giving away all our cards, but I want this to end.

Before I can finish, old man Ray laughs, a sinister, crazy laugh that would rival any movie villain.

“Even now you think you have the upper hand, Shaun, but let me tell you that you don’t. You're just as delusional as your father.”

“Scarlett, meet me at the corner of Hanover and Commercial in one hour if you know what’s good for you and Stephen. And come alone.”

Before we can get further information, the phone goes dead. I jump off the sofa and start pacing, feeling even more useless than I did half an hour ago.

“I have to go. I have to meet him.”

“You’re not going,” I bark at her. When I look at her to apologize for my abruptness, I see her eyes staring at me, and if looks could kill I would be six feet under.

“I wasn’t asking for permission, Shaun. I am going to meet him.”

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