Page 75 of Until the Day You're Mine

Rian’s face is burning. He is scared and looks around before accepting the piece of paper.

“Thank you, Mr. Duncan,” he mutters as his head hangs low while he is trying to get a grip on his emotions.

They sit quietly for a long moment, the sounds of life flowing as usual around them. The park becomes busier with people getting on with typical weekend activities.

Bran is trying to make his escape again, eyeing a bird that is pecking something in the grass not too far from them. They both chuckle at the little boy, who is tirelessly reaching for things with great curiosity.

After a few unsuccessful attempts to distract Bran from his pursuits, Rian declares. “I think this guy is ready to head home. See you again next week, Mr. Duncan?”

Mr. Duncan appears to be holding something back.

He clasps Rian’s shoulder and warmly says, “Coco and I will be waiting.” He smiles and blows a kiss in Bran’s direction, then unable to resist reaches out to tickle his chubby chin. “Have a great day, you two.”

* * *

Rian leavesthe park feeling progressively more uncomfortable as he nears his home. The conversation with Mr. Duncan replays in his mind, suddenly giving him a deep sense of unease.

The intent way the elderly man had listened to Stephanie’s story, and his alarmed look once Rian was done talking, were enough to jolt him into action.

He doesn’t seem to have a choice, but to stop by Stephanie’s house and check on her.

Rian drops Bran home with Margarita and takes the short trip to the home of his friend.

He’s already disturbed the peace in that household once, and maybe showing up again, so soon, would give Colton the impression Stephanie had more support than he may have imagined. Hopefully, this would deter him from acting out on his aggression. Hopefully, Rian’s appearance today would convince Stephanie he was worried enough about her to invade her personal space again, and what was going on between her and Colton didn’t seem like a minor tiff between spouses.

He pulls up to the house, immediately going into panic mode as both the front door and the garage are left wide open. This time, he runs up the stairs with greater concern about what he might be walking into.

His heart lurches at the sight he is confronted with. Stephanie is at the bottom of the stairs in a quickly growing puddle of blood. Rian reaches her and as he is pulling out his phone to call 911, she stirs ever so lightly and murmurs something. Rian leans closer, and with a great effort, she whispers again, “He took Toby. He took my baby…”

Her eyelids flutter and close, her body visibly slacks as she loses consciousness.

“Oh my God! Stephanie! Please, Steph, stay with me!” Rian frantically calls her name, but it’s no use.

When the dispatcher picks up the call, Rian pleads for help, desperately trying to remain in control of his faculties.

“Describe everything you see to me and please remain calm. Help is on the way,” the dispatcher instructs with a steady voice.

Rian is losing his shit. “I don’t know what the fuck I’m supposed to be looking for! There is so much blood!” He’s hyperventilating, leaning over Stephanie, not sure if he’s meant to touch her at all.

“Can you identify where the bleeding is coming from?” The dispatcher asks.

Rian examines Stephanie as best as he can. “I think the wound is at the back of her head. I’m too scared to move her. There is so much fucking blood. Oh, God! Fuck!”

“Sir. Sir! You need to listen to me! Find towels or a blanket, anything that could help stop the bleeding.”

“What if I hurt her? I don’t know how to do this, what if I––”

The dispatcher cuts him off. Their voice is stern, but not unkind. “I will guide you through the process. Please, I need you to focus. First, find towels.”

Rian stumbles to his feet and quickly runs to the first-floor vanity, where he knows there would be spare towels in one of the cabinets beneath the sink. He rolls them and as instructed, gently places them near the nape of Stephanie’s neck where the wound is.

The dispatcher stays with him on the line until the ambulance arrives.

* * *

The rideto the hospital is horrible. Stephanie has lost a lot of blood and they fear she might not make it. He looks at her and worries about Toby.

Where is that little boy?

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