Chapter 149

Chapter 149
Skylar

Later that night, when the house was quiet and Adriel was already asleep, I went to take a shower. I was in the closet when he walked in and wrapped his arms around me, kissing my shoulder. “Trying to get frisky, Mr. Rhys?”
“Always, baby girl, always. You smell so good,” he said, his hands closing over my breast.
“Asher,” I said with a tone that he knew.
“Skylar,” he replied with the same tone, which made me smile.
“Go shower and come to bed,” I said, walking into our room and checking on Adriel asleep in the crib.

I wouldn’t be comfortable leaving him in his room until this was finished. After his shower, he came to bed, pulling me into him. I sat up and straddled him, his hands instantly going to my breast. “Cut that out.” I leaned over and kissed him.
“I missed you, love,” he said quietly. “I missed you too. I’m sorry I missed your birthday, Adriel’s birth, our first Christmas as a family,” he said quietly as he caressed my face.

“That’s okay; Christmas and birthdays are always there. You can be here for the next one,” I said with a smile, and he looked at me.
“Really? We can have another one?” he asked, smiling.
“Yes, we can,” I said, and he flipped me over.
“Let’s get started now,” he said, his hands sliding under my top, and I laughed.

The next morning at eight, we had everything prepared. Lana had gotten the camera for Hilda. After breakfast at eight forty, the phone rang, and Hilda answered and put it on speaker.

HILDA: Hello.
SOPHIA: You learn fast. Meet me at the park, and make sure you’re not followed.
HILDA: Okay.

Hilda ended the call, Lana fixed the camera on her, and she left. Chris called the detective to let him know where they were meeting. He said he would have a few of his guys there and would follow Sophia in order to find Hilda’s grandson. They wouldn’t rescue him yet but would have eyes on him at all times. Asher left for work at nine, and everyone else drifted off. Miles and I were in the living room. At ten, Hilda came in and came straight to the living room. Lana came out of Asher’s office and took the camera off of Hilda. “Did she suspect anything?” I asked.

“No, nothing,” she said shakily. Lana connected the camera to a laptop, and we were looking at the recording. We saw Hilda walking through the park when the phone rang, and she answered.

HILDA: Hello. Okay.

She ended the call and walked further into the park. As she turned the corner, Sophia stepped out from behind a tree with a bodyguard.

SOPHIA: Did anyone follow you?
HILDA: No. I asked for a few hours to visit my grandson, who was sick.

Sophia held up the small brown package and handed it to Hilda.

SOPHIA: I don’t need you to get all the security detail, just the main ones. Then I’ll come and get the kid. Have you found out where they are going?
HILDA: No, they haven’t mentioned it. I’m doing what you asked; please return my grandson.
SOPHIA: And what if I return him and you run to the police? Do I look stupid? Do it, and tonight you’ll get your grandson.

HILDA: Fine.
SOPHIA: Now leave.
HILDA: What do you intend to do to Adriel?
SOPHIA: Nothing much. I just need his parents to do something for me.

We watched as Sophia walked away and left Hilda there. I looked at Hilda. “The detective will have people following her. They’ll find your grandson,” I said, and she nodded. Chris came around with a box. When he opened it, it was a huge doll. It looked almost similar to Adriel. “Where’d you get that?” Lana asked.

“I know a few people; besides, money talks,” he said, smirking. Adriel saw it and decided it was for him. He grabbed the box, pulling it onto the floor. He looked at it, then at me, then looked back at the doll and began crying. I have never seen people move so fast in my life. Miles, Lana, Mateo, Chris, Hilda, and even Samuel ran into the house.

They all ran towards him. The thing is, Adriel is a quiet kid. Always sitting quietly, playing with his many toys. Bedtime, bath time, eating—there was no fussing. He rarely, very rarely cries, and when he does, they usually panic because they’ve never really seen him cry for any reason at all.

Asher

When I walked in the house, Adriel was being passed around from Mateo, Miles, Lana, Hilda, and Chris. He was crying, and my wife just stood there looking at them. I walked over to them and took him from Miles.

“Why are you crying?” I asked, looking at him. He stopped for a second, then continued. He looked at me, then at the ground. I saw the doll. I grabbed the doll, and he began screaming. I walked over and handed it to Hilda. “Hide it,” I said, and she nodded. She grabbed the box and took it to another room. I looked at him.

“It’s gone, buddy. See, it’s not here,” I said, rubbing his back. He calmed down enough to look around. When he didn’t see anything, he just rested his little head on my shoulder and stayed quiet.

“Two billionaires, a lawyer, and a big baby, and you didn’t figure out he was scared of the doll?” I asked, looking at them. Miles had the decency to look ashamed. Mateo scratched his head, and Lana had that sheepish look on her face. I looked at my wife, and she smirked at me. After a while, he wanted to be put down. I put him down in front of his toys, and he sat playing. I was about to ask how it went when my phone rang. I saw it was the detective. It was the detective. I answered and put it on speaker.

ASHER: Yes, Detective.
BRYSON: We have eyes on the kid. I’ll send you a picture. Have her confirm that it is her grandson.
ASHER: Sure.

My phone vibrated, and I opened the messages. “Hilda, is this your grandson?” I asked, looking at her. “Yes, Mr. Rhys. That’s Collin.”

ASHER: Yes, it is.
BRYSON: Okay, good. We have a few hours more until then. We will make sure he’s safe. If we take him now, she may become suspicious. Man, I and my men need a way into your compound without being seen.
LANA: I can help with that.
BRYSON: Great, then let’s make sure we all know our roles.