Chapter 47

Roger left the bar and drove much to fast to his house across town. He pulled up behind Sarah's car in the driveway. He quickly got out of the vehicle and went to his front door. Nothing looked out of place and the door was locked with the handle and the deadbolt. He unlocked the door and turned the light on to the livingroom. It was messy, as if she hadn't picked up after the kids yet. He called out, not caring if the kids got woke up, hoping that George was bluffing. Silence was the only answer to his yells. He went up the stairs and found the kids' room empty and their bedroom empty. There he could see some clothes and supplies for the twins missing. He only noticed it because they had recently restocked everything so a noticeable lack of their clothes and pull ups stood out to him.

"Oh, God." He whispered frantically his hands going to his hair, starting to feel the true signs of panic coming into his blood.

It wasn't like he could call the cops and tell them. They'd call him crazy. Josiah and Rossalyn would want to know why George suddenly kidnapped Roger's family for seemingly no reason and to give them the best chance of getting them back, he'd have to confess. Or he could do what he was told to do and, providing George kept his word, have them home within a couple days. He was torn because he didn't want to be part of George's plan to hold Rossalyn hostage, but at the same time, he didn't want his family in George's clutches for the foreseeable future. First and foremost, he needed to protect his wife and children. It wasn't his job to protect his sister anymore, and even presented the choice, he'd always choose Sarah and the kids first.

Roger spent the next several hours trying to come up with a way to get Rossalyn alone. He didn't know what to do to make that happen. She wouldn't believe he wanted to meet up with her for a drink, being pregnant. She wouldn't believe he wanted to take her baby shopping, considering she has the means to have literally anything she could want for the baby with little more than a word to Josiah. The man gave her any and everything she ever wanted or needed mostly before the words were completely out of her mouth. She was ridiculiously spoiled by him, not that that was a bad thing all things considered. If he backed her into a corner marrying a mob boss, at least he was a good man for her.

But he might be able to get her to meet up with him if he told her that Sarah had taken the kids and left him. Hell, that isn't so far from the truth that she wouldn't buy it. It would even explain why he was so panicky that he was positive that he wouldn't be able to hide from her. Though they had their issues, she had an eerily accurate read of his emotions most of the time. People talk about the bond of twins as if it was theoretical, though their experiences growing up proved all he needed to know it was a real thing.

He might be able to get her to meet up with him somewhere if for no reason than she'd never been able to stand his pain even if she was furious with him. His phone rang, making him jump nearly out of his skin. He yanked his phone from his pocket and almost groaned when he seen his sister's contact on his phone.

"Hello?" His voice was wary and scratchy from having such an emotional night.

"Are you okay Rog?" Rossalyn asked, sounding worried.

"How do you know something is wrong?" Roger asked, almost angry that she rushed him into a plan that he'd barely even had time to think of.

"I woke up and knew I needed to check on you. You know how things are, Rog. Stop avoiding the question." Rossalyn demanded, sounding frustrated. "Tell me what has happened."

"Sarah left with the kids." Roger said and he didn't have to fake the emotion in his voice for her benefit. Guilt and fear laced his voice thickly.

"What? When?" Rossalyn's voice was completely shocked at the revelation.

"I got home from work last night and found them gone. She didn't pack much of their stuff, enough for a few days. But she's not answering calls." Roger said.

"Are you sure she left willingly?" Rossalyn asked, almost making Roger panic at the thought of her following that track too far.

"I think she did. We've had a few fights lately. Plus I messed up Ross. I made her promise not to tell you guys in case you guys forced me back in that God foresaken place. It wasn't really bad, but Sarah found out and it got bad." Roger admitted, which wasn't actually a lie. Sarah had found out about him betting again, though he'd tried to hide that fact.

"Roger!" Rossalyn's angry voice said everything in just his name and Roger wanted to throw his phone in frustration.

"I know! I messed up Rossalyn. I went to the casino and she caught me. I was stressed and shit happens. But aren't I being punished enough right now? Do I really need to hear your lecture right now?" Roger demanded, implying he was fixing to hang the phone up but that was far from the case.

"You're right. That all can wait. What do you need?" Rossalyn's long sigh followed her words but her tone was much more gentle.

"I don't know Ross. I think I just need to be alone with this. I need to figure out a way to get her back. But I'm scared it might be the last chance." Roger said, hoping she'd counter with a demand that they meet up somewhere. He wasn't disappointed.

"Come here for breakfast. You can stay here for a day or two where you're not alone. You don't do well obsessing over things. You know that." Rossalyn said firmly.

"I really don't want to go there Ross. Plus I haven't been able to get any sleep since I got home. Can we meet up for lunch so maybe I can get a little sleep before?" Roger asked.

"Josiah will be busy but I should be able to meet up with you around one. Can we go to our favorite spot?" Rossalyn asked, brightening at the thought of some of her favorite food.

"Yeah, absolutely. Thank you sis." It took everything in him to lend some relief to his voice instead of breakdown and confess all to her.

"I'll see you later. Try to get some sleep." Rossalyn said then disconnected the call.

Roger confirmed the call was disconnected before he let the tears he had been holding back fall. The last few hours had been by far the worst of his life. Fear for his wife and kids was so strong that he almost couldn't breathe around it. But he knew that he had to make the call to tell Jake when to be in place and where at. He scrolled through his contacts and thumbed up Jake's contact. He texted an address and time to him, unable to trust his voice in a phone call. He just hoped that once everything was said and done he'd be able to have his family again.