CHAPTER FIFTY ONE

CHAPTER FIFTY ONE
"So let me get this straight—you ran into this guy at a coffee shop and somehow liked him. Then you ran into him again at the park where he was in a fist fight, and you emptied ice cream on him. And now you're telling me you kissed him?"

Alexandra walked out of the cookie store, her phone pressed to her ear as she laughed at what Alicia was saying. The afternoon sun was warm on her skin as she strolled toward her car, a small bag of cookies swinging from her free hand.

"Yes, Alex!" Alicia's squeal was so loud and happy that Alexandra had to move the phone away from her ear with a laugh. "I kissed him! Well, technically he kissed me, but I asked if I could and—"

"Okay, okay, I get it." Alexandra's smile was genuine, warm. It felt good to focus on something light, something happy. "So who is this mysterious guy? And how come you never said anything about him to me before now?"

She reached her car and fumbled with her keys, balancing the phone and the cookie bag.

"His name is Chris. Chris Rhodes." Alicia's voice took on a dreamy quality that made Alexandra smile wider. "And I'm sorry I didn't mention him sooner. I didn't know I'd run into him again after the coffee shop. It kind of slipped my mind until—well, until the ice cream incident happened. Forgive me, sweet cheeks?"

Alexandra could picture her pouting. "That's okay, Ali. I forgive you." She settled into the driver's seat, setting the cookies on the passenger side. "But I need to know—does he like you too? As much as you clearly sound smitten by him? And what does he do for a living?"

"Big sister mode activated," Alicia teased, and Alexandra could hear the grin in her voice. "I don't know if he likes me the same way yet, but I'll find out soon. He seems really comfortable with me, though. And when I asked if he missed me, he didn't even hesitate to say yes. So I guess that's progress, right?"

"That's definitely progress," Alexandra confirmed.

"And—" Alicia paused for just a heartbeat, "—he works for Damon Hartley. From what little he's told me about his job."

Alexandra's hand froze on the ignition key. Her smile faded. "You're not serious."

"I am, Alex." Alicia's voice turned softer, more careful. "But don't worry. I'm not saying anything you've told me to him. I would never betray your trust like that."

Alexandra shut her eyes, releasing a breath she didn't know she'd been holding. Her chest felt tight. "Alright," she managed to say, her voice strained. "Just—be careful, Ali. Please."

"I will. I promise."

An incoming beep interrupted them, indicating another call. Alexandra pulled the phone away from her ear to see Adrian's name flashing on the screen.

"Alicia, I need to go. Adrian's calling, and it might be important."

"Okay, no problem. Let's talk more tonight, yeah? Bye, sweet cheeks."

"Bye."

Alexandra switched to Adrian's call immediately. "Hey, Adrian, what's—"

"Alex, where are you?" His voice was urgent, strained in a way that made every muscle in her body go rigid.

Something was wrong. Terribly wrong.

Alexandra leaned forward, checking her surroundings through her windshield to see if anything unusual was happening nearby. Nothing. Just people walking, cars passing. Normal afternoon activity.

"I'm at the cookie store," she answered, her hand already moving to turn the ignition. "I came to grab some cookies for James and Margaret. I'm heading back now. Why? What's wrong?"

Silence stretched on the other end. An uncomfortable, heavy silence that made her heart start pounding.

"Adrian?" Her voice came out low, fear already crawling up her spine like ice. "Adrian, answer me."

"Alex, I need you to calm down—"

"What's wrong? Just tell me!" Her voice rose despite her attempt to stay controlled.

"James was taken." Adrian's words came out rushed, like he was trying to get them out before he lost his nerve. "From school today. Margaret is unconscious—she's in the hospital. Dad is here with me. Tisha called us because she couldn't reach you."

The air in the car became suffocating. Alexandra's hands went numb, her fingers slipping on the steering wheel. Her breath came out in short, sharp gasps. Tears blurred her vision before she even registered that she was crying.

"What hospital?" The words came out as a whisper-yell, strangled and desperate.

༺༺♡♡༻༻

Adrian sat in the hospital lobby, his leg bouncing with nervous energy as he waited for the doctor to give them news about Margaret's condition.

Tisha paced back and forth near the entrance, her usually stoic expression cracked with visible distress. Thomas stood by the window, his phone pressed to his ear, making what seemed like his twentieth call since arriving.

There were no traces. No hints. No leads.

Tisha had told them everything she'd witnessed. She'd been waiting by the car when she heard screams and gunshots. By the time she'd reached the scene, Margaret was unconscious on the ground and James was gone. Whoever took him had vanished into the chaos, using the panic as cover.

No clues. No witnesses willing to come forward. Nothing.

Thomas had immediately called in favors—people he knew in private security, in law enforcement, in places Adrian didn't want to think about. He'd even contacted the police, though Adrian suspected his father had more faith in his underground connections than in official channels.

Adrian had just gotten off the phone with Alexandra. His stomach churned knowing she was on her way, knowing what state she'd be in.

How would she handle this? How would she cope with knowing her son was out there somewhere with God-knows-who, possibly hurt, possibly scared, possibly—

No. He couldn't think like that.

"Adrian! Adrian!"

Alexandra's voice cut through his spiraling thoughts. He shot up from his seat and turned toward the entrance.

She was running—sprinting—into the hospital. Her body was covered in sweat, her hair disheveled like she'd been pulling at it. Her eyes were red and puffy, tears still streaming down her face. Her hands shook violently as she reached him.

"Where is James?" The words tumbled out desperately. "What happened to Margaret? Tell me you were joking. Please, Adrian, tell me this is some kind of sick joke—"

Her voice broke completely.

Adrian grabbed her shoulders gently and pulled her into his chest. Alexandra collapsed against him, her sobs coming in long, breathless waves. Her fists gripped his shirt with trembling hands, holding on like he was the only thing keeping her upright.