by Jenna Gunn
A wash of sadness crosses her pretty gray eyes. She avoids looking at me as she busies herself with the ice cream lid. “I’m sure I’ll find my balance.”
I accept the spoon she hands me, my heart feeling as heavy as an armored truck. “I need to tell you something.”
Her hand stops, the scoop hovers over the ice cream container. She watches me, her eyes wary. She finally says, “I’m listening.”
“Every time I leave I feel like there’s a chance I’ll come home and you’ll be gone with Bruno.”
The space between us falls silent.
She curls her lips inward for a second before she draws a big breath.
When she raises her eyes toward me, they practically slice me open. “You think I’d do that to you?”
I shove my hands in my pockets and rock back on my heels. “I do. It’s not that different than before.” Not sure why I confessed that except I want her to understand me.
The pulse in her neck ticks up. Color rises in her cheeks. Her words are clipped, “No, Bishop. This is very different. If you think I would take your child and leave without telling you, then you must not think very much of me.”
My scowl drops into place. Of course she takes it to the extreme. “Mia.”
She flips her hair over her shoulder. “Don’t Mia me.”
I tilt my head, “I think it’s fair we tell each other how we’re feeling.”
She sets the scoop aside, slowly puts the lid back on the ice cream. “Well, let me tell you how I feel right now… I feel like I need some space.”
Chapter Twenty-Three
The screen door snaps shut behind me as I charge headlong onto the porch. My breath hitches, my chest is squeezed so tight I can barely drag air in.
Knowing Bishop thinks I’m the kind of person who could just pick up his child and walk away again is crushing. It tore me wide open, left little pieces of me lying all over the kitchen floor.
It’s irrational, I know. I’m starting to lose my sanity, I’m certain.
The darkness envelopes me as I walk away from the house, down the hill toward the big five car garage.
Reaching for some kind of peace, I draw a few big breaths. It hurts. I hear his words over and over in my head—every time like daggers piercing into my flesh.
I deserve his anger—but I want him to love me and trust me.
I came to Lynn’s Cove to bring Bruno to him. Even if I didn’t need his help, I would have come. The longer I stayed away, the more I felt it was wrong. But the need for a place and a job brought it all to a head.
My heart wanted to mend what I could between us, even if it wasn’t a future together as a couple, but it was for us and for our son.
To think he believes I’ll disappear…
But he’s hurting and angry. When he saw me with Franco at the beach gym, I saw his pain, and ire, and distrust. It was as plain as big red graffiti on a pristine white brick wall.
I fucked up. But I can’t take it back.
Now I have no idea what to do to fix this…except maybe figuring out who framed him would give us some kind of starting point.
Maybe Christian’s friend will give us the help we need to uncover the tracks.
I wrap my arms around myself against the cooling night air, wishing I brought a sweater.
The Archer compound is quiet and dark—unusually dark. The motion-detecting night light over the garage door is out of order.
Everyone must be tucked in for the evening. I’m relieved that I won’t have to explain anything to anyone or talk to anyone. Bishop won’t follow me because Bruno is sleeping, so he’ll stay in the apartment.
I follow the sidewalk, aiming toward the fence along the property. There’s a bench there that overlooks the ocean. It’s a place I like to sit when the sun is setting. Tonight it will give me the perfect place to be alone.
The sound of frogs and crickets welcome me as I walk beneath the thick trees.
Sinking onto the bench, I give into the weight of everything.
I lose myself in thought until something shiny on the ground catches my eye, the glimmer of it defying the darkness of the night.
Was that there a few seconds ago?
I kneel down and reach for the small metal object. It’s a silver ring with a tiny red ribbon tied on it. The silver is in the shape of a feather, bent perfectly to wrap around your finger. I recognize it immediately. I had one just like it, but it disappeared when I was in Europe. I pick it up. As I stand back up I gasp. There’s a man standing in the dark shadow directly in front of me.
I bump into the bench as I try to back away.
The deep voice of a man sends cold fear lancing through me. “I thought you’d come.”
“Franco?”
“But of course, Bella, it’s me.”
Nothing makes sense. Bella? Why is he calling me beautiful?
I fumble for the metal arm of the bench as I try to steady my shaking legs. “What in the world? You scared the life out of me. Why are you here?”
“I’m here for you.”
“The ring…did you leave that on the ground.”
“I just tossed it there, right before you saw it.”
I back away a few more steps. “I don’t understand.”
“Ah, but you will, very soon.”
He moves like lightening, his hand latching onto my hair.
“Ouch! Franco.”
He growls and gives me a shake. “Be still and it won’t hurt.”
With rough hands, he pushes me until I’m sitting on the bench. I kick at him, but he deflects every move I make, all while holding onto my hair.
“Let go!”
Suddenly he’s got one of my arms pinned against his side. The unmistakable sound of a plastic zip-tie pierces the night.
“No!”
He wrangles my opposite ankle until it’s bound to the wrist he’s just secured.
I start screaming wildly. “Help! Help! Assault!”
“No one will hear you. It is too far.” He says, too calmly.
“Franco. Stop. This is insanity.”
“No, it’s actually perfectly rational.”
He drags me off the bench and I windmill my free leg and arm wildly, trying to land a solid kick or punch. I miss a few times. He’s fast, and he’s got me at a serious disadvantage with my opposing limbs bound together.
Before I can do anything to save myself he’s got me over his shoulder. His arms like bands of steel, securing me in place. I know just how strong those arms are, they’ve caught me thousands of times. I’m no match.
He was my partner. My closest companion on the road for years. I know his body almost as well as I know my own. He’s a finely honed machine of muscle and focus. There’s no way I’ll be able to out muscle him or out maneuver him physically.
Tears begin to sting my throat. “Franco, don’t do this. We’re friends. Please…”
I scream for help again, and he twists my pinkie finger so hard I gasp. “Do that again and I’ll break it. I’m sure you wouldn’t want that. It could end your love of acrobatics.”
He scrambles down the hill and over the fence, hardly bothered by my weight. There’s a car parked in the shadows along the road. I’m shoved into the back seat a few seconds later. He tosses a blanket over me, plunging my shaking body into pitch darkness.
Breathe, Mia. Get your focus. Don’t lose your shit. Getting out of this is going to take me outsmarting him or talking him down.
I’m beginning to think the latter might be impossible.
Franco doesn’t even uncover my head as he carries me away from the car. The tang of salt air is strong, even penetrating the new textile smell of the blanket he obviously just bought. The car descended, and we weren’t on the road more than a few minutes, so I knew we were heading toward the ocean.
I pray Bishop misses me soon. Maybe someone saw me being kidnapped. Maybe someone will come…
The clanging mast of sailboats tells me exactly where we are
. The marina.
God. Would he toss me in the water?
Terror makes my heart flutter like a wounded bird.
I twist my hand inside the plastic cuff. Could I swim with my arm and leg bound like this?
The sound of his feet on dock boards makes me whimper. He grabs my finger again. “Make another sound and I’ll do it.”
At this point it might just be worth it to lose the use of a finger, even a few fingers.
Suddenly we’re descending stairs, and then I feel the sway of a boat beneath us. A door closes and the outside sounds disappear. Franco descends more stairs. He’s taking me into the lower living area of a boat.
With an oooph, I land on my back. Thrown onto a bed. I twist around and try to free my face of the blanket.
“Stop!” He sneers
I freeze, his voice was so unhinged… I need to be careful.
He starts tugging on the blanket, finally frees my face. His inky black eyes are the cruelest I’ve ever seen them. “Now let’s get some things straight. You made me do this. I would never have done this if you didn’t make all those terrible decisions. And if you don’t listen to me, I might be forced to do something even worse.”
I swallow. I’ve got to try to turn this around somehow. “Okay, whatever you want. Just tell me.”
He jerks me up to a sitting position. “Now that’s better. We will be fine.”
I glance around. The boat is modern. I’m in a cabin that’s well appointed. There’s no way Franco owns it. We never made enough money for something like this.
“Whose boat is this?”
Franco grins. “A friend’s. He’s letting us stay on it for a while.”
A shiver courses through me at his use of the word us.
“Why am I here?”
“Because you are mine.”
I choke back a sob. “Mine?”
“Yes, mine, Mia. I’ve always known you would be mine.”
He moves to the dresser and opens the drawer. He pulls out a small photo album. He opens a page and holds it directly under my face. “See how perfect we are together.”
The photo is of us. After a performance, his arm is around my shoulder. The shiny lights of the stage glitter off our costumes. He flips the next page. Another image, this time of me holding his hand as we run off the stage. “See Mia. Perfect.”
Oh god. How did I not see that he was obsessed?
I school myself, try to get my voice steady and even. “Franco, I’m a mother now. I have to take care of Bruno.” Franco was so gentle and caring for Bruno, surely he’ll be compassionate about me returning to him.
“Bruno’s with the Archers now. He’ll be fine. We can go back to touring.”
“But Franco, the show is closed. There’s no tour.”
He laughs. The sound curdles my blood. It’s the sound of a deranged man. “The show will go again, soon enough with you and me as the primary act.”
“What do you mean?”
“Your uncle. He’s financing the show we will have.” He flips to another page. “This one, I love these costumes. We will wear these.”
I listen to him ramble on and on for twenty minutes, trying to think of a way to get free.
Abruptly he closes the book and looks at his phone. “Time for Act Two to begin.”
“What do you mean?” That’s when I see the ring on the dresser. He’s laid it out next to a piece of paper with a phone number scrawled on it. Bishop’s number. Oh god.
His eyes glimmer black as he says, “Oh just wait, you’ll have a front row seat. But for now, I need you to stay right here.” He grabs my free ankle and zip-ties it to the bed frame.
“Franco… Franco!” I call after him as he leaves me, closes the door, shutting me inside the bedroom.
I’ve worn my wrist raw trying to get free when a sound makes me freeze. The boat engines. Oh god, no. He’s taking me away from Lynn’s Cove. I start yelling, but I can’t hear him at all over the motors.
I’ve got to get out of here now. I twist around and begin chewing on the tie that’s got me bound to the bed, thanking god I’m flexible.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Where the hell is she? Her phone’s still lying on the dinner table so I can’t call her.
I’m tempted to pick Bruno up and go looking, but I know he needs his rest after today’s stress.
I grab my phone and shoot off a text to Ty. I know he’s hanging out at his place alone tonight. He said so while I was waiting on the food delivery.
Can you come over here for a few? Bruno sleeping. Need to go talk with Mia. Had a fight.
A few seconds later, he responds. Damn. Sure.
I’m waiting on the stoop when he walks up. “I think he’s sound asleep. Hopefully, I won’t be long. Call me if you need me. There’s ice cream in the freezer.”
“Alright, I can handle that. Good luck.”
“Thanks.” I mutter. I start toward the parking area first. The Fiat is there. No sign of her. I continue on past the garage. It’s really dark out. Stupid motion light is out again.
I have a suspicion she might be at the overlook. She likes it there. Her and Bruno spend a lot of time there.
Only when I arrive, she’s no where in sight. What the hell?
“Mia!”
Only the sounds of night creatures return my call.
As I turn to walk back toward the house, my eye is drawn toward the trees. I turn on the flashlight on my phone.
I bend down to look at the object. What the fuck?
It’s a sweatband for your wrist. One of the stupid kind that Franco, Mia’s partner had on the other day. I pick it up. It’s got the colors of the Italian flag woven into it.
I shine the light around on the ground more. The dirt is swirled around, scuffed and out of place.
Someone’s had a struggle.
My gut goes numb. Cold sweat prickles between my shoulder blades.
I’m running toward the house in a full sprint when my phone rings. I’ve never seen the number before.
My breath is pure fire sawing in and out of my lungs when I answer.
“What’s wrong, Mr. Archer, you sound out of breath?”
My feet stumble to a stop at the same time my heart does. Fucking bastard.
“Where is she?”
“My Bella…she’s with me.”
“Where the fuck is my wife?”
“Oh no, sir. She’s not your wife any longer. Remember?”
“She’s mine, and I’m going to get her back, you sick fucker.”
He laughs. “You’re so easy to predict, Bishop. I was hoping you’d say that. It’s time for me to prove once and for all I’m the man for her.”
I skid into the front door of the apartment and scramble for my keys. Tyson’s walking out of the kitchen. His eyes go wide when he sees my distress. “Where?” I demand.
“I’ll text you the coordinates. Oh, and I’m sure you’ll love this part. You’ll need a boat to get to us.”
I blink at the phone for a split second, calculating my next move.
“What’s going on?”
“Franco snatched Mia, challenged me to come get her. They’re on a boat somewhere. He’s sending the coordinates.”
“Jesus, dude. Who the hell is Franco?”
“Her psycho acrobat partner. I have a feeling we know who hired the photographer and paid for that video now.”
“Call Bryce, tell him get to the marina now, I need one of the boats, like ten fucking minutes ago.”
“You’re not leaving without me.”
I shake my head. “No, you have to stay with Bruno.”
Ty’s glare is as hard as a sledge hammer. “I’m calling Raven or Maddy. There’s no way I’m going to stay here.”
There’s a knock at the door. When I whip around, my dad’s face is on the other side of the screen. “What’s going on son? I heard raised voices.”
“Mia’s been kidnapped.”
“Where’s the baby?”
“Sleeping in the back bedroom.”
“Are you sure?”
Fuck. He has been really quiet.
I race toward the bedroom. When I see his little face I say aloud, “Thank god.”
Dad is right behind me and Ty right behind him. “Stay here, Dad.”
Then I’m gone, tearing out the door. Ty is calling Bryce as we run. I tell my phone to call Sargent Andrew Pierce.
I can barely hear his answer over the sound of my truck engine. “Andrew, it’s Bishop.” I rattle off all that I know and tell him I’m on the way to the Marina with Bryce and Ty and that I’ll be going out in the county rescue boat.
“I know I might as well be saying this to a brick wall, but Bishop, you should leave it to us.”
“Fuck you, Andrew. I called so you could back us up. Not because I’d be standing at the dock.”
“I know. I’ll be at the Marina in fifteen.”
I slam my phone down as soon as I end the call.
We’re bouncing over the curb and in the parking lot less than two minutes later.
Ty’s already getting out of his seatbelt. “I’ll get the keys.”
We take off in separate directions. I run down the dock and launch myself onto the Rescue Boat that’s closest. As quickly as I can, I untie dock lines. Bryce’s truck comes flying into the parking area. He’s running down the dock at a sprint, when I see Ty coming with the keys. Thank god the county has a lockbox with all the equipment keys at the Marina office.
We work together like a well-oiled machine, because we are. Boat rescues are part of our daily life. “Bryce, take the helm. Of course I’ll board the boat that they are on if-“
I feel my phone vibrate with an incoming text. The message only has GPS coordinates in it.
“Got the location. If he’s telling the truth.”
Bryce backs us away from the dock and guns it. I jerk open the storage box at the rear of the boat and pull out two XL wetsuits. I want them just in case we end up in the water for an extended period of time.
I rip off my clothes as does Ty and we both pull on the neoprene.