I decide to sit on a designer chair in the dining room surrounded by people because I don’t want to be alone right now. I can’t stop the tears streaming down my face. The housekeeper whose name is Annie, if I remember correctly, handed me a coffee cup, “Ma’am, would you like to eat something? I have some soup on the stove if you prefer something light or I can make chicken salad or something else.”
I try to force a smile at her, “No thank you, Annie. I appreciate it but I don’t think I could keep anything down right now.”
“You have to take care of yourself, Tori.” I hear Alex say from behind Annie. He walks up to me, passing Annie and crouches down in front of me and grabs my hands. Annie scurries leaving us alone. “You have to be strong for when Adam comes home.”
I wipe the tears from my eyes with the sleeve of my shirt, “Alex, I just want my baby back.” I whisper to him.
“I know baby, but please take care of yourself. I can’t worry about you and find our boy too.”
“Mr. Santos, we have a lead!” One of the detectives calls out. Alex and I look in his direction and head over to the table where he is pointing to one of the laptops.
“I made a call to one of my men, he and some of his guys checked out the suspect’s family vacation home in Claremont. There was a red convertible parked at the side of the car covered by a blue plastic tarp. The car seemed to be hot still as if someone just used it. There were also fresh tire tracks on the front lawn and the dirt road.”
Alex and I look at each other in hopes that this new turn of events will lead us to Adam.
“Okay, well let’s go!” I say, I was about to turn to get my coat from the hall closet.
I feel a hand suddenly grab my shoulder, “Tori, you’re not going anywhere. The men and I are going to check it out. It could be a false lead and we could just be wasting time. But we need someone here in case someone calls or if Adam comes home.”
Yeah right, if he thinks I’m not going anywhere he’s fucking crazy. I walk into the foyer and I see men leaving carrying their laptops and some were checking hand guns. I turn to see Alex with a hand gun as well. I never knew he owned one. He checks the clip and puts it in his jacket.
Alex looks at me and gives me a chin lift as he leaves out the front door and closes the door behind him. Once I see the door close, I spring into action. I grab my coat, keys and my purse from the closet and go out the back door and head into the garage door where my car was parked. I see a few of the police cars pulling out and I planned on following them to the bitch’s house.
I don’t think anyone spots me as I keep a safe difference behind the police cars. I know that Alex took his SUV so the others could go as well so it’s easy to spot them a head a few cars. I hope he doesn’t recognize me.
After forty-five minutes, the cars ahead of me pull into a dirt road. I slow down and wait until they are ahead a bit so they don’t see me coming.
The dirt road leads up to a farm house. I park far back behind a few trees so I don’t get noticed. I walk slowly in the dark towards the house. It feels like the gravel drive is at least five hundred metres or so. As I walk, I spot the SUV and a few cop cars surrounding the house. I wait behind a massive tree watching what’s happening. I hear shouting and banging of a door being slammed in. I then hear yelling and curse words and frustration. What did they find?
After a few minutes, I see Alex and some of the detectives exit the house with nothing. I hear something about the it not being the right place. I’m about to turn around and head back to my car until I feel something cold against the back head. “Make a noise and I will fucking blow your head off.”
I recognize that high pitched voice, it’s Libby. “Let’s go, cunt.” she whispers.
I look at the men a head in the house and no one seems to be looking in this direction. Fuck! I lift my hands and don’t say anything.
“You think you waltz back into his life? I’ve worked hard to stay in his life and he tosses me away for some ugly fat bitch? I don’t think so. Move!”
With the gun pointed at the back of my head, we walk to a red convertible parked beside my car. The cars were hidden well so Alex and the cops couldn’t see us. I should have never come.
She opens the backseat door and points the gun in the direction of the backseat, “Get In!” She yells.
Reluctantly, I get in the backseat when I feel something hit the back of my head hard. “Nighty night, trashy whore.” I start to feel dizzy and before I can help it, my world becomes black.
CHAPTER TEN
Two Months Earlier…
Alexander
I stare at the computer screen and re read the resumé that was one of many sent to my email. I like to take part in the hiring process from time to time because I like to know who is working for me. I have a low turn over rate because of it. I want only the best working in my company and with the resumé that was sent to me, I think I have found another potential employee. For more reasons than just educational background.
I smile to myself, I can’t believe it. Victoria Jones’ name is in the heading. After all these years, it’s like she’s handed to me on a silver platter. I haven’t contacted her family after the conversation with her mother because I thought she might be married with a family. I didn’t want to cause Tori any more pain. I know that I hurt her and her mother made it very clear that I was no longer in her mind.
But this was amazing, it was it was meant to be. I would love to have Tori work in my company. The position that she was applying for wasn’t a high salary position like she deserves, but it was a start and she could always work up. She had completed a BA in Science and has impeccable references.
I send an email to the head of human resources to call Tori and schedule an interview. It might be interesting to say the least in what was going to happen. I wonder what she looks like now, if she still has those amazing curves and beautiful eyes. She had a set of tits that were a perfect handful, at least that’s what I remember. I hope that she wasn’t dating anyone or married because whether she likes it, I will eliminate any man from her life. She is mine and has been mine since the day I met her in second grade.
While I study the resumé, it still says Jones so either she isn’t married or hasn’t changed her name to her married name. Either way, it’s not a problem for me.
“Mr. Santos?” My receptionist interrupts my thoughts from the intercom.
“Yes?” I ask, my eyes not leaving the screen before me. I want to study everything I can about Tori.
“HR sent me a message that you have an interview scheduled for tomorrow morning. You have a meeting at eight with the heads of department, but the interview will be at ten.”
Yes Perfect! I think to myself. “Okay, thank you.”
I lean back in my chair and read the resumé for the tenth time when my cell rings. “Why won’t everyone leave me alone?” I say to no one in particular. I answer the phone.
“Santos.” I bark.
“Hello darling,” Ugh, Libby’s voice is irritating.
“What is it?” I snide.
“Someone is Mr. Grumpy today.”
I roll my eyes; this girl just doesn’t get it. “Libby, I’m extremely busy. I run a company, what do you need?”
She cackles and I take the cell from my ear so she doesn’t ruin my hearing.
“Sweetheart, there’s the Gala next week for the hospital wing next week and I wanted to RSVP for you.”
“Libby, I was the one invited not you.”
“Darling, you know that you would have asked me to accompany you. Cut the crap already, the act is getting old.”
As I hated to admit it, I did need a date for the dinner, but I wasn’t sure if Tori was going to accept me back into her life and if she did than I would take her. “I will need to get back to you on that, I’m not sure if I will be able to attend.”
“Oh Alexander, you knew about this engagement for quite some time. What possibly do you have to do more important than
this event?”
“Libby, I told you. Something may come up and I’m not saying anything else to you. Your father is always invited to these events why don’t you bug him for an invite?”
“Always in a sour mood, Alexander.”
I roll my eyes as I hang up.
My mood quickly changes when I think about tomorrow and that I get to finally see her. After all these years, the moment has finally come when I can become a part of her life. Something I wanted to do for so long.
After all these years, I still carry the same feelings for her I had when I was in school with her. Nothing has changed. If I couldn’t marry her than I didn’t want to get married. My father said that I should move on with my life but I know that this girl is the only one that can complete me.
I can only hope that she feels the same way about me.
Present Day…
I slip out of unconsciousness, only to be greeted by a massive headache. I’m in a dirty room, there’s cob webs in the corners of the ceiling and between the lamps and the walls. I was in a living room with a direct view of the seventies looking kitchen. There wasn’t anyone around from what I could see but when I tried to move, my body felt heavy and my head was still groggy. My legs couldn’t move and I felt my arms numb. I wasn’t tied up or anything, I know that that bitch had given me something to sedate me like this.
I remember the bitch pushing me into the car and getting knocked out with something, that’s it. I try to get up to no avail. I look around the room to see if I could see a way out or something I could use as a weapon.
Suddenly there was a motion from the dusty window, a few seconds later the front door across from me opens and the bitch, Libby stood there with a familiar looking man. I then realized that the man was my old landlord, from the apartment we just moved out of.
“Cole?” I manage to say.
“Hello there, Victoria. Long time no see, huh? I hope you like my place, it isn’t much but I know that when we start fixing and cleaning it up with me, it will look amazing.”
Has this guy lost his mind? “What did you give me? I can’t feel anything.” I ask them.
“Oh, just some muscle relaxers. Well not some, more like enough to knock out a horse but you know, we just needed to make sure you didn’t do anything stupid now, right?” Libby says to me. She walks up to me and crouches down as if I were a child. She grabs my chin so I look at her. Her eyes look perilous and dilated.
“I don’t know what they see in you but I will tell you one thing, Alexander Santos belongs to me. You never respected or accept what we had.”
“You’re fucking crazy.” I try to get up again but I don’t have enough strength.
“You’re the crazy one, you are obsessed with Alexander. I mean why couldn’t you disappear and stay that way, huh?”
“Are you serious right now? You are the one who has been obsessed with Alex all through our childhood. You couldn’t even take a hint when he would use you and throw you out like the trash you are and always have been.” That earned me a slap across my face. The look of fury is on her face, her expression is murderous.
“Don’t hurt her! Are you okay my buttercup.” Cole says looking at me with sympathy in his eyes. These two are seriously out of their fucking minds.
“You see, Victoria. I met Cole here, I found out has an obsession for you. I was in your old neighborhood and I figured that I could snoop around your old place, maybe find something that I could use to my advantage. What would you know that Cole here was in his office staring at a framed picture of you.”
Oh God, I think I’m going to be sick. I’ve known Cole for years and he’s never displayed any interest in me, whatsoever. “Please, let me go. I won’t say anything. I promise.”
“I don’t think so. You see, I have your boy. Well my new son now, and Alex and I are going to be raising him together.”
My blood boils, “You’re fucking insane, Libby! Don’t fucking hurt you, you bitch!” I scream, I can’t even move my fingers. I can’t feel anything below my neck.
That causes me to earn another slap across the face. The right side of my face is burning and there’s tears starting to form in my eyes from the pain.
“He’s not your son anymore, he’s mine. He’s a cute little thing, I’m sure he won’t remember you in a few years. Nothing that a few toys won’t cure right?”
I lay my head back against the sofa I’m seated at. I try to calm down or I might pass out from my anger. I can’t believe that I’m not even tied with anything yet I can’t move.
“You are delusional if you think that Alex won’t find me and my son.” I whisper.
“Oh, he will probably find you. But if you’re dead then you are of no use to him.”
My stomach drops, fuck! I have to get out of here. I pray for a miracle to happen, anything.
Libby grabs a chair and turns it so she’s sitting on it backwards facing me. Cole is standing beside the door just staring at me without blinking, talk about creepy. I never paid attention before how he looks greasy and his body is shaking like he is on something.
“I am much better suited to be Alex’s wife. I mean, all these years he’s said that he never wanted to get married or have children. Yet you show up out of the blue and now he wants marriage and a family? I’m the one that has sacrificed my happiness and self respect because of him. He used to take me to all the social events and fundraiser dinners, I looked perfect on his arm. Now he takes you and introduces you as his ‘girlfriend’? We can’t have that, you will die and I’ll even let the boy live as my son. You do know what having kids do to your body, right?” She looks down my body. “Oh, you do know. You should take better care of yourself. You look like you let go of yourself for a long time.”
I turn my head, not wanting to look at the two delusional idiots. I slow down my breathing just wait for what is about to come.
Libby gets up and walks towards the door where Cole somehow is still standing there. “We will be back later, sweetheart. We suggest you use your last few hours of life wisely.” The both of them leave the house. I’m finally alone.
I have to think of something, this is getting insane. I need to get up, this feeling is strange. When I try to get up, I think I only moved an inch or two and I drop down. I can’t do it. I start to sob, I’m so helpless and I’m terrified for Adam. I hope they don’t hurt him.
Alex, please find us.
*****
Alexander
I can’t believe this place was a set up. The information the men got seemed to be false. Apparently, the man that called in suspicious activity here was a Cole Redman, Tori’s former landlord. Sounds suspicious, the guys decide to look more into this Cole character. Something in my gut tells me that he’s involved in this mess.
What makes matters worse is that André called me and I had asked him how Tori was holding up. He said that she wasn’t at home and her car wasn’t in the driveway. Sure, enough her car was on the side of the road behind some trees like she was trying to not let anyone know she was there.
So now I am not only looking for my son but I’m looking for my woman.
“Alex, we got another call.” Detective Robbins tells me as he’s walking to my SUV.
I start walking fast with him as he continues, “What did they say?”
“This Cole character has a cabin a few minutes away from here. He was spotted with a tall female driving a Red Corvette.”
My body goes numb, “Are they sure?”
He nods and gets in the SUV, “Let’s go.”
I quickly go to the driver’s seat and some others get in before we drive off to the new location.
We get close to a cabin that seems to be practically falling apart by the minute. There is a huge hole on the roof that we could see the house frame from where we are in the front yard.
Everyone parks on the grass hoping that whoever is in the cabin doesn’t notice us approaching. We all get out and the men get their weapons ready and get su
ited up. The sergeant directed the men to surround the cabin. When I see the side of the cabin, there it is. Libby’s convertible is parked in the open backyard. I knew she had something to do with all this. She was going to pay for this hell she put us all through. She made my son a pawn in her sick game.
We all are ducked down below the windows so no one notices us. We are waiting for the signal from the sergeant as I peek into the window and see Tori. She’s sitting on a chair but isn’t tied up. C’mon Tori get out of there, “Tori is in there and isn’t tied up. But she’s not getting up” I whisper to Robbins. He just nods.
Suddenly, we see two people enter the room where Tori is. It’s Libby and some hefty guy with a bad combover. I recognize him as the man I gave the last month’s rent for Tori’s apartment. He did seem agitated when I paid the rent but I didn’t think anything of it. I would never have imagined that he would do something like this, this fucker will pay.
I get my handgun that I have in the holster underneath my jacket and point it to the two idiots. No one around me is paying attention to what I’m about to do, I would have a perfect clean shot. All I would need is two bullets, I get ready to squeeze the trigger.
*****
Tori
I wake up again groggy but I feel lighter than before. I could move my legs a bit. I could also move my arms and my fingers. Thank you God, I don’t want to get drugged again with whatever they used so I’m going to pretend I still can’t move when they come back.
I hear a car pullup outside, I can’t see who it is but I hear a female voice, followed by a deep voice who I assume is Cole and a car door clam shut. I hear the voices getting louder so I freeze and try not to move a muscle.
I hear them opening the cabin door and close it, before I see what’s going on I hear Adam.
My Best Friend Page 11