THIRTY-THREE
Cressida
Noah drivesas fast as possible, and I’m thankful for that. He’s been fuming the whole way, and hasn’t said a word to me.
When I arrived at his school and was told Oliver wasn’t there, I called Noah, thinking he had him.
I was wrong.
I panicked.
This is a mother’s worst fear.
I searched the school, screaming his name.
The police were called and asked us to come down to report the case.
And then Soren called when we were out searching again.
My hands haven’t stopped shaking since I learned Oliver was missing.
Soren’s car is parked out front of a house, and before Noah even stops the car, I’m already running through the overgrown lawn and straight to the front door. Rushing inside, I find Oliver sitting on the floor with Soren, laughing at something he said.
Oliver turns, and his eyes find mine. “Mom!” he yells and jumps up to hug me. Bending down, I squeeze his little body tightly until I hear footsteps behind me.
“Hey, buddy, you had us worried,” Noah says with false calm, and Oliver goes to him and wraps his little arms around Noah’s waist.
Soren stands, brushing the dirt from his trousers. I can’t help it when my eyes narrow at him. “Noah, please take Oliver to the car. I need to speak with Soren alone.”
Noah glances at Soren with a nod, then says, “Thanks for finding him,” and walks out with his arm around Oliver’s shoulders.
Taking a steadying breath, I turn my attention back to Soren. “Where is she?” I ask, my hands balled at my sides.
He jerks a thumb over his shoulder, indicating another room. I storm past him and into the kitchen, where I find Maya leaning over the counter, playing on her phone as if nothing has happened. She raises her head when she hears me enter. There is no remorse evident in her eyes at all.
“Don’t look so mad. You got him back,” she says and almost laughs, like this was all some big joke.
I sense Soren behind me, but I can’t think straight. Anger is the only thing that’s fueling me right now. So, I bend down to remove one of my high heels, and then I move so quickly that she doesn’t have time to react before I slam the heel down straight into her hand. Her screams rip through the air, and I lean in close. “I should do worse, but my son is in the car. If I see you again, especially around my child, there will be no stopping me.” I slip the heel back on my foot and turn around to find both Noah and Soren watching me.
“We need to go,” I tell Noah.
Soren doesn’t say a word as I walk past him, brushing shoulders as I leave him there with his sobbing psycho of a sister.
Bitch deserved what she got and more.
“You’re kind of a badass,” Noah says with a laugh.
“I’ll do anything to protect our son,” I tell him.
“We know,” he says as we approach the car where Oliver is waiting for us. “Soren stopped me from stepping in and keeping you from hurting her. He said, ‘Let her,” so I stood there as you smashed her hand.”
I take in his words.
Soren let me hurt his sister.
The one person who iseverythingto him.
I climb into the back seat with Oliver, and I don’t look back as we drive off.
