"That would have taken all day."
I filled Crew in on the details of what happened between Del and me one night over a case of beer. He understood and told me back then to steer clear of her. I should have refused when she asked to sit next to me today. I should never have let her touch me.
"I had all day. I could have given her that."
"You'll give her that when you see her again." He moves closer. "We'll find her, Nick and when we do, you can make things right."
I hope I get that fucking chance. If I don't, I know my heart won't survive this loss.
"Sophia tellsus that you're an author." Her mother dabs a tissue over her cheeks. "We haven't read your book yet, but it's on our list."
I smile weakly at her. Doris and Robert Reese are good people. They're strong. I sensed it when we met in the lobby of Foster Enterprises. Her mom embraced me and her dad offered his hand. His grip was weakened by the sorrow on his face.
He feels he let his little girl down. I'm the one who did. I didn't press Sophia about the security detail I wanted on her. I let it slide because I thought I had time. That piece of shit Francowas in Florida, dating another woman. I had no idea he'd bail on that and head to New York to take Sophia away from us all.
"Can I get you anything?" Cadence approaches us from the left. She's been here all day with her husband. She's spent most of the time crying in his arms.
"Not a thing, dear." Doris leans her head against Cadence's arm. "I think you should go home and rest. This stress can't be good for the baby."
"He's strong." Her voice cracks. "He's like Sophia."
Doris sniffles her way through a response. "Sophia won't let him hurt her. She'll fight back. I taught my daughter to fight."
"We taught her well." Robert kisses his wife's cheek. "I'm going to find the detective we met earlier. I'll see if she has an update."
I nod as he walks toward the door of the conference room that Gabriel arranged for us to use as a meeting place. He's been in and out himself all day; his brow etched with worry.
"Do you think there will be some leads from the press conference we had?" Doris turns to face me directly. "I think Franco will give her back to us when he sees how much we love her."
Franco is a sick bastard who doesn't give a shit about anyone else. The press conference that was held an hour ago was meant to draw tips from anyone who had seen Sophia or Franco in the past twenty-four hours. His picture, along with hers, splashed across the screen before Sophia's parents took the podium. They both cried through an emotional explanation of what she meant to them.
I couldn’t keep it together. With Crew by my side, I sobbed as I watched as the city learned that a beautiful, talented and loving woman was missing and a cold-hearted stalker was the man responsible.
"I think the press conference might change everything." I rest my hands on her shoulders. "Your daughter will come back. I need her to. I love her too much to lose her."
"She loves you too, dear." She reaches up to cup my cheek. "You're the first boy our Sophia has ever loved."
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
Sophia
I watchas Franco pours a can of something red into a pot on the stove. We're in the basement of a brownstone in Lower Manhattan. He brought me here yesterday. I came willingly.
I decided to take a shortcut to the subway after work. It was just starting to rain, and the dress I'm wearing is too special to risk the long walk around the corner. Darting through the alley meant time saved and fewer stains on the fabric of the skirt. As soon as I saw Franco step in front of me with a small knife in one hand, I froze.
I didn't scream. I didn't try and run. Instead, I walked with him to a rusted car he pointed at that was parked less than ten feet away.
I got in the back seat when he told me to and then I watched in silence as he opened the other back passenger door so he could help the young boy who had been holding his hand, get in.
"Elroy," I whisper to that same boy who is now resting his head on my lap. "Are you hungry?"
He nods.
I spent all of last night wide awake watching Franco interact with the child. At first, I had no idea who he was but as the evening wore on, Elroy spoke. His mother and Franco were friends at one time. Elroy lived on the streets and Franco would stop and offer whatever he could to them both. When Elroy's mother was taken to the hospital yesterday, Franco stood by and watched before he took the child by the hand and led him away from the uncertainty of life in the same foster care system Franco himself had grown up in.
"It's almost ready," Franco calls back over his shoulder. "I only have enough for you two."
I have no appetite other than a hunger for contact with someone I know. I didn't realize that I'd dropped my phone until we got here. I searched for it in the pockets of my coat but it wasn't there.
