Savanna is still in my ear, telling me how happy she is that we’re together, how she never knew she could feel like this about anyone. When she starts talking about us getting married and the kids she wants to have with me, I brush a tear from my cheek and listen to her describe a son who looks just like me but is terrible with computers like her.
“You doing okay?” my dad asks.
“I’m not going to bother answering that one, Dad.”
“I know, but I had to ask. We’ll get her soon, okay? Once we have the grid narrowed down, we can find her.”
I hear the clicking of his keyboard and know he’s already pulling up the different utility zones for the city. My eyes stay locked on the image of Savanna. She stopped talking a few minutes ago and managed to fall into a light sleep. With her head propped against her handcuffed hands, she looks miserable, and I know she’s going to wake up with a stiff neck. I’m glad she was able to fall asleep, though. She needs all the rest she can get.
After about twenty minutes have passed, my dad says, “I’m going to go get your mom. It’ll help if Sav’s mom can talk to someone who’s been around all this for years and is obviously not being mistreated.”
“Yeah, that’s a good idea,” I say while my brother gets up to join him.
“I’ll come too. I want to check on Talia and Lyra.” He squeezes my shoulder before he leaves. “This will be over soon, Niki,” he tells me, “and after Sav is back, I expect you both to do some serious bonding with your niece. She misses you.”
“Van will love that,” I tell him. As much as I love the thought of Savanna and I bonding with Lyra, I try not to think about it for too long. I want nothing more than to fill my head with happy reunion thoughts, but I can’t give in to that desire rightnow. I’ll become lost in it, desperate for it to become true, and my focus needs to be on the here and now. There’s a niggling voice in the back of my head that reminds me it’s dangerous for other reasons. I can’t let myself get lost in a future that may not happen. Cupid still has her. We may be closer to finding her, but everything could change in a split second. I know this, my family knows this, and it’s why I can’t let myself go down that path. Not right now, not while she’s still gone.
Hopefully soon my hands will be covered in Cupid’s blood and Savanna will be back in my arms where she belongs, but until then, I can’t allow myself the luxury of daydreams.
When the door opens and my family walks back in, I already have a new, much bigger monitor hooked up. The city’s electrical grids fill the screen, each section marked off with a different color.
My mom quickly comes over to give me a hug while Max tells the others that their wives and kids have all gathered upstairs. Everyone is waiting for Savanna’s return and letting me know they’re there if I need them. I’ve never once taken my family for granted and moments like this remind me why that is.
“I’m glad she’s able to get some sleep,” my mom says. Her eyes stay focused on Savanna’s huddled-up form, and I can hear the worry in her voice and see it so clearly etched onto her face. There’s no way this isn’t bringing up a lot of memories for her.
“Thanks for being here, Mom, but I understand if it’s too much,” I tell her.
She gives me another hug and kisses my cheek. “I’m not going to fall apart, Niki,” she says. “And you’re my son. I will always be here for you, no matter what.”
I hug her back and tell her I love her before she goes to stand next to my dad. It’s not long before I get a security alert on my phone, letting me know someone’s stepped onto our private elevator. When I check the camera feed, I see Sasha with hisarm wrapped around Cindy and next to them is a very confused-looking Phil and Grace. I’m not sure what they were told to get them here, but I’m guessing it wasn’t the truth. They must be scared to death being woken up so early with Sasha on their doorstep.
“They’re in the elevator,” I say loud enough for everyone to hear.
“Everyone act natural,” my Uncle Vitaly says.
“As opposed to?” Val asks his dad.
“I don’t know.” My Uncle Vitaly shrugs. “Don’t act like criminals?”
“We look like criminals,” my Uncle Lev says. “That’s usually enough for most people to form a very strong opinion about us.”
“True enough,” my dad says, “but their daughter is missing, and we’re going to be the criminals who get her back. My guess is they won’t give a fuck what we do for a living as long as Sav is okay.”
“Of course they won’t,” my mom says, giving me a reassuring smile.
“Whether or not they’ll be okay with me marrying her when it’s all over is up for debate,” I say.
Before she can argue that any mom would be proud to call a career criminal their son-in-law, the door opens and Savanna’s parents step inside. Sasha’s still keeping Cindy close, and I can tell she’s trying really hard to keep it together. He kisses the top of her head while my parents walk over and introduce themselves.
“Hi, we’re Niki’s parents,” my mom says, giving them a friendly smile. “I’m Simona, and this is my husband Danil. Our oldest son, Max, is over there,” she says, pointing him out. My brother holds up a hand and smiles.
“I’m Phil, and this is my wife, Grace,” Phil says while reaching out to shake my dad’s hand.
I unhook my laptop, taking it with me because it’s my one link to Savanna and I’m not about to let it out of my sight for even a second. I stand next to my mom and say, “Thanks for coming over.” I run a hand through my hair because I’m not sure how exactly to tell them what’s going on.
It’s Grace who notices the apartment is filled with her daughter’s things. She looks up at me. “Did Sav move in with you?”
“We were going to have you over for dinner this week and let you know about it,” I say. “I know it’s fast, but I love your daughter, and we want to live together.”
