by Lauren Runow
I have to grit my teeth and take a deep breath before I go off on him because I know that would only upset Tessa more.
When I’m finally calm enough to speak, I say, “Then, he had to have gone downstairs, right?”
“Well,” he sighs, “all of us think it would be nearly impossible for him to go down twenty-two floors without being seen by at least one camera. And no one has exited at any floor or the ground level who hasn’t been questioned or verified.”
“Then, what are you saying?”
“I’m saying, we’re just as confused as you are. We don’t think he came back on the floor, but we can’t find him in the stairwell.”
“If he didn’t go down, could he have gone up?” Tessa asks.
I place my hand on her shoulder. “We’re on the top floor. The stairwell ends at the door.”
“And we did check. The latch to the roof was secured and locked. We’re all stumped here, and we were hoping you knew something we didn’t,” Don says, raising his arms in question.
Tessa wraps her arms around my waist, pulling me into her as she cries even harder than I heard her cry over the phone.
I get it. I feel totally helpless, too, and after seeing these tapes, it’s like he disappeared into thin air.
The night starts to tick away, yet there’s still no sign of Charlie. We’ve searched in every nook and cranny of this building, and the San Francisco police have a search party on the lookout as well, just in case he did get out.
I feel like I’m at my wit’s end when Austin comes to sit next to me. I had the camera feeds sent to my laptop, and I’ve been scouring them for the past fifteen minutes. Thankfully, he and most of the staff have stayed to help us search. Things just aren’t adding up, and my fear is slowly turning into despair.
Is he really gone?
I need to get up again and continue, but I don’t know where else to search. Tessa is running through the entire building. Jalynn and the staff of every department on every floor are looking as well.
“Fuck, Bryce. I don’t know where else I could possibly look,” Austin says in a defeated tone.
I glance up at him, only to see past him to the outside where the fog has rolled in and the darkness is taking over. Fear grips at my gut, but I try to push it aside.
Tessa’s been crying nonstop, and even though I hate that her mom is here, I’m also very thankful she has her to turn to.
“Are these the surveillance videos?” Austin asks.
“Yeah. Look.” I turn the laptop toward him. “He enters but doesn’t go anywhere.”
Austin looks at the tapes and then mumbles, “Fuck,” under his breath when he points to the time stamp on the screen. He pushes back from the desk and starts to run. “The roof.”
I get up and run after him. “They already checked. It was locked.”
“Not at six fifteen it wasn’t. Jalynn and I were having dinner up there.”
“Are you fucking kidding me?” I say, exasperated.
Austin eyes me, not needing to say another word as he runs down the hall and I’m quick behind him. Charlie’s been missing for over an hour. A little boy on a roof with no guardrail …
I want to vomit, just thinking about it. It’s dark up there, too. Even if he didn’t mean to, he could easily have …
“Charlie,” I scream as I climb the ladder in the stairwell that leads to the roof door.
It’s a square door that opens upward. The latch is locked, so Austin hands me a key. I fumble, trying to get the key in the lock, and finally—finally—I get it unlocked. I thrust it open, and it slams on the ground above with a thud.
“Charlie,” I yell over and over again as Austin and I start frantically searching.
“Bryce,” I hear a little boy yell, and it’s the most amazing sound I’ve ever heard in my life.
Tears instantly flow down my face, and I don’t even try to stop them.
I run toward the lounge chairs Austin has set up as his getaway from the world. There, curled up in a ball, is Charlie. Austin flashes his iPhone light on him, and we see his tiny body shivering in the cold night air. His lips are blue.
I run toward him, swooping him up in my arms and holding him tighter than I’ve ever held anyone.
“I’m cold,” Charlie says, shaking.
I laugh at the nonchalant way he says it. Like we haven’t been scared to death, looking for him, or that he wasn’t losing his mind from fear. He was curled up on a chaise lounge this entire time, and his only complaint is that he is cold.
I hear Austin calling Jalynn, letting her know we’ve found him.
I pull back, looking into his eyes, still not believing he’s in front of me. I run my hand over his head, smiling at the kid who, until now, I didn’t know I loved as much as I do.
“Why are you crying, Bryce?”
“You gave everyone a big scare. We didn’t know where you were.”
He sighs. “I’m sorry. I was just exploring. I went into the stairwell and saw the light shining through from that door in the ceiling. So, I climbed the ladder like I was in the Batcave. When I saw other people were up here, I hid, afraid I’d get in trouble. But, when they left, I realized the door over there locked behind them.”
I let out a small laugh, pulling him back into me for a big hug, loving his innocence.
“I was worried you were going to pretend you were Superman and leap off the building,” I say.
“No. Batman can’t fly. Not without his special suit on anyway. Besides, you’re Superman, remember? If anyone can fly, it would be you.”
I hug him. I hug the little guy who looks at me like I’m a superhero even though I failed him. I lost him on my first chance.
“I love you, buddy. I’ll never let anything happen to you again.”
“Charlie!” I hear Tessa yell.
I lean back, walking him to where Tessa will see him sooner.
As soon as she does, she runs over, falling to her knees, bringing Charlie to her chest as cries of joy escape her lips.
“I’m sorry, Mommy. I didn’t mean to upset you. I just wanted to explore,” Charlie says.
She laughs, too. “It’s okay, baby. I’m just so glad to find you. You can’t do that to us, okay?”
“I know. I’m sorry.” He sniffles.
Jalynn, Kathleen, and the security team come up one at a time through the door. Jalynn walks up next to Austin and cradles his arm. Austin kisses her head and then looks back down at me and Tessa, who are cradling Charlie.
“So, this is the little guy that all of San Francisco is searching for?” Austin teases as he addresses Charlie. “You picked a great spot up here. It’s my personal favorite.”
I look around at the outdoor living space that Austin created up here last year as a place to escape when Father and Missy and I were getting to him. I’ve never come up here before, but it definitely has a fantastic view.
“This is your place?” Charlie asks Austin, who nods. Charlie shrugs. “It could use some blankets. A kid could get trapped up here.”
We all laugh at his joke.
“Austin, this is Charlie, and this woman here is my Tessa.” I look at my love and her son and introduce them. “I’d like you to meet my brother Austin and his girlfriend, who is also my assistant, Jalynn.”
“Pleasure to meet the woman who knocked my brother on his ass,” Austin says.
Tessa smiles. “I’m about to knock his teeth out. I’ve never been so scared in my entire life.”
I lay a hand on her cheek. “Tessa, I am so sorry. This was my first chance to prove to you that I could be a man worth relying on, and I blew it.”
“You didn’t blow it, Bryce,” Charlie says, and we all look at him. “It’s not your fault I have special powers. Ask Mom. She lost me in Whole Foods once. I was eating the cheese samples.”
I raise a brow. “Really?”
She sighs. “He was three. Kids are hard work. I’ve had five years of practice. You’ve only had a few weeks.�
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“I’d like the chance to practice more. You are my family. The two of you. I promise I’ll never take my eyes off him again. Ever. Not even for a call or a meeting. Anything,” I vow.
“I like you, Bryce, but I am definitely not following you into the bathroom,” Charlie says.
I lean down and scoop him up into a big hug. “I love you, Charlie. Will you give me a second chance?”
He looks over at his mom. “Don’t ask me.”
I look at Tessa. “Do you forgive me?”
She smiles. “Yeah, I forgive you.”
I lean forward and kiss her. Oddly, my brother starts with the clapping and catcalls. Jalynn hits him in the arm.
When Tessa rises as well, I put my arm around her. We thank the security guards and bid them a good night. They ask if we need an ambulance to check on Charlie, and we tell them we think a warm bath and Chinese food will do the trick.
We follow the crowd off the roof and down the ladder. When the latch is securely in place, I give the key back to Austin with a stern warning.
“Ready to go home?” I ask my little family.
Charlie is still cradled in my arms.
“One minute,” Kathleen Clarke says, drawing our attention to where she’s standing in the hallway. Ever since Charlie was found, she’s been quiet. “I haven’t been able to hug my grandson.”
She walks up to Charlie and takes him from my arms. It’s at this moment she starts to cry.
“I was so worried about you, you know that?” she says as she runs a hand through his hair over and over again. “Don’t ever run off like that again. Do you know what would happen to Grandma if anything bad ever happened to you?”
Charlie tightly hugs her, and she pulls him in like that hug is the one thing she needed in this world.
When her tears have been spilled and her nose is stuffy, she looks at me. “As for you, Mr. Sexton,” she starts.
I push my shoulders back and wait for the verbal pounding she’s about to give me.
“I’m not thrilled with what transpired earlier, and I’m livid that you lost my grandson.” I can feel Tessa’s body tensing beside mine as she waits for her mother to unleash fire and fury on me. “But I can without a doubt see that you love my daughter and grandson just as much as I do.”
“I’d give my life for them,” I state.
“Just be careful, will you? Your family is cruel, and it’s no place for Tessa and Charlie. I’ll be watching. I hope you make the right choices, moving forward,” she says. She gives Charlie another kiss on the head and hands him back to me. “Now, did I hear someone mention Chinese food?”
Tessa lets out a laugh. “You want to join us for dinner?”
Kathleen grabs her daughter’s arm. “Since you gave me a fake last name, I haven’t been able to spy on Bryce. What better way than to actually dine with the man? Where shall we go? Your place?” Kathleen asks me.
“Uh, sure,” I answer, unsure if that’s where Tessa wants to go.
Tessa skeptically eyes her mother. “You’re not raiding his sock drawer, Mother. This is why I didn’t tell you Bryce’s real last name!”
Kathleen laughs. “Oh, honey. Sock drawers are for amateurs. I bet he has a wall safe in his closet, and the password is his mother’s birthday.”
It should scare me that the woman is correct.
The two turn around and look at me for confirmation.
I, in turn, look at Charlie. “Looks like I need a new hiding spot for my cape.”
“You’re supposed to wear it under your suit,” Charlie explains.
“Right,” I concur.
“Come on.” Tessa grabs my hand. “I’d like my mom to see my new home.”
My heart nearly beats out of my chest with how happy her words have just made me. “You’re moving in with me?” I ask.
She kisses my cheek. “Charlie and I have already talked about it. We’re family, right?”
The elevator doors open, and we step inside. For the next thirty-three seconds, I hold on to the two most important people in my life and vow to never let go.
And then Tessa asks, “You two are going to tell me what was happening when my son went missing, right?”
Epilogue
TESSA
“Charlie, you know you can’t answer the door without our permission,” I yell to him as he runs through the fifty-two-hundred-square-foot penthouse we now call home.
“Mom. Hello?” he says, way too sarcastic for his age. “We have a doorman. A stranger is not getting into this building without anyone knowing,” he retorts.
“You make him sound like the Hulk.”
Charlie’s eyes light up. “Could you imagine if our doorman really was the Hulk? At night, he morphs into this giant green humanoid who clobbers villains with his incredible strength?”
I laugh lightly while shaking my head. “Just slow down, okay? I don’t want you to slip on the wood floor in your socks,” I say as I chase Charlie down the hallway when he takes off again.
In my old apartment, the doorbell would ring, and I’d have two steps to walk to the door. In Bryce’s penthouse, I have two floors to walk through. And, since I was in my room, putting the last of my clothes away in the closet, it’s taking me a bit longer to answer the door.
I’m not too concerned. Since we have a doorman, visitors are usually called in, and since I didn’t hear the phone ring, I know exactly who is here. I mean, there’s only one person who could get past security.
“Uncle Austin!” Charlie boasts as I open the door.
“Charlie, my man. What’s up, big guy?” Austin says as he enters through the door with his hand up in the air.
Charlie jumps up to give him a high five. It’s become their thing. Yes, in the short time Charlie and Austin have gotten to know each other, they’ve developed a bond. Just this past weekend, they played laser tag, and Austin told stories of his time in the Marines. I have a feeling Charlie’s love for superheroes is going to move in the direction of Army and war toys very soon.
“Hello, Tessa.” Austin gives me a kiss on the cheek.
“Hi, Uncle Austin,” I say with a raised brow.
“Come on, it’s cute. He’s my little buddy.” Austin’s blue eyes twinkle.
“Even though we are living with Bryce, I don’t want to jump to the next step until we’re ready.”
Austin laughs. “Are you seriously worried you’re gonna break up? Even if you wanted to leave Bryce, the guy would stalk you to the other side of the country. Sorry, Tessa, but you’re stuck with him. And us.” He swings an arm around Jalynn, who comes in behind him.
Jalynn shrugs with a laugh. “He’s right. On the bright side, you get me, too!”
“Do you want to see the skyscraper we’re building out of over a thousand Lego pieces?” Charlie asks with so much enthusiasm that it makes Austin chuckle to himself.
“You know I do. Show me the way.” Austin motions before winking at Jalynn. “Come on, Pyle. Let’s go see what my brother spoiled Charlie with this time.”
“I hate that nickname!” she yells at Austin.
He doesn’t seem to care though. He places a hand on her cheek and pulls her in for a long kiss.
“Ew.” Charlie is looking up at them in disgust.
Austin gives Jalynn one more kiss. When he releases her, her eyes are still closed. Clearly, she is over whatever she was upset about a moment ago. Austin grabs her hand and pulls her with him up to Charlie’s room.
The room is double the size of his old room, which is a good thing because, the day we moved in, Bryce surprised Charlie with an absurd amount of gifts, including a bed in the shape of the Batmobile. It was all very sweet but too much. I was keeping Charlie from being spoiled when I was living on a budget. Now, I’m in a penthouse with my millionaire boyfriend. My job just got harder.
I can’t complain though. Bryce is head over heels in love with both Charlie and me. We are both spoiled rotten, and it has nothing to do with money.
It’s love.
It’s his attention.
It’s the way he’ll come all the way home just to read Charlie’s bedtime story and then go back to work.
It’s the way he has rearranged his schedule to make sure he doesn’t miss one Boy Scouts event, no matter how late he has to stay up to finish his work.
But, most importantly, it’s the way he looks at both of us, like he is truly at peace when he’s by our side, especially now that the Christine accusation has ended.
My mother documented what she’d overheard in the hallway should Christine try to press charges or do anything similar again. Bryce’s attorneys also had his other past assistants who he’d been intimate with file their own letters, stating that acts were consensual. No money was exchanged between Bryce or any of the women who vouched for his character. It was just a security blanket for the future.
I don’t like the fact that Bryce has had relationships before we met, but I’m secure in ours that I won’t let it affect me. We’re in love. Damn … that feels good.
I fill a glass with water and walk it over to the Guiana chestnut Bryce brought me. This tree was meant to bring me luck, and boy did it, tenfold. I would never have dreamed it would bring me love. That’s greater than luck.
“Honey, I’m home!” Bryce announces as he walks through the door.
He says it every time he comes home, and as cheesy as it is, I can’t help but find it incredibly sexy. Especially when he’s wearing a dark suit that’s molded to his perfectly strong frame and his hair is a little wild from a long day of running his hands through it and he’s wearing those sunglasses, making him look all GQ, like he is right this very second.
He doesn’t even get another word out before I’m across the room and in his arms. His hands go right for my ass, and he lifts me off the ground. I wrap my arms around him and kiss him like I haven’t seen him in years.
He kicks the door closed, shoves his glasses off, and walks me over to the living room. It’s a grand room with two-story windows and sweeping views of the city. It’s a gorgeous room with a stunning view, but it’s got nothing on the man who is laying me on the couch and settling himself in between my legs as our mouths are hot and our bodies are heavy with need.
