Alex’s blood boiled. Like he had the time or energy to drive to Walla Walla to go to the penitentiary anytime soon. Or like he wanted to see Flynn. But he didn’t have another option from the looks of it. Not that he’d give in easily.
Alex: Tell him to find me.
Unknown: Can’t.
Fury tore through him. He wanted to punch a hole in something. Like Flynn’s face.
Instead, he turned the deadbolt and put the key into the knob.
His phone buzzed again.
He swore, but ignored it.
It buzzed again, then again.
Alex checked the texts, growing even angrier when he saw the new ones.
Unknown: Don’t ignore him.
Unknown: Or me.
Unknown: Answer me before your booty call.
Alex spun around and studied the area. After not seeing anyone, he waved around a one-finger salute in case the texter was watching him.
His phone buzzed like crazy.
Unknown: We need a date.
Unknown: Now.
Unknown: Before you step inside.
Unknown: You’ll regret ignoring us.
Unknown: Alex Mercer.
Alex wanted to hunt the jerk down and beat him to a pulp.
Zoey called him from inside the apartment.
Alex swore under his breath, then sent a final text.
Alex: Saturday. Now leave me alone.
Unknown: Perfect. Better show up.
Alex shoved the phone back into his pocket and went inside. He took a deep breath, then another and another. If another text came in, he was going to lose it.
Luckily, all was quiet.
“Alex?” Zoey called from her room.
He did his best to push aside his anger. “It’s me. Do you need anything?”
“Some juice.”
“Coming right up.” He kicked off his shoes, washed his hands, then poured her some orange juice.
Zoey sat up and smiled when he entered her room. “Thank you.”
“Of course.” Alex handed the glass to her and kissed her forehead as she gulped it down. He focused on her, trying to calm himself.
She handed him the empty glass. “Is there anything to eat out there? I obviously haven’t been shopping.”
“I’ll check. Either way, you’ll have food. We can order online, and I’ll pick it up or see if we can find delivery.”
“Are you sure?”
“Why wouldn’t I be?”
She frowned.
He sat and brushed his fingers across her jawline. “Are you okay?”
“I’m sick of being in bed…” Her voice trailed off like she had more to say.
Then he remembered she was supposed to get the paternity results that day. Maybe that was what was bothering her—confirmation that she was carrying Dave’s babies.
It certainly made Alex sick to his stomach.
“Did you hear from the doctor?” He took her hand in his.
Zoey drew in a deep breath and stared at something behind Alex.
He kissed her cheek. “Do you want to talk about it?”
She met his gaze. “One of them is yours.”
It took him a moment to comprehend her words. “One of them?”
“Apparently, it happens. Two eggs, two set of sperm. Baby A is yours.”
Alex thought back to the days leading up to Zoey’s abduction. He thought he’d heard somewhere that sperm could hang around for a few days, maybe even a week. He couldn’t remember for sure.
“It’s a shock, I know.”
He nodded. “How are you feeling about all of this?”
“I’m glad one of them is yours. I wish they both were.”
Alex kissed her temple. “Like I said, I’m not going anywhere. So even if they were both his, that wouldn’t change anything. We’re still a family—you, me, Ari, and the babies. Both of them.”
Tears shone in her eyes. “You don’t know how much that means to me.”
A lump formed in his throat. “Don’t do this.” He cleared his throat. “Don’t make me cry. It’s hard enough on me knowing what happened to you.”
She threw her arms around him and squeezed. “I really don’t know what I’d do without you.”
Tears stung his eyes. “I said, don’t.”
“I can’t help it. You’re better than I deserve.”
He sat back and stared her in the eyes. “Don’t say that. Don’t ever say that. I’m lucky to have you. I’ve made more stupid decisions than anyone I know. Why you chose me over Golden Boy, I’ll never know, but I’ll be forever grateful.”
Zoey sniffled. “We’re meant to be together, Alex. Things keep trying to tear us apart, but somehow, they never do. At least, not for long.”
“You’re right. Keep that in mind, because I’m not going anywhere. Those years without you in my life were the worst I’ve ever experienced. You’re not going to get rid of me easily. In fact, I dare you to try.”
She smiled and wiped an eye. “I’m glad to hear that, because I’m not letting you go without a fight. That’s a mistake I’ll only make once.”
Alex pressed his mouth on her soft, sweet lips and kissed her deeply. He didn’t know how he’d ended up so lucky, but he was beyond grateful. The fact that one of the twins was his was a sign from above that they were indeed meant for each other.
He wasn’t going to mess it up this time.
Lament
Tony paced around the fountain, muttering under his breath. Maisie and her mom had been shopping in the mall for hours—hours!—and the annoying woman hadn’t taken her eyes off the girl for a single moment. She’d even taken her into the same bathroom stall.
Normally, he would have given up by now. Five solid days of frustration. Sure, sometimes it took longer to get a kid, but time was not on his side. Not this time. He wasn’t getting any younger. Neither was Maisie.
And aside from that, every night on the news, they announced more of his treasures having been identified. Some nights, they had as many as three.
His heart ached at the thought of them all being away from each other. For so long, they had been there for each other. His prizes kept each other company. Now they were all alone, and one by one were going back to the families that didn’t deserve them.
Everything was off-kilter this time. And patience wasn’t going to stave him off.
He stopped behind an ugly potted tree and peered into the kids’ jewelry and costume store. Maisie was wearing a rainbow-colored wig and twirling around in a tutu. Her mom was snapping pictures with her phone.
That was a good idea. If he couldn’t get Maisie herself, he could at least look at images on his phone. On the other hand, if he waited thirty seconds, Emily would post them online.
He didn’t take out his phone. Just kept watching her, spinning and laughing. She was a beautiful child. Such a happy spirit. Definitely different from the others. She needed to be taken away before she turned into one of them. Domineering, rude, bossy women. Always demanding their own way. The worst part was how young they turned that way these days. It had to be all the hormones in the food. The government was trying to send everyone to an early death. Aging everyone faster. Making kids lose their childhoods early. Ruining sweet little girls.
The longer Maisie played ballerina, the more Tony found himself relaxing. She was like a tiny angel.
He couldn’t wait to have her all to himself. What a pleasure that would be. He wouldn’t have to share her any longer. Finally, a little girl who would keep her lovely disposition.
Emily put her phone away and said something to her daughter. Maisie’s expression fell. Her mom said something else, then the girl squirmed out of the tutu and put it up, then removed the wig and put it back.
Tony took a deep breath. Maybe the woman would finally take her eyes off Maisie for a moment and give him his opportunity.
His skin was on fire. He couldn’t wait another day. School was impossible. There was no way he would get her there. Not unless
she was one of those kids who walked home—then he could get her before or after. But so few kids did that these days.
Stupid helicopter parents. They made life so difficult on everyone. Taking kids used to be so much easier.
Maisie and her mom left the jewelry store with a little white baggie. The girl swung it back and forth, skipping ahead of her mom.
Tony held back a moment before following them. Couldn’t make it obvious. Especially not with those blasted cameras everywhere. He really missed the simpler times. Thirty years before had been the golden age. Kids Maisie’s age went off on their own all the time, and nobody thought anything of it. But to be fair, it was people like Tony who had ruined that. Parents didn’t want their kids taken away. Not that it changed the fact that they deserved it. Raising spoiled, bossy brats.
There were still ways to get kids. There were always ways. He had proved that time and time again. He just needed to keep getting smarter along with the society and technology that made it more of a challenge.
The hunt was half the fun. It made the capture all the sweeter.
Up ahead, Maisie stopped and pointed to a shop. Tony couldn’t see what kind of a store it was from how far back he was. He pretended to look at some space-age glasses at a kiosk, while Maisie pleaded with her mom.
Emily held her ground, then the two walked on.
Tony nodded to the kiosk attendant and chased after Maisie and her mom, careful not to lose them and to keep from drawing any attention to himself.
He slowed when he reached the spot Maisie had been begging.
A pet store. Kittens played in a large display, chasing after each other and hiding behind tall climbers.
Tony glanced back at Maisie and her mom. They disappeared around a corner.
He let them.
This was his answer. The present in his car wasn’t quite enough. A kitty, however, would be more than enough. And since Maisie was going to be his forever girl, the expense would be worth it.
He smiled as he watched the little fur balls jump, pounce, and slide across the floor. It was anyone’s guess which one had captured Maisie’s heart.
Any of them would do the job—they were all cute baby cats. Maisie would go with him for sure. But it would be all the better if he could find the one she liked best.
It was so hard to say. They came in all colors—black, orange, white, calico, and gray. The multi-colored one had bright blue eyes that really stood out. That had to be the one.
He watched them a few more minutes just to be sure. Then he marched into the pet shop.
A teenager with a long pink ponytail gave him a tired smile. “Can I help you?”
“Yes. I’d like to see your calico cat.”
Treasure
Tony tapped his fingers on the steering wheel as the kitten meowed in the backseat. Neither car was parked in front of the house. Usually, they were both there. Ryan should be fiddling with his motorcycle and Emily should be inside, posting pictures of dinner and her nails.
Where could they be? He’d lost them in his effort to purchase the cat, leaving his wallet over five-hundred dollars lighter once everything was said and done. As Tony found out, one couldn’t simply buy a pet—they also needed special food, a bed, and other crap like that. But if Maisie was going to be happy with it, he was happy. Just poorer.
He glanced up and down the street. Where were they?
Then it struck him. It was Wednesday. They went to church, and a lot of churchgoers attended midweek services.
It might be easier to snatch her there than in the neighborhood. This could be to his advantage.
He started the car and drove the short distance to the church. Sure enough, the parking lot was full and plenty of lights were on inside. It was impossible to tell if Maisie’s parents’ vehicles were there, but they probably were since neither were at home.
Tony checked that the cat had enough water still, cracked open the back windows, then headed for the building. Gospel songs sounded from across the street in the church.
He smiled at the ushers as he slid through the front door and clapped in tune with the music. The sanctuary was full of happy, singing congregants.
Tony slid into an available space near the back, continued clapping, and tried to sing along with the song about the coming glory of Heaven. He ended up mouthing the word ‘watermelon’ as he scanned the crowd for Ryan and Emily.
They were in the same pew as they had been on Sunday, standing no closer to each other. Maisie was probably in the children’s class.
A new song started, and Tony slid out of his seat back out to the foyer. He nodded to an usher. “Where’s the bathroom?”
The cheerful thirty-something pointed him in the direction.
Tony gave a quick thanks and headed that way, hoping to find the kids’ classes nearby. He reached the bathroom before a row of doors.
The usher waved to him, so Tony waved back and ducked into the restroom. He exchanged greetings with a guy washing his hands, then went to the urinal where nobody would bother him.
Once the others left, he peeked outside. The usher was clapping and singing, his attention on the sanctuary.
Tony slipped out and wandered down the hallway toward a row of doors, hopeful they were classrooms.
They were. Each door had a nice, big window. The first few classrooms had babies and toddlers, so he hurried past those until he saw kids closer to Maisie’s age.
He glanced back every so often to make sure nobody was watching him. The noisy preacher’s voice traveled down the hall, and the ushers were all paying attention to the sermon.
Good.
Tony slowed at each window until he finally found Maisie. She wore a yellow tutu over her pants—that had to have been what she’d gotten back at the mall.
She glanced up from the picture she was coloring and waved when she saw him.
The smile on her face warmed him through and through. Tony waved, his grin matching hers.
Maisie turned her attention back to the paper, scrawling with a serious expression.
Tony admired her for a moment before pulling himself away and heading back to the sanctuary. No need for someone to think he was a creeper. He took the same seat he’d had before and did his best to sit still. It was hard given how close he was to bringing his treasure home.
The cabin was primed and ready. Full of fresh food. Aired out and scrubbed. Clean bedding in her room.
It would be their own private paradise. The place was so far out of the way, nobody would ever find them. It was the building time had forgotten. Built by his grandfather. Ignored by his spiteful alcoholic father. Restored by Tony after he ran away as a teenager. It had been the only place he could stay, where nobody would bother him.
It was also where he eventually started bringing his treasures once he realized how much joy they brought him. He hadn’t meant to kill the first few. Amy, his first girlfriend and first victim, had been a complete accident. She’d pissed him off, talking down to him like his dad always did after his mother’s suicide. Blaming him for things that weren’t his fault.
Everyone was always blaming him for everything. His sister’s death. Then Mom’s suicide. Even Dad turning to the drink. Then there was his brother. His stupid, stupid brother…
Tony took a deep breath. He wasn’t here to think about them. Any of them. Life-ruining retards. He was here to bring Maisie home and finally have the happiness he deserved, that he’d been searching for all these years.
He let his mind wander back to the house—before all his treasures had been taken away. How he’d loved wandering through the yard and visiting them. Burying Amy there had been a matter of convenience since it was her home and where he’d killed her, but it ended up being a place of complete comfort.
The sermon ended. More singing.
He collected his thoughts, then got up and slid into the hallway, nodding to the usher again. He pretended to read the postings on a bulletin board while watching for Maisie’s
parents.
After the song, people streamed out into the foyer. Emily was one of the first. She bustled toward the classrooms. No more than two minutes later, Maisie raced into the entry and out the door, her tutu bouncing along with her blonde locks.
Emily stopped near the bathrooms and spoke with another woman.
This was it. His opportunity. Nobody was watching Maisie.
Tony stepped outside, asserting full restraint. He wanted to run after his treasure. But one wrong move could mess everything up.
Now, more than ever, he needed to make sure every move was calculated. Perfect.
Maisie ran around the grass, chasing other kids and laughing. She waved to him as she passed.
He nodded then moseyed over to an apple tree and leaned against it. A minute later, Maisie stopped in front of him and caught her breath.
“I’ve still got that present.” Tony kept his tone nonchalant, almost making it sound like he didn’t care if she came to get it.
“When can I have it?”
“Anytime you want. Oh, and I have something else.”
Her eyes widened. “What?”
He let a beat pass between them. “A kitten.”
Maisie’s eyes widened even more. “You do?”
Tony nodded. “Just got him today.”
She squealed.
He looked around to make sure nobody was paying any attention. Her parents weren’t outside, and the other adults were busy on their phones or talking to each other. “Want to see? He’s in my car because I haven’t made it home yet. You would love his bright blue eyes. I’ve never seen a calico with such pretty eyes.”
Maisie covered her mouth. “Did you get him at the mall?”
Tony nodded.
“I was looking at that kitty! I begged Mommy for him, but she said no.”
“You can play with him if you want. I don’t think your parents would mind, would they? We went to lunch, remember?”
Maisie looked like she was about to explode with excitement.
“Do you want to help me name him? I can’t think of anything that fits.”
Her mouth dropped open. “Where’s your car?”
He nodded in the direction. “I’ll meet you over there in a minute, okay?”
Don't Forget Me Page 18
