LOGINEMILY POVTwo weeks.Two weeks since I'd heard my baby's voice on that phone call, two weeks of nothing, complete silence, no messages, no photos, no taunts, just silence.It was worse than the messages.At least with the messages I knew Ethan was alive, knew John still had him, knew where to direct all this rage and fear.Now I had nothing.Just silence and my own mind tearing itself apart imagining what was happening to my son.I hadn't slept in days, couldn't eat, couldn't think about anything except Ethan crying on that phone, Ethan saying he's hitting me, Ethan's bruised face in that last photo.Dominic wasn't much better.He sat at his desk eighteen hours a day, working with Theo's security team, with Detective Morris, following every lead no matter how small, refusing to stop even though every single one had led nowhere.We barely spoke anymore.What was there to say?I was standing in Ethan's room, had been standing there for the past hour, just looking at his toys, his books,
DOMINIC POVEthan's breathing changed, got faster, panicked."Daddy he's back.""Ethan listen to me, hang up the phone right now, put it back exactly where you found it, go sit down, don't say anything about this call, do you understand?""I'm scared.""I know but you have to do this, you have to hang up right now and act normal, can you do that for me?""Okay daddy.""I love you so much Ethan, so much, we're coming to get you.""I love you too."The line went dead.I stood there staring at my phone, my whole body shaking, tears still falling.Emily collapsed against me, sobbing into my chest.Detective Morris was on her radio, "did we get it? Tell me we got it."A voice crackled back, "yes ma'am, we got the location, sending it to you now."She looked at her phone, "forty minutes east, residential area, I'm mobilizing everyone now.""I'm coming," I said."Mr. Steele.""I'm coming, that's my son, I'm not waiting here."She looked at me for a long moment, then nodded, "fine, but same r
DOMINIC POVThree days.Three days since John took my son, three days of searching, tracking, following leads that went nowhere, three days of watching Emily fall apart piece by piece while I pretended I had it together.I didn't have it together.I was barely holding on.We were back at the house, command center set up in my living room, Detective Morris with her team, Theo with his security guys, everyone working phones, computers, following every possible lead.Emily sat on the couch staring at nothing, hadn't eaten in two days, barely slept, just sat there waiting for news that never came."Mr. Steele," Detective Morris called from across the room, "we got another ping, different location, about two hours west."I was already moving, "let's go.""Dom wait," Theo grabbed my arm, "we've been doing this for three days, every time we get close he's already gone, there has to be a pattern, something we're missing.""I don't care about patterns, I care about finding my son.""I know but
EMILY POVThe name came out like poison, like something he wanted to spit out of his mouth and destroy.I couldn't breathe, couldn't think, couldn't do anything except stare at that photo of my baby asleep in the back of a car, his little face peaceful like he didn't know, like he had no idea what was happening."He took our son," I whispered, "he took Ethan."Dominic was already moving, phone to his ear, "I need every available unit to my location right now, my son has been kidnapped, I'm sending you a photo."He forwarded the message to whoever was on the other end, his voice sharp, controlled in a way that scared me because I could hear what was underneath it, pure rage barely held together.Sophie appeared beside us, her face streaked with tears, "I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry, this is all my fault.""Not now Sophie," Dominic said without looking at her, still on the phone, "yes, six years old, brown hair, he was wearing a blue shirt with a dinosaur on it, someone took him from his b
EMILY POVI watched as Ethan got surrounded by his friends, their little voices overlapping, all of them shouting happy birthday at once, his face completely lit up, and my heart felt so full I thought it might actually burst."You did good baby," Dominic said beside me.I smiled, turned to look at him, "we both did good my love."He smiled back, wrapped his hand around my waist and kissed the side of my head softly.Sophie appeared out of nowhere clapping her hands, "okay everybody, let's get this party started, who's ready for games?"Every single kid screamed yes at the top of their lungs.She had them lined up for musical chairs within two minutes, the music blasting, kids running in circles, parents standing on the sidelines filming everything.Ethan was taking it so seriously, his little face completely focused, watching that chair like his life depended on it.Then the music stopped.He went for the seat at the exact same time as another kid, a little girl in a pink dress, they
Emily POV:The two days went by in a blur honestly.Dominic's parents arrived the evening before the birthday. His mother Margaret walked through the door with three suitcases for a two day visit, his father trailing behind her carrying all of them with the patience of a man who had been doing it for decades."Where is my grandson," was the first thing out of her mouth. Not hello, not how are you, just straight to Ethan, and honestly I respected it.He came thundering down the stairs and she caught him mid-air, squeezed him so tight he laughed and squirmed. His grandfather stood beside them with the proudest smile on his face. I stayed back and watched all of it, feeling something warm and full settle in my chest.We had dinner together that evening, all of us around the table, loud and happy.Then midnight hit.I heard Margaret before I saw her, moving through the hallway, knocking on doors. "Wake up, wake up, it's time."I sat up in bed blinking at my phone screen. 12:00am.Dominic
Emily POVMy phone rang while I was on the sofa, feet tucked under me, halfway through my second cup of tea.Rebecca.I sat up and answered."Rebecca.""Ms. Hart, I'm so sorry to call on a Sunday.""It's fine, what's wrong.""Nothing's wrong," she said quickly, and then she paused, and I could hear
That alone woke me from my drunk state."No you're not," I glared at him, pulling away from his hands. "And why are you here? Where's Ethan?"He didn't answer, still glaring at Mike until Mike finally got the memo and left."How dare you chase my one night stand," I was pissed, actually pissed.He
Suddenly a car horn disrupted the whole vibe and I was back to my senses."Uhm, I'll... I'll get going. Bye." I ran into my car without sparing him another glance. I quickly reversed back and zoomed off the parking lot.All through the drive my mind kept spinning back to the almost kissing scene we
Emily POVI turned around slowly, my heart already knowing who it was before my eyes confirmed it, Dominic stood there in a perfectly tailored suit, looking like he owned the world."Mister nice man," Ethan screamed and before I could stop him he ran straight to Dominic.Dominic bent down and caugh







