am-books Chapter 86: Lost and Found
Chapter 86: Lost and Found
Chapter 86: Lost and Found
[Erica’s POV]
I pace back and forth across the plush carpet of my mother’s home office. The room is a bastion of elegance and power, with its rich mahogany bookshelves and the imposing desk that dominates the space. But right now, it feels more like a cage, the walls closing in as my anxiety spirals.
“I don’t know what to do, Mom,” I blurt out, my voice cracking with the weight of my emotions. I run a hand through my hair, not caring that I’m messing up the careful styling I’d done this morning. “Since I’ve started dating Jason, he’s been kidnapped twice. People keep latching onto him.”
I spin on my heel, facing my mother who sits behind her desk, her posture perfect as always. Her face is a mask of calm, but I can see the concern in her eyes.
I continue, the words tumbling out in a rush. “I barely feel like he’s safe right now despite being only down the hall. He won’t even leave the house to go to school.” I pause, taking a shuddering breath. “Mom, we’re going to fail.”
“Erica, darling,” she begins, her tone gentle but firm. “You need to take a deep breath and slow down. Panicking isn’t going to help Jason, and it certainly isn’t going to help you.”
I open my mouth to protest, but Mom holds up a hand, silencing me. “I understand your concerns. What you and Jason have been through is traumatic, and it’s natural to feel overwhelmed. But you’re stronger than this, Erica. You’re a Knight.”
I feel my composure crumbling, tears welling up in my eyes as the full weight of my failure crashes down on me. “Mom,” I choke out, “I promised to protect him. I swore I’d keep him safe.” My hands clench into fists at my sides, nails digging painfully into my palms. “But he’s been raped by four people. Four! And I couldn’t stop it.”
“The only option I’m seeing,” I continue, my voice growing hollow, “is to clean up the basement and lock him down there. At least then I’d know where he is, know that no one could hurt him.”
Mom sighs, long and deep, the sound filled with a weariness I’ve never heard from her before. “Oh, Erica,” she says, her voice soft and tinged with something that might be regret. “You really are just like your grandmother.”
I whirl around, my eyes wide with surprise. “What?”
But Mom just shakes her head, a sad smile playing at the corners of her lips. “It’s not important,” she says, waving a hand dismissively. “What matters now is Jason’s well-being and yours.”
“So what do I do?” I asked, desperation creeping into my voice.
Mom stands, moving around the desk to stand before me. She places her hands on my shoulders, her touch grounding me in a way nothing else has. “After the wedding,” she says slowly, carefully choosing each word, “you can lock him up if you truly believe it’s necessary.”
My heart leaps at her words, a surge of relief washing over me. But it’s short-lived as I see the sadness deepening in my mother’s eyes.
“But Erica,” Mom continues, her voice gentle but firm, “he deserves to be free until he becomes a Knight. You owe him that much.”
I stare at my mother, my mind reeling. The idea of waiting until after the wedding in August to lock Jason up feels like an eternity. Every moment he’s not in my sight, not under my protection, is a moment where something terrible could happen.
“But Mom,” I protest, my voice rising in pitch, “you don’t understand. Jason probably wants to be locked up more than I want to do it. He could heal quicker there.”
I begin pacing again, my words tumbling out in a frantic rush. “We would make it comfortable, you know? Like a little apartment. Soft lighting, plush carpets, a big TV. He loves video games. We would set up all systems down there. And his laptop! He could still use the internet. Maybe just a little parental blocking.... Or maybe no internet, I don’t know.”
My mind races with possibilities, painting a picture of a gilded cage. “We could install a treadmill, maybe some weights. Keep him healthy. And I’d be there all the time, of course. We could have movie nights and cuddle on a big, soft couch. It would be like a permanent slumber party, just the two of us.”
I spin to face my mother, my eyes wide and pleading. “Don’t you see? It would be perfect. He’d be safe, and I’d never have to worry again.”
Mom’s expression is a mixture of sympathy and resignation. “I know, darling,” she says softly. “I know you believe that’s what he wants.”
She shifts her weight from one foot to the other, her hands fidgeting with the hem of her shirt. “I, uh... I need to talk to you,” she says, her voice dropping to almost a whisper. “In private, if that’s okay.”
My eyebrow shoots up in surprise. Brooke has never asked to speak to me alone before.
“Of course,” I say, keeping my voice light and casual for Jason’s sake. I turn to him, pressing a soft kiss on his forehead. “We’ll be right back, okay, love?”
Jason nods, his eyes already heavy with exhaustion. “Okay,” he murmurs, settling back onto the bed. “I think I’ll just rest for a bit.”
I stand, following Brooke out into the hallway. As I pull the door shut behind us, I catch one last glimpse of Jason curled up on the bed. The sight makes my heart clench with a mixture of love and protectiveness.
As the door clicks shut behind us, I turn to face Brooke. The hallway suddenly feels too small, the air thick with tension. Brooke’s eyes are wide, a mixture of excitement and nervousness dancing in their hazel depths. She leans in close, her voice barely above a whisper as she speaks.
“I think I found Tessa.”
The words hit me like a physical blow, sending a jolt of electricity through my body. “Huh?” I manage to choke out, my mind reeling with the implications.
Brooke takes a deep breath, her words coming out in a rushed, hushed torrent. “I contacted Tessa a week ago. I’ve been pretending to be an ally, someone who sympathizes with her situation. It wasn’t easy, but I managed to gain her trust.”
“Holy shit,” I whisper, my heart pounding so loudly I’m sure Brooke can hear it. The possibility of finally finding Tessa and ripping all her skin off, sends a heady rush of adrenaline coursing through my veins.
Brooke fumbles with her phone, her fingers flying across the screen. “I’ll send you it right now. The location tracking data.” She looks up at me, her eyes blazing with determination. “She’s somewhere in California. I’ve narrowed it down to a specific area.”
I stare at Brooke, truly seeing her for perhaps the first time. Gone is the timid, jealous girl I’ve known. In her place stands a woman of steel, her jaw set with resolve.
Brooke fumbles with her phone, her fingers flying across the screen. She turns it towards me, revealing a series of messages between her and Tessa. My eyes scan the conversation, drinking in every detail. There, in black and white, is the information we’ve been desperately seeking Tessa’s location.
“She’s in a small town just outside of Los Angeles,” Brooke whispers.”
I stare at Brooke, a mixture of emotions swirling within me. Gratitude, excitement, and a dark thrill of anticipation war for dominance. My lips curl into a slow, predatory smile as I process the information she’s just handed me.
“You’ll take care of it, right?” Brooke asks. Her eyes are wide, a complex blend of emotions swimming in their hazel depths.
I study her face carefully, searching for any sign of hesitation or doubt. “You know what you’re asking, right?” I say softly, my voice low and intense. “You understand exactly what this means?”
Brooke swallows hard, her throat bobbing visibly. For a moment, I think I see a flicker of uncertainty cross her features. But then her jaw sets, a steely resolve settling over her like a cloak. She meets my gaze unflinchingly, her chin lifted in defiance.
“I know exactly what I’m saying,” she replies, her voice steady and sure. “What she did to Jason... she deserves whatever’s coming to her.”
At this moment, I realize I’ve underestimated Brooke. “Brooke,” I say softly, a slow smile spreading across my face, “maybe you’re not so bad after all.”
She blinks, surprise flickering across her features before a tentative smile tugs at the corners of her mouth. “Thanks, I think,” she replies, a hint of dry humor in her voice.
With a final nod of understanding, I turn back to the bedroom door. My hand rests on the polished knob for a moment as I take a deep breath, centering myself. The weight of what’s to come settles on my shoulders, but it’s a burden I’m more than willing to bear.