She’d been out all day.
Most of the other neighbors worked during the day, so as far as we knew, Noah had disappeared.
There was only one thing left to do—call the police.
“I can’t believe I’m doing this,” Jackson said, holding the phone up to his ear. Shaky fingers ran through his hair as he waited for someone to pick up.
Everything moved quickly after that. Police officers were at the house within a matter of minutes. Statements were taken, and an AMBER Alert was issued.
When my phone went berserk, notifying me of the alert, I finally broke.
When I saw Noah’s physical description and last known whereabouts flashing across my screen, not knowing if he was safe or hurt, I couldn’t breathe.
The police officers kept the media at bay. After several hours, things settled, and we were told to try to get some rest.
I looked up at what was left of the man I loved, and I wondered, Who could possibly rest when his entire world is crumbling?
The house grew quiet, too quiet, once again.
I watched the sun set across the street, and I questioned where Noah could be. Was he fed? Was he cold? Oh God, had he been hurt?
Just then, Noah’s phone rang.
Both Jackson and I looked at each other.
“Do you think it’s maybe one of his friends?” I asked.
“I don’t know, but I’m answering it.”
Jackson pressed down the call button and held the phone to his ear.
His eyes went wide in shock and horror as he whispered one word, “Natalie.”
~Jackson~
I recognized her voice in an instant, that cold, raspy resonance coiling around my eardrums like a snake. It was a sound I would never forget.
“Jackson,” she purred, “it’s been far too long.”
“Where is he?” I demanded, feeling my fists tighten.
“He’s gotten so big. My, how the years have flown by.”
“Damn it, Natalie! Where the fuck is he?” I shouted, banging my fist down hard on the wooden table.
Liv’s loving touch wrapped around me, her fingers clutching my bicep.
“Now, let’s be civil, Jackson,” Natalie said, laughter pulsating through every frustrating word.
“Civil? You kidnapped my child!”
“Ours,” she hissed. “Or did your new girlfriend suddenly make you forget who gave birth to him?”
I turned, looking over my shoulder to find Liv. Her eyes were filled with agony. She’d heard every word. Changing it to speakerphone, I hissed, “He stopped being yours the day you walked out of our lives, remember?”
Her cold, heartless voice filled the room. “I remember you giving me a tiny-ass diamond ring while we lived in a shoebox of an apartment, only to find out you had a fortune sitting in the bank. You obviously didn’t love me and Noah enough to provide for us the way we deserved.”
“You mean, the way you expected? That money was for law school, for a down payment on a home, for our future. I told you that, but you could never see beyond your own immediate needs.”
She laughed. It was a harsh sound filled with bitterness and contempt. “You’re right about one thing. Back then, I thought that I was leaving because I wasn’t ready to be a mother and that I was somehow doing both of you a favor. But I’ve grown since then. I’ve really come into my own skin, you could say, and there’s one thing I’ve realized about myself along the way, Jackson.”
“You’re a coldhearted bitch?”
A breathy giggle filled the airwaves. “I will always come first.”
As my nails continued to dig half moons into my palm, I decided I was done with reunions. I was done with listening to this woman talk about the past and her need for vengeance or whatever maniacal plan she’d set into motion.
I only wanted my son back.
“Natalie, where is Noah?” I asked, my voice eerily calm and determined.
“Don’t you watch the movies, Jackson dear? I’m not just going to hand him back over without getting something in return. This is an exchange.”
“Is he safe?” Liv spoke up, her voice desperate, as tears fell down her face.
“Oh, so the Senator’s daughter is there with you?”
My eyes locked with Liv’s, and I saw the moment it clicked, the moment Liv realized how Natalie had found us—the newspaper article.
“Really moving up in the world, aren’t you, baby?” Natalie said.
I shook my head, holding Liv as she struggled not to fall apart. None of this was her fault. If the blame belonged to anyone, it was mine. I’d fallen for the wrong woman. I hadn’t known Natalie would someday pull something like this.
“Don’t call me that,” I hissed.
“When I saw your face plastered all over the newspapers, I was shocked. I didn’t think it was possible, but you’ve gotten even more attractive over the years. Too bad I didn’t stick around longer.”
Blood dripped down my hand as I broke through the tender skin of my palm.
“Please just tell us he’s safe,” Liv begged.
“He’s safe. He doesn’t even really know what’s going on. For all those years of telling him what a horrible person his mother was, he sure seemed eager to leave with me. I’d expected him to put up a fight, but he happily said yes to my proposal for ice cream. We’ve been hanging out ever since.”
“I never told him you were a horrible person,” I said softly, shaking my head back and forth, regretting every single instance I’d tried to paint her in a better light for the sake of my son. Pictures, stories and the few mementos I had left of her was all given to him in hopes he would at least have something of the woman who gave him life.
I’d tried to be the better person. And now, it had cost me everything.
“Well, I guess that was your ultimate mistake.”
“What. Do. You. Want?” I asked again, punctuating every word.
“Two things actually. First, you’re going to call off that pesky AMBER Alert. It makes getting out of the country a little difficult. Second, I want money—lots of it. Around a million should do it.”
“Didn’t get enough the first time around?” I seethed.
“Always room for improvement. Plus, with your new love interest, I figured it shouldn’t be too hard for you now.”
That was what this was really about.
She’d seen Liv and me with her father, the wealthy Senator, and immediately thought of money. The press was still under the impression that all was well with the Prescott family. His camp had managed to keep everything under wraps, and to the outside world, Liv and her father were riding unicorns and skating on rainbows together. So, naturally, Liv would have access to mounds of cash.