Stuck between two bad boys

Mom rushed to where her bag was and picked up her phone. I could tell she was about to call the cops with how urgent her steps were.

The moment the call connected, she started shrieking for help.

“A tracker… My baby… I found a tracker..” She cried.Belonging © NôvelDram/a.Org.

“There’s a fucking tracker in her room.”

“Please be fast, I can’t believe she’s been tracked all this while.”

She dropped the call and turned to Dad. He wrapped his hands around her and she cried in his arms. I stood with them scared, wondering how long Devin was able to do this.

I felt the urge to call Devin and tell him his fucking games were over age whatever tricks he was playing has been found. I stared at the screen of my phone and remained quiet, I fought the urge and tossed my phone back in my pocket.

I know Devin has Emily, I have a strong feeling it’s him but the night she was kidnapped, I called him. He couldn’t have been that shocked too. I wondered who else would want to have Emily and my mind went to James.

Fucking hell.

Why didn’t I think of him all this while? There was no way I could stand against James alone. He was a dangerous man who got information from whoever he wanted.

I realized if it was him who placed the tracker then there was a high chance that he’s probably been aware of everything Emily has been doing, including where she went to that night.

I raised my head to Mom and Dad. Mom was now sitting on the armrest chair and Dad was beside her. She looked really scared but Dad was trying to calm her down.

“You need to calm down,” he told her. “The police will be here soon.”

She gave a slight nod and my lips twitched. We were all waiting for the cops to arrive so they can begin investigations. My phone vibrated in my pocket and I reached for it. I stared at the text for a second and squeezed my jaw.

Devin: 14th district, Midtown street, Manhattan. Come alone, come armed.

What did he mean by coming alone and coming armed? Was he trying to get me into such a deserted area so he could kill me? I pondered on the possible reasons why Devin was inviting me to come armed.

“Good day,” The officer greeted as he walked in. I turned my attention to him and shoved my phone away.

He showed her his ID and she explained everything to him, showing him the makeup box that was on the table.

“I see.”

He picked up the supposed lipstick and looked at it closely. The other Officer jotted some things down.

“Do you suspect anyone?” The officer asked and Dad quickly gave a nod.

“Her Father. James must have been the brain behind this.”

The officer took that down and gave a nod following his suspicions. I remained quiet and stood watching them. If I was asked the same question, I would have said Devin but on second thought, it could have been James all along.

Not that I was sure about the accusations but it doesn’t seem to add up. He barely called since she was kidnapped, which Father would possibly be so nonchalant?

Dad dialed James’ number following the Officer’s instructions. The phone rang twice but there was no reply.

“Pick up your damn phone,” Dad cussed.

After dialing the number the third time, James picked up the call.

“I’m in a meeting,” he said so urgently. “I’ll get back to you in a few hours, thanks.”

“You took my daughter and I’ll make sure you pay for that!” Dad yelled.

The phone was on loudspeaker so everyone could hear the conversation.

“I didn’t take your daughter,” James claimed. “Emily is bug enough to know if she wants to be taken or not.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“What I mean is she knows where she wants to be and she has probably gone there. Don’t call my phone accusing me when you don’t have any evidence.”

“Evidence, really?” Dad paused for a moment and exhaled. He wanted to tell him he has got evidence but decided not to. If James found out there was a piece of evidence then he would find a way to destroy it too. It was better to let him think there was no evidence.

“You caused it. There was no way she could have been happy there.”

“Don’t you dare blame me,” Dad warned.

“Or else what? How did you expect Emily to remain with you when you couldn’t provide the basic things she needed? The things like the attention that meant so much to her were taken from her too. She was deprived of everything and guess what?”

Dad only heaved, he didn’t respond.

“She got fed up and decided to run away. She’s a young girl for crying out loud. Emily is young and she needs money, just like every other young teenager out there. You had nothing to offer except a bloody asshole you called her stepbrother who tried to rape her at every chance he got.”

A cold shiver was sent down my spine as I swallowed hard. Did Emily tell James? I’d be so fucked up if she did.

“Don’t talk of my son in that manner,” Dad defended.

The call disconnected and Dad angrily threw his phone against the wall. He scoffed at how James talked to him. He didn’t want to be blamed for Emily’s disappearance because he knew he was trying to be a great father to both Emily and me.

I stood still and turned my face slightly. I hoped the Police didn’t hear the part James called me a rapist, it was going to get me in a lot of trouble.

When the Officers were done jotting down what they needed, They asked some questions.

“She doesn’t complain about being attention-deprived,” Mom replied to one of his questions.

“Ever noticed she was yearning for attention?”

“No. Whenever we went on a trip we make sure to call Xavier and her. We have a good relationship with our kids and we don’t abandon them.”

“How long are your trips?”

Dad turned to answer this one. He crossed his arm around each other. “The duration of our trips has varied but we’ve never been away for so long.”

“Do they receive any visitors during such moments?”

“No Officer, they don’t receive visitors.”

“Thank you, I’ll get back to you shortly and I’ll keep an eye on everyone.”

Dad gave a nod and I heaved a sigh of relief.