The Missing One (Lost Series Book 2) (9 page)

“I better get to work,” he smiled, releasing me. I go over and stand with Jess again.

“Do you have surveillance cameras? An alarm system?” Blake inquired.

“Yes, I was the last to leave yesterday and set the alarm before I left. I’m not sure why it wouldn’t have gone off last night.”

“It may be faulty. We’ll take copies of your camera surveillance and our tech guys will come check out the alarm system. I’m terribly sorry about this. You should be right to go back into the store after lunch. That should give us plenty of time to gather the evidence we need.” Blake was using his calm, professional voice, trying not to allow Tracey to blow her top and become angry.

Abby

Three Years Ago

When we were allowed back into the store, we spent well into the night cleaning up the glass and straightening the racks. Tracey ran around to price new windows. Luckily, we were able to have a glazier come in and they had what we were after. Otherwise, we would have been camping out at the store.

Nine rolled around and Jess and I were finally released from our duties. Walking outside together, we walked silently to our cars.

“Are you all right, Abby?” Jess asked, stopping me in my tracks.

I released a sigh. “Yeah, just a lot going on. As I’m sure you saw today.”

“Yeah, your boyfriend…well, he isn’t very nice.”

“He’s not my boyfriend anymore. I finished that relationship last night.”

“Why was he here?” Her question had me wondering why myself. I knew he said he was coming to see me before he left, but something told me that he perhaps knew the shop was in this state.

“He was coming to see me before he went away for work.”

“Oh, yeah. I could see the way that police officer saw red when your boyfriend hit you. I thought he was going to punch him.”

“Yeah, I’m sure he wanted to as well, but being on duty he had to restrain himself.”

“Are you seeing him?” A cheeky smile swept across her face.

I couldn’t help the smile that flooded my own face. “I don’t know, honestly. I need to close things with Jacob, well and truly. But yeah, I really like Blake, the police officer.” We both giggled like little school girls. It had been a while since I’d had a moment with Jess like that.

“Do you wanna go grab some dinner? I can ring Melodi to come as well?” I secretly hoped she wanted to, or I would just get Melodi to come with me.

“Sure, that would be great! It’s been too long since we hung out. I miss it.”

“Yeah, me too. I’ll give Mel a ring and ask her to meet us up around the corner, at that small burger place.”

“Sure, sounds good.”

Once we were seated, we ordered our favourite burgers and fries and a few drinks. We chatted like we did back in the days, before Jacob. It was a good night. I chose to shut my phone off because I was sure Jacob would have a few choice words for me since I pushed him away today. I figured Blake would be okay for now. I would ring him later.

I was still feeling rather anxious about the whole Jacob thing. He terrified me, but I’m glad I’ve finally cut that cord. I’m not sure he sees it that way, though. He probably thought I’d embarrassed him. I couldn’t deal with it anymore and after meeting Blake, I’d decided not to go for second-best and put up with his crap and abuse. Blake wanted to show me what it was really like in a loving relationship and I planned to let him.

“So, what did the police say about the break-in?” I heard Melodi ask, pulling me out of my thoughts.

“They’re looking at the camera footage and surveillance in hope that they can find something. I couldn’t believe how destroyed the place looked,” Jess said, her voice solemn and upset.

I reached out taking her hand and gave her an encouraging smile.

“It’s okay. They’ll get to the bottom of it and everything will go back to normal. Now all it need is just a few small touch-ups here and there,” I comforted her. The table fell silent as we continued our meals.

Out of nowhere, Melodi piped in with something I didn’t want to discuss. “Where’s Jacob? He usually doesn’t let you out of his sight.” I heard the snide tone in her voice. I know I’d hurt her in the past by closing her out because of Jacob. I needed to work on our relationship again and fix it. I needed my sister back.

“He’s gone away on business for the next week or two.”

Jess looked up confused as to why I didn’t tell her the whole story. I eyed her, practically begging her not to say anything. She must have understood because she said nothing.

“Oh, okay, cool. Well, I’m going to head home. Are you coming, Abs?”

“Nah, I’ll be home later. Going to hang out here a little more.”

After the girls had left, I sat looking around the room at all the couples cuddled together, friends and family together and laughing. It brought a smile to my lips.

What am I going to about this whole mess?

I’m going to have to leave my family. I’ll have to tell them that I needed a fresh start, might even go back to Australia for a little while. I do miss that place. Now I have all these crazy full on feelings for Blake.
Will he come with me?
Could I ask him to leave his family and life just for me? I released a heavy sigh and knew that I couldn’t possibly do that to him. The guilt would eat away at me.

“What are you doing here alone?” I looked up into the kind eyes of the man who’d quickly stolen my heart…Blake.

I smiled at him, my stomach swelling with excitement. “I wasn’t alone. Jess and Melodi were here with me, but they left not that long ago. I decided to stay a little while longer.”

He took a seat as I explained. He nodded, reaching out and taking my hand in his, causing my body to flame up instantly. He sat there quietly, just watching me with his emerald green eyes. Even his gaze does magical things to me. He looked divine in his jeans and fitted plain black tee. He must have finished work not that long ago, he looked fresh from a shower and he smelled fabulous.

“You looked lost in thought before I disturbed you.”

“Yeah, I was just thinking a few things over.” I tried to pretend it was just something casual I was thinking about.

“Want to talk about it?” he asked, rubbing his thumb over the back of my hand, shooting tingles right to my heart.

I shook my head. I needed these thoughts to stay with me because I didn’t know what was going to happen in the future. I didn’t want him alerted to my plans.

“Would you stay with me again tonight?” he whispered, looking me directly in the eyes.

I beamed back at him and nodded once.

We left together, hand in hand. I was so relaxed and at peace. Blake could quite possibly be my happily ever after, but I knew there was a dark cloud lying over me called Jacob. My fear of him had multiplied tenfold, but with Blake by my side, I was home.

Abby

Three Years Ago

I was startled awake by my phone vibrating like crazy on my bedside table. It had been two days since I stayed at Blake’s. As I reached for my phone, it stopped, so I left it. If it were important, they’d call back. Work was going well and everything was back to running smoothly, almost as if the break in hadn’t happened.

Today was my day off. I was planning to have a day to myself with some shopping and pampering. With Jacob away at the moment, I didn’t feel the need to look over my shoulder every minute of the day. I could never relax when he was in town because it felt like he was always watching me. You would think he would be at work, but honestly I never really knew. He would always call or text to find out where I was or what I was doing.

My phone went crazy once again. I reached over, seeing an unknown number buzzing away on my screen. I quickly answered and instantly regretted it. Yelling in my ear caused my heart to leap into my throat.

“Why haven’t you contacted me since I left!” Jacob yelled.

I was unable to form coherent words as fear gripped me like a vice around my lungs, making my breaths short and ragged.

“Answer me!” the yelling continued.

“I…I’ve been busy…” I struggled with each word.

“You’re a liar!” Every word that spilled from his mouth was filled with anger and hate. “You have humiliated me publicly by not accepting my proposal. You haven’t called or messaged me—”

“Well, have you tried to contact me before now? No! So leave me the hell alone.” I forced the words out angrily, getting over my initial shock of his outburst.

I was met with silence, but even that was enough to tell me how angry he was. I needed to escape this man and move on with my life, but I doubted he would ever allow that to happen. Eventually, he spoke again.

“How dare you!” he hissed at me. “I work hard so I can buy you beautiful things.”

“I don’t want anything more from you because me and you are done.” My words were laced with conviction because I knew deep down in my heart I could never be with this man. A man who tore away at my soul, piece by piece, and if I stayed, I would become nothing but a hollow existence to those around me. An empty shell. A girl who wore a mask every day of her life. I knew I couldn’t be that person, not since Blake had shown me love and compassion. He lit up my life like a full moon lights up the night sky. He was my new life and my own happily ever after.

Melodi

Present Day

I swear my mouth is hanging open. I still didn’t get all answers I wanted, but I’m sure she’ll give them to me eventually. I glance toward the window and see that the sun is setting in hues of blues and pinks. We’ve been closed up in this room for the entire day. Rachel and Flick came in throughout the day to check if it was okay to give Katie some food. I can’t believe what she went through with Jacob and she never told me.

“Are you okay, Mel?” she asks quietly, the hesitation evident in her voice.

Am I okay?
I honestly don’t know. I feel angry at her for keeping this to herself. I’m her sister! Then thinking about what she’d done, making us believe she was dead. How dare she? If she had told us, we could have helped somehow. I sense her watching me, feeling her unease.

“I need a minute.” With that, I get up and walk out of the room to a full house of people.

“Melodi, what’s wrong?” I look up to see Corban walking towards me. He’s who I need right now. I can’t even look at Blake. I’m sure now he’s lied to me about what actually went on as well. I’m even convinced he knew where she was this entire time, so when he put on a show for my family, it was all just a lie.

“I need to get out of here for a minute,” I whisper. My arms wrap around my stomach. I feel sick to my stomach hearing what Abby endured as well as what she has put us through.

He just nods and guides me to the door. “Just wait and I’ll grab your coat.” With those words, he’s gone.

I don’t know what to say to anyone. How could she do this to us? How are my parents going to react to this new information? Oh, man, Mum is going to flip and Dad is going to be furious. We mourned her. It's taken us a long time to finally move on.

Corban comes back, wraps me in my coat, and ushers me out the door. We are silent, but it’s what I need and Corban knows it. So much has happened and the last thing I need right now is my sister coming back from the dead. Don’t get me wrong, I’m happy she isn’t actually dead, but she knowingly put me in danger the day she left—or
died—
or whatever it is that happened. Jacob knew and was probably following me for the last three years, and his showing up at my work was no coincidence. I’m sure he’s been planning and lying in wait for the perfect opportunity for him to bring Abby out of her concealment. Now I have my babies and Corban to think about.

I think Abby needs to come out of hiding and tell the police and get the protection she more than obviously needs. Why didn’t she go to the police? I’m sure they could have helped, instead of just leaving and letting us all think she was dead.

“Are you okay?” Corban’s words pull me out of my dark moment. He has a way of doing that.

“Yeah. I guess as well as I can be with knowing most of what went down.”

“What do you mean…most?”

“I didn’t let Abby finish; it’s all too much for me at the moment. I needed space and food,” I giggle at my last words.

“Let’s get you and these babies some food then, beautiful.” He kisses my cheek as we walk out of the building and into the fresh air.

It’s a beautiful night, but I can’t help looking everywhere, and at everyone around me. Wondering and thinking if Jacob is around here somewhere, watching and waiting.

“Do you think he is out here?” I voice my concern.

He takes a moment to answer. “I honestly don’t know, but if you want, we can go back to my place and stay there if that makes you feel safer?” His idea doesn’t actually sound too bad, but I can’t leave my house full of people who I classify as family, at such short notice.

“I would love to, but I can’t do that to my houseful of guests. I think after we get something to eat, we can sort out our living arrangements.” He looks a little confused by my statement. “What I mean is I can’t have Abby, Blake, and Katie at my place.”

“We already discussed this, don’t you remember? I’m going to let them use one of my properties and they will stay there. You will come stay with me. Jacob might only watch this place and he may not even know where I live, but he won’t find where Abby and Blake stay. I promise you that.”

I nod, not wanting to speak about it anymore.

We stop at a burger place that just opened up a few days ago. We purchase food for everyone and head back to my crowded one-bedroom apartment.

I begin clearing up the rubbish and scraps after our meals. I can’t help but look at Katie and think I’m going to have my own children in the coming months. Mine and Corban’s lives are going to change forever. This is not how I planned my life, I never expected to meet Corban and fall madly in love and then fall pregnant, but he completes me in every way and I couldn’t see my life without him now, just like Abby couldn’t see her life without Blake.