Page 29 of Missing Marcus

Bryanna shook her head. “I didn’t. You know what my father did. How do you think I feel after what you’ve done?”

Gabby shook her head, confused by her statement. “I’m not following you. Marcus made this decision. I imagine you didn’t want to take sides?—”

Bryanna’s mouth flew open and she laughed. “Take sides? I’ll never be on your side. How could you do it after knowing what our father did?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Gabby cried.

“You cheated on my brother. He told me he walked in on you. Don’t deny it,” Bryanna replied vehemently.

Gabby sharply inhaled at Bryanna’s announcement. Tears pricked her eyes. “Marcus told you I slept with another man?” she asked slowly.

“Yes. He said he walked in on you with another man,” Bryanna said angrily.

Gabby nodded. “I understand. I’m not feeling good. I’ll be out of here as soon as I can.”

“You’re hurt. Marcus asked if you might stay here. I don’t understand why you’re even here,” Bryanna accused her.

Gabby winced at the venom coming from her friend. “No. I guess you wouldn’t. Thank you for your honesty.”

She turned and walked up the stairs to her room. Her heart raced as she felt the months of loneliness, not understanding what had happened between Marcus and her, the desperation of how she planned to raise a child by herself, and then the abandonment of her best friend finally broke her.

Taking out her phone, Gabby searched for a car service. Finally, when she found one, she gave them the address of a local drugstore she saw on the way into town. They promised to arrive within the hour and cost her plenty, but she refused to stay any longer. If Bryanna and Marcus’ father stood before her, she’d smash his nose in for abandoning her best friend and husband. If he only knew the damage he’d caused.

Gabby heard Bryanna coming up the stairs. “Listen Gabby...”

Gabby locked the door and covered her ears. She didn’t want to hear anything else from the Hutchins family. They hurt her more than she ever dreamed possible.

She waited until Bryanna finally gave up and heard her go into her room and close the door. Slipping the tennis shoes on, she grabbed her laptop and purse, stuffing her phone inside. Gently unlocking the door, she quietly shut it. Creeping down the stairs, she silently slipped out and made her way through the small town. Her eyes watered as she saw Bryanna’s bakery for the first time. She angrily swiped at the tears and ducked inside the hardware store. She needed to stay out of sight for forty-five minutes. Realizing she forgot her meds, Gabby refused to return. She wanted to disappear and never see them again.

Knight rose early,made breakfast, showered, and dressed in record time. Leaving Gabby last night felt wrong, and he didn’t sleep as he worried about what she got herself into. Determined to get to her, he finished his tasks and jumped in the loaner car. A set of keys jingled in his coat pocket and he realized they were Gabby’s. She must’ve dropped them in the pocket when he wrapped his coat around her.

Something nagged him about where she lived. Instead of turning toward Serenity, he returned to the apartment. Gabby might feel better if she wore some of her own clothing. He pulled his reusable grocery bags from behind his seat to put a few things in. If she needed anything else, he could always return. Walking up to the security gate leading into the building, he almost laughed at the pitiful excuse for safety. With one hard jerk, the rusted bolts promised to fall away. Taking the stairs two at a time, he walked up to the apartment and used the key to let himself in.

Scanning the room, he took everything in and snapped photos. Knight shook his head as he imagined why Gabby chose to live here.

He walked through the stuffing from the destroyed couch. He went to the bed and grunted angrily when he realized it consisted of an air mattress with a sheet over it. Knight picked up the clothes and recognized the designer labels, yet she lived in a dump. He didn’t understand it. Tossing a few outfits in the bag, he located undies, bras and socks. Finding two sets of matching shoes, he placed them inside.

A picture lay on its side facing the wall. He knelt and picked it up, surprised to discover a picture of them. She stood behind him with her arms around his neck. Her head tilted back in a full-blown laugh and he peered at her from over his shoulder with a huge grin. Knight recalled feeling like he was the luckiest man alive. When did it change? He frowned when he realized the feelings had never changed. He did.

After months of searching for an evil monster, he became obsessed with ending the man’s terror on innocent people. People who reminded him of his wife. The woman who pretended another man stayed in the back cooking when he knew damn well she worked in the restaurant alone. As a large man, he could’ve overpowered her in seconds. Her blind trust reminded him of the victims who thought the monsters would never hurt them while their blood spilled onto the streets. Visions of women brutalized beyond recognition and cries of young children filled his head.

Knight walked to the dresser and pulled at one of the drawers. Something sparkled for a second before disappearing in the pile of clothes. He tossed items on the floor as he searched for what caught his eye. A few minutes later, he stopped and picked up her engagement ring and wedding band. She tied them with the ribbon from the single rose he had given her, promising she remained his only love forever. Knight crushed them in his palm and placed them in his pocket.

Deciding to return to Serenity, he left the apartment buildingand scanned the area. Sliding inside the borrowed car, he drove a few blocks to ensure no one followed him. His cell rang and Saint’s name appeared.

“Hello,” he greeted his brother-in-law.

“How long until you arrive?” Saint barked.

“I’ll be there in fifteen minutes. I stopped by Gabby’s apartment to pick up some stuff for her,” he replied.

“Bryanna and Gabby got into a fight. Kassie arrived to check her BP. When she refused to come to the bedroom door, they broke in and she’s gone. Gabby fled, your sister’s pissed and Kassie borrowed Victoria and Ivan’s men to search for her.

“Shit,” he muttered as his heart fell into his stomach.

“Leo called the team together. We’ve searched and haven’t located her. The man at the hardware store saw her shopping and said she walked out of the store but he didn’t see where she went.

“I’ll be there in five.” Knight raced to Serenity. When he arrived in town, he didn’t care that he turned onto the main street on two wheels as he sped to Bryanna’s.

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