Page 53 of Full Throttled

Summer and I exchange a look and laugh as we turn around to face Arbor. “Zoey, you need these shoes!”

I laugh and shake my head as we make our way to Arbor and thestorefrontwindow she’s standing in front of. I’m pretty sure whatever she thinks I need…I don’t, but I’ll humor her anyways. We pass by a ride sitting in the middle of the mall. It’s a miniature carousel so of course Aubree starts hollering about it. “Give me a minute and we’ll go there next okay?” I tell her.

“Okay!” When I reach the window, I swing the stroller around so Aubree can watch the carousel go round. Summer does the same thing and gives me a smile.

Arbor has found a cheetah print pair of converses with silver studs going around the rim of them. I won’tlie, theyare amazing, but I’m sure the price is out of this world and never something I’d pay for them. I hear Aubree giggling and clapping. “You should totally get these. They are so you Zo,” Arbor tells me.

“She’s right, you should,” Summer encourages.

I laugh and shake my head. “Says the girl that thought that dress over there was too expensive.”

“It was for a growing child, but you would definitely be able to get your use out of these. Halen can’t get the use out of that dress. This is a justified buy,” Summer explains.

I shake my head. I can’t believe I’m even considering this. “You know what I’m going to consult with Aubree,” I tell them, and pull the stroller around to face me but my heart drops when I find it empty. “What the hell?”

Arbor and Summer both look at me then down at the stroller. “Where did she go?” they both ask.

“Call 911,” I tell them, as I rush off to see if she managed to get out of the stroller and make her way to the carousel. I rush around calling out to her while Arbor does the same. Summer is on the phone. My heart is about to fall out of my chest. Tears burn my eyes. Drake will be here any minute and I’ve lost his daughter. I run around to the other side of the carousel andcollideinto the last person I expected to see right now.

Forty-Four

Drake

Just as I’m about to pull into the parking lot of the mall, I hear the sirens. I pull over to the shoulder of the road so the emergency vehicles can pass, but to my surprise, they turn into the mall. My heart stops and my blood runs cold. I don’t know how I know, but I just do. Something is wrong.

I rush into the parking lot, barely throwing mytruckin park and hopping out before running for the entrance of the mall. I have no clue where they are, so I follow the cops rushing through the mall and to my biggest fear they go right towards Summer.

Summer with the frantic look in her eyes and tear stained cheeks. Arbor who comes running over looking panicked, and nearly hyperventilating. I scan the area, but I don’t see Aubree or Zoey. I just see an empty stroller.

Fear clogs my throat. Summer’s eyes meet mine and I don’t need anyone to tell me, because I already know something is wrong. My worst fearcametrue.

A cop approaches me. “Are you Aubree James’father?”

I can’t speak, so I just nod before clearing my throat. “Where is she?”

The cop looks away from me. “We aren’t sure right now. Apparently, she was taken from the stroller while the girls were looking at the window display. When they started looking for her, your girlfriend went missing as well.”

I have to remind myself to take a deep breath because I know something is wrong with both of them. Zoey wouldn’t just run away, notina time like this. “You need to find my wife, Jules James. I just filed for divorce a few days ago. She had showed up at my home unannounced about a week ago after almost four years. I filed for divorce theMonday after.”

“Do you believe she’d take Aubree?” one of the cops asks.

I don’t think she’d take her because she wants her, but I do think she’d take her to get to me. I nod my head. “Yes, I think she would.”

The cops exchange a look. “Do you think she’d harm Aubree?”

That’s the real question that I don’t have an answer for. I want to say no, but I don’t know Jules like I once did, if I ever really did. “I’m not sure, but she did look a little strung out when she showed up at my home, so I don’t know what she’d do if she’s in a different state of mind.”

My heart drops to my stomach and the cops continue to ask their questions as more people gather around. Everyone is looking for Aubree and Zoey, but I can’t help but feel like it won’t be enough. The tears slip down my face quietly as I try to figure out what to do.

I’m lost and the only way to find my way back is with Aubree and Zoey.

Forty-Five

Zoey

I’m doing my best not to draw attention to myself as I make my way out of the mall with Aubree in my arms. She’s crying quietly into my neck where her head is resting on my shoulder. My one relief is that she’s safe…for now, but then I have to question for how long. The threat of the gun hidden in the jacket pocket is the only reason I’m doing as I’m told. If anything happens to Aubree, I’ll never forgive myself. I squeeze my eyes shut and take a deep breath. “It’s okay, sweetie. I promise it's all okay,” I whisper to her. She sniffles into my shoulder and tightens her grip around my neck. My heart breaks for the fact that she’s having to go through this right now. It’s not fair to her.

This is all my fault. I brought this shit upon Drake and Aubree and I’ll never be able to forgive myself now. I just need to get Aubree out of this. Apparently, my pace slows because I’m nudged from behind. “Don’t start thinking now, Z. Move that sweet ass of yours before I make you move it…just how I like it.”

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