Page 124 of Mr. Almost

“Oh no. You stay right there. You are going to tell me where my daughter is, right now. You had better hope that she is okay. If not, I have no problem going to jail for my child.”

She looks scared now while the other adults attempt to calm me.

Ignoring them, I hang up with dispatch after giving them the day care’s information and dial Mason. He answers right away.

“What did you forget?”

His voice sends me over the edge, and I break down crying. “Someone took her.”

That’s all I can manage before the floodgates are opened. The next several hours are a blur for me. I remember the cops coming and taking my statement. The worker was insistent that I took her. The cameras weren’t working at the time, so they had no proof and started to look at me like I was the crazy one.

Then Mason showed up with Brantley, Max, and Eli in tow. They took control and soon found camera footage from a business across the street of another woman taking Ari from here. Ari was screaming even.

I lost it then. I must have internalized myself, my mind not able to handle what it was being told. The next thing I know, Chloe is in front of me, shaking me.

“Snap out of it. Littles needs us. They have an idea of who took her. They are going to find her, but we need to get out of here. Sitting in this day care isn’t going to help anyone. So we are going to go back to your place and grab some clothes for Littles. Then we are going to go sit at the hospital and wait. That’s where they will bring her when they find her.”

I nod numbly as I stand. Looking around, I search for Mason.

“Where is he?”

Chloe gives me a sad smile. “He said he was going to bring your little girl home. Leave it to him. There’s nothing else we can do right now.”

So I leave it with Mason, sending up a prayer that my little girl is okay.

I can’t live my life without her.

MASON

Olivia went catatonic several hours ago. I hate watching her shake as she attempts to come to terms with this. I want to be over there holding her, but I can’t right now. That’s why I had Brantley call in Chloe.

“Here. This is the woman who took her.” The officer shows me. “Do you know this lady?”

I squint, trying to see the grainy picture better. I can’t really tell anything about the woman, but then my eye catches on the ring on her finger. It’s one I know well.

“It’s my mother,” I tell the officer.

They look relieved. “So a misunderstanding?”

I start shaking my head before he even finishes his sentence. “Absolutely not. I have a protection order that states my mother is not to have contact with my daughter. She attempted to have her aborted, and since then, has stated on multiple occasions that she shouldn’t be breathing. My daughter is in danger every second that she’s alone with that woman.”

“We understand, sir. Leave it to us. We will handle it,” the officer tells me before walking to the group of police officers that haven’t been doing a damn thing.

Shaking my head, I move to my boys. “It was my mother. Spread out and search for her. Everywhere you think she might be.”

I go to move toward Olivia, but then Chloe walks in.

“What do we know?” she asks as she rushes up to me.

“I know who has her, and I’m getting our girl back.”

“What do you need from me?”

“I need you to take Livvy home and stay with her.”

“Of course. Anything.” She steps forward and whispers under her breath, “I have a shovel in my trunk. I’m ready when you need me.”

“I hope it doesn’t come to that,” I mutter as I move to Olivia. I kiss the top of her head.

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