Page 40 of Baran
Darien’s heart skipped, and his voice came out harder than he intended. “Where is he?”
Mr. Aslan’s lips curled into a faint, almost pitiful smile. “He doesn’t need you anymore,” he said flatly, his eyes narrowing as he spoke. “I told him everything you wanted me to say. Gave him back access to his accounts, and then he left.”
A cold knot of panic formed in Darien’s stomach, but he tried to mask it. “What else? Why is he upset? What happened?”
Mr. Aslan’s gaze flickered away for a moment before returning to Darien with that same inscrutable expression. “He’ll be fine. Just stay away from him, Darien.”
The words hit like a punch to the gut. Darien’s pulse quickened as anger boiled up inside him, hot and sudden.Stay away from him?It made little sense. He had every right to know what was going on.
“He’s not fine,” Darien said through gritted teeth, stepping forward. “What did you do to him? What did you tell him?”
Mr. Aslan didn’t flinch, but his eyes narrowed. “Enough, Darien. I’ve already done what I was supposed to do. Don’t make this harder than it needs to be.”
Darien’s fists clenched. His entire body was taut with fury, but he forced himself to take a step back. He needed answers, and if Mr. Aslan would not give them, then he’d have to find them another way.
“He won’t be living with you anymore. He’ll be staying with me.”
Without another word, Darien turned on his heel and stalked off, his thoughts racing. He pulled out his phone, hands shaking slightly as he tried to call Baran again. No answer. He fired off a text, and then another. His fingers hovered over the screen as he waited for a response, but nothing came.
Each minute that passed without hearing from Baran felt like a weight settling heavily on his chest. Darien’s frustration turned to something darker, more consuming. He sent another message.Where are you?
Nothing.
Darien felt the sting of panic, but he didn’t allow it to take control. Instead, he turned to the next thing he could do. He opened his contacts and punched Miss Charlotte’s number.
“Charlotte, I need you to keep an eye out for Baran,” he said when she picked up. “If he comes home, call me. Immediately.”
She sounded confused but agreed without hesitation. “Of course, Darien. I’ll let you know. Did he run off again?”
“He saw his father, then disappeared.”
Darien ended the call, his mind already on the next step. He couldn’t stay here. Not while Baran was out there, somewhere, upset, alone. He stormed out of the gala, his mind focused on finding him. He told Mateo he had to leave. Luckily, the event was almost over, so he made sure he thanked everyone before he left. There were only a few art items remaining, so the shelter had taken in tons of money, confirming a successful evening.
It didn’t take long for him to connect the dots. He knew where Baran would go. Where he always did. The nearest subway station was only a few blocks away, and Baran used it when he needed to clear his head. Darien was already in motion,heading straight there. His heart pounded harder with each step, the tightness in his chest growing as the possibility of Baran being lost somewhere in the city gnawed at him.
At the subway, Darien barely stopped to buy a ticket. He needed to find Baran—now. He asked the man at the ticket center where the last train was headed.
“Brooklyn,” he said, pointing towards the empty platform, “It went to Brooklyn, but another one will come in twenty minutes. Make sure you get on the F Train.”
Darien paced until the F train arrived. He hoped his instincts were right. The ride felt endless, and the closer he got to Brooklyn, the more he feared he would be too late. Hopefully, he had gotten off at the first stop.
When he finally stepped off the train, the station was eerily quiet. Darien scanned the area, the realization setting in that he had no idea where Baran might be. He took a breath, forcing himself to remain calm. He couldn’t afford to panic—not yet. He checked his phone again, hoping for some sign of life from Baran, but the screen was empty.
His mind raced as he exited the station, his eyes darting to every sign, every building around him. He couldn’t waste time. Baran could be anywhere. Darien’s fingers flew across the screen again, searching for the nearest hotels. One popped up—a small, nondescript place just a few blocks away. Darien didn’t hesitate. He made his way there, hoping against hope that Baran was there. He had to be.
He entered the hotel with urgency, his heart hammering in his chest.
“I’m looking for a young man who may have checked in here tonight. His name is Baran Aslan.”
“We don’t give out personal information on our patrons.”
Darien pulled out a hundred-dollar bill. “Is he staying here?”
The clerk opened a book. “There is no Baran Aslan staying here.”
“Is there another hotel close to the subway?”
“There is one across the street. They still have a vacancy there.”
