Chapter 111

James

James calmly explained everything he knew so far about Herbert Weston. He noted that Andy looked utterly shocked to the core upon hearing this, which didn’t surprise him. He had no doubt that Andy had thought he and his sister Mia had been saved from that child molester, since they’d run away from home. But of course, that was not to be, as they had been hunted down by Herbert for years now.

Andy was still shaking his head in disbelief. “He was looking for us? Hunting us down? Sick. Just plain sick.” He felt shaken and his knees wobbled. Shit! He couldn’t believe this was worse than he had initially thought. Herbert Weston. Their uncle. Their monster. If that beast did anything to Mia… Shit! Shit! Shit!

James watched as Matt caught Andy before the boy fell to his knees on the floor.

Matt asked, “You okay?”

Andy managed to reply, “I… I think so.” He looked around for a chair to sit in. “I…” His head was in a haze of confusion as he straightened himself.

James said, “You’re in shock.”

Scott offered, “I’ll get you something warm to drink.” Then he disappeared out the door while Andy made his way toward the sofa near the window with Matt’s help.

A moment later, Eric came in. When he saw Andy looking as pale as a ghost, he asked no one in particular, “Is Andy all right?”

Matt replied, “Just needs to catch his breath.”

Eric nodded in understanding. He turned his attention to James and said, “William’s on his way.”

James nodded. Then he asked, “Has anyone found Herbert’s whereabouts yet?”

Eric shook his head. “The team is currently combing the usual suspected areas.” By this, he meant the most common places people like Herbert Weston were likely to hide, such as along the deserted alleys, streets, and abandoned buildings and warehouses in remote spots around L.A., not to mention dubious motels.

“L.A. is a big place, James. It’ll take time. We also have a team searching for Sophie. The bitch should be easy to track. The team knows what she looks like, after all. Just got a word from Cole, too. He and his team are on their way to her apartment now.”

“Good,” James said. “We need to get this done quick before shit happens to Mia. I don’t want Herbert taking Mia out of town before we find him.”

Eric nodded. “Cole will call in when he’s on-site.”

James nodded.

The door squeaked open and Aria’s little head popped in, her blue eyes searching about the room for her father. Apart from her Uncle Eric, she noted another two men. One of them was Uncle Matt, who had visited her occasionally, and the other was a young man sitting on the sofa, looking so pale that it worried her. He looked a lot like Mia, and she couldn’t take her eyes off him.

“Aria?” James’ voice drew her attention away from the young man.

Aria darted her eyes to her father, and then she slipped into the room. Still in her pajamas and her dark hair in a wild mess, she ran to him and threw herself into his open arms.

James lifted her up and asked, “What are you doing here? Isn’t the maid with you?”

Aria wrapped her arms around her father’s muscular neck and said, “She’s asleep in my room. Daddy? Where’s Mia? I couldn’t find her when I woke up this morning. I looked in her room. She’s not there. I looked all over the house. She’s not here. Where is she? And who’s that man? Is he Mia’s brother? ’Cause he looks like her. Is he here to take her back? Please don’t let him take her back, Daddy. Please?”

James stroked his daughter’s dark head and smiled gently. “Yes, he’s Mia’s brother, but he’s not here to take her back.”

“Oh, that’s good then,” she said and flicked her gaze to Andy again, who was watching her with interest now. When she noted him giving her a smile, she shyly grinned back and said, “I like him, too, Daddy. Can we keep him? Then they don’t have to be separated, ’cause they’re siblings, right?”

James chuckled as he patted her cheek. “We can’t keep him, darling.”

Aria frowned. “Why not? He looks like he needs someone to look after him.”

James wasn’t surprised that his daughter wanted to take Andy in as she had with Mia, like one of the animals she found injured along the streets. Aria had always been attracted to injured or damaged beings after all. She had always wanted to help those in need, and her young instinct must have sensed the broken spirits within these two siblings to want to help and heal them. His daughter was such a kind, trusting girl, and he loved her to bits.

“Because he’s mine, Aria,” Matt said, winking at her.

Aria turned her attention to her Uncle Matt and asked, “Oh, he’s yours? Like Sammy and Alfie are my cute dogs or like Mia with Daddy?”

James frowned over this while Eric raised a brow in curiosity.

Scott walked in through the door. He must have heard what Aria had just said, as he was chuckling with amusement. As he was heading over to Andy with a mug of hot coffee in hand, he asked, “What do you mean, Aria, about your daddy with Mia?”

Scott handed the mug to Andy, who gratefully took it.

Andy was just sipping the welcoming drink when Aria said, “You know, like Mia with Daddy. Like they kiss and stuff and being lovey-dovey and stuff.”

Andy coughed and sputtered at hearing Aria’s answer, while Scott was laughing loudly. Eric shook his head, while both James and Matt could only stare at Aria.

Eric asked, “You’ve seen your dad kissing Mia, Aria?”

Aria nodded enthusiastically. “Mm-hmm. They look awfully cute when they kiss. And you know, Mia slept with me and Daddy, too, so we’re like a family.” She turned to Matt. “Do you sleep with Mia’s brother, too?” she asked innocently.

Matt grinned and said bluntly, “Yes, I do. Every night, and we have a lot of fun, too. By the way, his name is Andy.”

At this point, Andy was glaring at Matt. He said loudly, “What the hell are you doing, Matt? She’s a little girl.”

Just as quickly, Andy got a warning from James. “Language, Andy. Not in front of my daughter.”

Andy went bright red and said, “Sorry. I didn’t mean to use the word hell.”

Aria giggled. “It’s okay, Andy. Sophie uses that word in front of me a lot, too, so it’s fine.”

At this, James frowned darkly. He now wondered what other forbidden words Sophie had used in front of Aria when he wasn’t around. That woman was indeed a wolf in sheep’s clothing.

Aria asked Matt, “So Andy is like your family, too, Uncle Matt?”

Matt glanced at Andy, who was obviously avoiding making any eye contact with him. He noticed the boy’s red face and uneasy demeanor.

Matt grinned. “He’s more than a family to me, Aria. He’s very important to me. He’s a special person to me.”

Eric rolled his eyes while Scott laughed and said, “What? Is this a love confession or something?”

Aria asked Matt, “Like I’m a very special person to Daddy? ’Cause Daddy keeps telling me that.” She giggled in delight.

Matt nodded.

James put Aria down on the floor as he said, “Now, why don’t you go get dressed and have some breakfast?” He turned to Scott and asked, “Can you call one of the maids over for me?”

“Sure thing,” Scott said and picked up the phone.

Aria said, “But what about Mia? You haven’t told me where she is yet.”

At this point, everyone was watching James, wondering how he was going to explain to his daughter about Mia and her kidnapping.

James stroked his daughter’s hair and said with a smile, “She’s just gone out for a bit. Daddy’s going to get her soon. She’ll be home soon, all right?”

Aria trusted her father’s words and nodded furiously. “All right.”

A moment later, a maid appeared at the door and ushered Aria away to shower and get dressed for the day. Then the men returned their attention to the work at hand, searching for Mia.

It was half an hour later when William and Savannah arrived from Vegas. Savannah looked distraught and asked about Mia immediately the moment they were in James’ office.

“We haven’t found her yet,” James replied bluntly.

Savannah held on to William’s arm at the news and said softly, “I see.”

William kissed her on the forehead and then said, “We’ll find her soon, sweetheart.”

Savannah nodded furiously, tears blinding her eyes, so worried she was for her friend.

A moment later, James asked the maid to bring Aria over, and when the little girl turned up once again, James introduced Savannah to his daughter.

He said, “Aria, Savannah is Mia’s friend. Why don’t you show her around the house until Mia arrives?”

Aria was delighted over this and raced up to Savannah, who was still a little teary.

The little girl got ahold of Savannah’s hands and said, “I’m Aria. Come on. I’ll show you around the house, and I’ll introduce you to my dogs Sammy and Alfie. You’ll love them. They’re the most adorable dogs ever. Daddy said you’re Mia’s friend, right? I love Mia, so I’m going to love you, too.” She giggled as she took Savanah away.

Once the door was shut behind them, the men once again commenced their investigation.