Chapter 44

I've been sitting impatiently in the same spot for the last few hours. I've refused to move unless I have to use the bathroom. The boys can sense the pain I am going through, shown as they kick harder the more I cry, knowing they sense their big sister is out there with some crazy bitch.

The guys, Donnie, Ash, and even Donnie's parents are with us at Mom and Abuela's house as we wait to hear from Javi. But that was hours ago and it's been radio silence since.

When Javi told us that they may have a lead, we all rushed to Mom's and just waited. It's crazy how we all knew we had to be together.

There's a light knock at the door. I look to see who it is, and notice my girls standing in the doorway, looking like a bunch of creepers.

I stifle a giggle, unable to hold it in any longer.

They take that as a sign to step forward. When they all walk in at the same time, Tia's the first to show her annoyance.

Tia was finally released from the hospital. I remember the morning of the incident I woke up in the hospital room, feeling that something was wrong, and my heart felt heavy in my chest.

Then the horrific images of the intruder with a mask standing over me in my bedroom and beating me to the point she knocked me out. When I finally came to, my eyes landed on an unconscious Tia, bleeding on my carpet.

Knowing that Tia is safe, I realize this was just another battle scar in our long journey of survival. But we are fighters and will make it through together, holding each other up every step of the way.

Lupe is the first to reach me. Then looks at me with a gleam in her eyes. "Need some Lupe love, Reina?" she says and climbs into bed with me, resting her head on my shoulder.

Tia rolls her eyes and sits on the other side of me, groaning in pain. She interlocks her arm through mine. Telle sprawls over on the end of the bed, facing me with her head resting on the palm of her hand.

Tiny is lying beside me near my legs and resting her head on my leg. We sit in silence as I glance around at my girls, and the tears begin to fall. Tia's the first to notice and wipes them away. "It's going to be okay. Javi will bring her back home."

"I know," I croak, rubbing my belly and feeling my boys kick.

It's been seven days since my baby girl was taken.

"You know, I never wanted to murder someone until that maldita diabla," Tia says out of nowhere.

"If she was here in front of us, right now, what would you do, Tia?" Tiny asks, adjusting her position on the bed.

Tia laughs darkly. "You don't want to know."

"I would cut off her arm and beat her to death with it," Tiny says.

"Jesus, Tiny." I rear back at her.

"Pft. That's nothing," Telle chimes in. "I'd run her ass over."

"Oh, my God," I groan.

"I wouldn't kill her," Lupe says. "I would keep her as a prisoner. And then—"

"Okay, that's enough." I shake my head, trying to rid the images that they put into it. "You guys watch way too many crime shows."

"We are four terrible people," Tell says in a monotone voice.

"Make that six," Gabby's soft voice rings into the room. I look to see Gabby and Elisa standing in the doorway.

"How would you get rid of her?" Tiny asks, but before Gabby and Elisa can answer, I interject. "Nope! No more talking about murdering people, for fuck's sake."

Gabby snickers. "Can we come in?" she asks.

I give her a nod.

"Well, come on in," Telle says cheerfully, waving them over.

"There's no room," Elisa and Gabby say at the same time.

"Sure there is." Tiny nudges Telle with her sock covered foot. "Move over."

"There's always room for my sisters," I say with love.

They both give me a heartwarming smile and walk toward the bed. Telle crawls over and litter lays on top of Tiny, making her groan. "Fuck, girl," Tiny mutters.

"Look at all that space you got," Telle snaps jokingly, gesturing with her chin.

Gabby and Elisa take a seat on the end of the bed near my feet. Elisa wraps her hands around my foot, giving it a gentle squeeze, and gives me a small sympathetic smile.

I return it and flex my foot.

"You know what we need?" Lupe says.

"What?" I ask, resting my head against hers.

"Musica," she says.

"Yes, music always helps soothe the soul," Tiny drawls out.

Telle lets out a laugh. "You so fucking stupid," she says.

"Ouch!" Telle snaps at Tiny. "Why did you pinch me?" she asks, glaring at her and rubbing the side of her arm.

"For talking, stupid," Tiny retorts.

I love when they banter back and forth. It takes my mind off the pain that fills this house. I know they feel it in their bones, the way I'm feeling. One of ours was taken. Staying together helps us stay sane and grounded. Even the boys are feeling restless and hopeless, especially Donnie. He's been so busy staying strong for me, but when I woke up last night, I found him bawling on the floor in the bathroom. I joined him, wrapping him in my arms as we both cried together. He loves Sophia like a daughter, and the thought of something bad happening to her broke him, but not as bad as it broke Christian when I told him. Thank God Jo was with me.

Thirty-six hours after I was released from the hospital

With Jo by my side, I took a deep breath as I entered the visiting room of the prison. My heart was heavy with both fear and sorrow as I sat at our usual table, waiting for him to appear.

"It's going to be okay, sis," Jo said, but his words still carried doubt and anger. I didn't bring Donnie because I knew he would drop everything and come with me. I needed him to focus on school and his baseball career.

The metal doors slid open, and Christian walked out. When he saw me, he stopped in place, and he could probably see the agony on my face.

Christian's brows furrowed as he gazed at me, then Jo, his lips pressed into a thin line. "What's going on? Where's Sophia?"

Tears welled up in my eyes as I clenched my hands into fists, steeling myself for the words that were about to shatter Christian"s world. Jo sat beside me and wrapped his arms around my shoulder, and I welcomed his support. "Sophia...she"s been kidnapped."

Christian"s anger faded and was replaced by disbelief, shock, and then a deep, gut-wrenching sorrow. His hands trembled as he reached out and placed them on the table, his voice coming out as a whimper. "No... no, Sadie, please tell me it's a mistake. Please tell me that my baby girl is safe," he pleaded, tears filling his eyes.

I shook my head, my own grief threatening to overwhelm me. "I wish I was, Christian. I wish this was all just a terrible nightmare. But it"s real. Sophia is gone."

Christian"s eyes filled with tears as the weight of my words settled in. He buried his face in his hands, his body shaking with silent sobs. "I can"t believe this. I can"t... "

I reached out and wrapped my hands over his, my own voice choked with tears. "The police are doing everything they can. Javi will find her."

Christian looked up, his eyes red and filled with anguish. "I can't lose her. She's the one good thing that came from me."

And with those words, I broke apart.

Back to the present

"TQG" by Karol G and Shakira pulls me back from the memory. They're all singing along, and my God, it's like listening to a bunch of cats being strangled to death.

I can't hold back the laugh that bursts out of my chest like confetti.

They don't stop singing, but they look at me with grins so broad, it looks like they hurt.

I see movement at the door, and when I turn to look, Mom stands there with a concerned look on her face and tears that fall like a waterfall.

My heart stops beating.

The blood in my veins burns from the inside out.

No. Please don't tell me my baby is gone.

Tiny shuts the song off on her phone, and they sit up, tense as we await the news that seems to want to be let free from her lips.

"Mija," she says in a broken tone.

My chin trembles and my body starts to shake, a sob ready to explode out of me.

"Javi just pulled up," she begins, "and he's not alone." She gives me a smile and a sob comes out of her. The girls jump off the bed, except Tia.

Telle and Lupe help me off the bed. I waddle out of the room, walking past my mom, but she reaches for my hand, and I look back at her. "She's home."

I smile and walk faster than I have since I blew up like a whale. I don't see anything but the door. I whip it open and walk down the steps as Abuela yells at me to take it slow, but I don't listen because the moment Javi steps out of the car with a with set of curls tucked against his chest, a sob tears from me, and Donnie is suddenly there behind me, keeping me steady or I would"ve landed on my ass. Sophia hears me and looks up and smiles wide like the happy little baby she is.

"Sophia!"

Javi meets me halfway and hands me my baby girl. I hold her tight in my arms and cry against her neck, taking in her baby scent. When I look up to Javi, he looks broken and happy at the same time. "Are you okay?" is the first thing I ask because he brought my baby home just as he promised.

"Yeah." He runs his hands through Sophia's curls and smiles. "I am now." A tear slides down his face. I walk into his arms. "Thank you. Thank you, Javi, for bringing her back to me."

"You're welcome," he says against my hair.

Jo walks out, and Javi steps back from me and looks at him.

Jo reaches out and firmly grasps Javi"s hand, pulling him close to his chest as he says, "I guess this means you're the best uncle."