Chapter Twenty-Four

Chapter Twenty-Four

LEX

As a parent, we’re programmed to protect our children from the moment they lay in their mother’s womb. Just like in the wild, our instincts are to nurture, care for our children, and ensure they are never harmed or experience suffering or pain. We guide them, educate them, give them the tools to succeed to become the greatest person they can be. The emotions attached to becoming a parent are ones that nothing in life can prepare you for, but somehow, we get through each day, and if there’s one thing I know in my life that I did right, it’s creating my beautiful girls with Charlotte.

Andy isn’t biologically my son, but he is my blood, and from the moment I rested my eyes on this little boy, the connection between us was a force so strong that it caught me by surprise. He’s the beautiful, innocent little baby who, at only one week old, has suffered more pain than I have in my entire lifetime.

He lost his father.

I knew I had to protect him. He may not have called me Dad, but I treated him no different to my own daughters. It isn’t fair he had a rough start to life, and it’s not fair he’d grow up and not understand what it’s like to call a man Daddy.

No kid deserves that.

Adriana was bound to find someone, I just didn’t expect it to be so soon, and the giant fucking curveball bigger than planet Jupiter, it was Julian Baker.

How this motherfucker managed to waltz back into our lives without me knowing rang alarm bells. I had Bryce do a background check on him again, and it came back all clear. He’d been in Australia promoting some book bullshit, but that didn’t ease my apprehension. I was beyond livid, outraged, and lashing out at everyone around me the moment they revealed their affair. It almost cost me my marriage, jumping to all sorts of conclusions that Charlotte was somewhat aware of the situation. I refused to lose my wife, fucking her into oblivion every moment we had spare. She was mine, and who would’ve thought that even I’d complain about a sore dick. Fuck, even so I still carried on. I was on a mission.

And my sister—I’ve never felt so much hatred as I did when she told me the truth—to disrespect my brother, Elijah, to bring that low-life scum back into our lives after what he did to Charlotte. Just because he ‘saved’ Charlotte and Ava that night she crashed the car, didn’t mean I owed him a damn thing, let alone be grateful he was fucking my sister.

But throughout all this, I remained one step ahead of him, feeding off his weaknesses and creating the temptation. It isn’t a coincidence Charlotte was dressed in that costume. She looked hot, and no man could resist her, especially the one who had stalked her for almost a year. The fight between my sister and him was the highlight of the night. The moment I’d been waiting for—he had given up and told her it was over.

I didn’t expect to feel guilty, but it hit me like a wrecking ball, watching my sister suffer. She was spiraling into a depression similar to losing Elijah, and suddenly, I found myself desperately trying to avoid this at all costs, even if it means that I need to show remorse over the whole sorry episode.

That scum I keep referring to—I was no different, and it was Andy’s cries for Julian that was a wake-up call if ever I needed one. It killed me to admit that watching Julian with Andy was what hurt the most. He replaced me. I was no longer the man he asked for, and his face stopped lighting up every time I walked into the room. He may have been just a kid and totally unaware his actions could cut so deep, but nevertheless, my hate for Julian grew to an entirely different level.

I was glad to see the back of him, and making sure Andy and I repaired our relationship was my top priority. What I didn’t expect, what no parent ever expects, is to be living this fucking nightmare.

Andy has been taken.

The police are a bunch of fucking idiots, spitting out their bullshit to file a report. I’m furious, yelling at the useless fucks for not helping us find my nephew quicker. Adriana is inconsolable, her body limp as Julian holds onto her. His feeble attempts to calm her down are fruitless as she begins to hyperventilate, vomiting all over the floor.

Charlotte rushes to her side, having just arrived as both of them attend to her aid.

This is all his fucking fault.

I cannot reason.

I cannot think straight.

My Andy is missing.

Charlotte is surrounded by paper towels and a bucket, panicked and in tears. She passes a wet towel to Julian, and taking it, he gently wipes her face. Adriana is pale, ghostly white, her eyes dull and lacking any emotion.

Charlotte stands up and walks over, pulling me aside for more information.

“We don’t know who this man is,” I mutter.

“Can we see the video again? Maybe I might know him?”

I nod, anything to find out who this fucking low-life is who took Andy. We head back into the office and rewind the footage.

Julian enters the room and watches in silence. “I’ve seen him before.”

I turn abruptly to face Julian. Talk, fucker! I glare at him waiting for a response.

“The night that Mary Jean was staying at the house, she went out to meet a friend. It was the same man waiting in the car down the street,” he says anxiously.

“How do you know? It could be anyone?” Charlotte asks in desperation.

“Pause the footage… there,” he commands. I stop the tape. “He has a mole. It’s oval-shaped near his mustache. I recognize it.”

I call Adriana in, questioning her about Mary Jean.

“She never mentioned him, but I remember that night, I transferred five thousand dollars to her.” Her voice is rattled, Charlotte supporting her physically by holding onto her arms. I motion for Charlotte to take her back outside.

Alone with Julian in the room, I think out loud, not expecting a response from the worthless punk. “They couldn’t have gotten far. Mary Jean is behind this, and she’s not smart enough to cover her tracks.”

His voice follows. “Okay, so say they flew out. LAX will have them on file.”

“Or they drove… but which way? Fuck!” I slam my fist against the desk, the jolt knocking a coffee cup down spilling its contents all over the keyboard.

The fucker ignores me, pulling out his cell and making a call. He begins to speak to someone, and I have no idea who. Seconds later, he hangs up, and his face no longer looks calm.

“I have to go find Andy,” he tells me.

“Where the fuck are you going?”

“I’m not sitting around waiting for the cops to do shit. I’m gonna find Andy.” He walks past me, and I follow him outside to the hallway. He drops to the floor and cups Adriana’s face. “I’m not coming back without him. I promise you.”

She can barely move her head, and he kisses her lips reassuring her. I turn away. What the fuck is going on here? I pull Charlotte aside and promise I’ll call her as soon as I know what the hell we’re doing. She understands, quickly jumping up and hugging me before I race out of the building to follow him.

“Fucking tell me what you’re doing!” I shout at him.

“I have someone who can help.”

“Well, I’m coming with you,” I demand.

“Fuck off, Edwards. You don’t want to be involved in my shit.”

“If your shit will help us find my nephew, then you better believe I’m going to be involved,” I seethe. “We’re taking my car.”

The car is clocking record speed, but I don’t give a fuck, following his directions to a run-down part of town. The streets are lined with dilapidated homes and groups of teens hanging around watching us drive with caution. I pull into the driveway of a brown brick home and turn off the engine. The front porch light is on, and all the windows are dark. A shadow peaks through the curtains. It’s times like this I wish I carried a gun. In the distance, the sound of a car backfiring startles us.

Julian looks reluctant at first but quickly exits the car. He leans back into my window, commanding me to stay in the car.

I wait impatiently, giving him a few more minutes before I go after him.

He emerges with his jacket closed, nervously checks his surroundings, then hops back into the car, disturbed with a look of sheer terror in his eyes. It would be proper manners is to ask him if he is okay, but fuck that bullshit, where’s my nephew?

“A lady and man accompanied with a young boy have checked into a Motel 6 about three hours north.”

“How the fuck did you find that out?”

“Just drive. Now.”

I start the engine and reverse out of the driveway, the tires screeching as I slam my foot on the brake and shove the stick into gear. He gives me the directions, and I punch them into my GPS.

“Now, fucking tell me how you found that out?” I yell at him.

He doesn’t tell me. He throws a bag carrying white substance into my lap. I lower my head to look.

Is this what I think it is? Fuck, it’s a bag of cocaine.

“Why is this shit in my car?”

“Because my dealer has connections, and to use them, I had to buy this.”

He grits his teeth, and his knuckles are pale white. He used to be an addict. The first rational thought is I need to get rid of this shit. I’ve been there before, succumbed to the white acid to take away the pain. It’s a difficult addiction to overcome, and thank God, I had sense to back away when I knew I was hitting that slippery slope. I am all too familiar with that ‘high,’ and for the sake of finding my nephew, Julian cannot be near this stuff.

We drive down the open freeway without saying a word to each other. An hour into the drive, I pull over along the road in a dark and deserted spot.

“Why are you pulling over?” he asks angrily

“We’re dumping this shit now. You can’t be near it.”

I exit the car and walk outside a few feet from where we’re parked and spread the powder amongst the trees. Done. No fucking temptation when we are looking for Andy. I drive off, and a few moments later, he begins to talk.

“I wouldn’t have used it,” he mumbles.

“That’s what all addicts say.”

“Yeah, well, I fucking mean it. That stuff is deadly. If it weren’t for you coming back into Charlie’s life, I wouldn’t have fucking touched it again.”

My blood has risen, steaming like boiled water. The nerve of this fucking idiot. “You’re going to blame that on me?”

“You have no idea how hard it is to watch someone die in front of your eyes. Watching as their body incinerates, and you can’t do a damn thing to stop it.”

He closes his eyes and releases a deep breath. I’ve no idea, and never want to know what it feels like. I can’t think of anything more terrifying.

“Yeah, well, coke isn’t the answer.”

“You think it was all about Charlie… it wasn’t. It was the fucking coke driving me to do things. Until you’re under the influence, you have no idea how much it can destroy your life and any rational thinking.”

My hands grip tightly on the wheel as I rev the engine, the roar loudly rumbles around us.

“You expect me to forgive you?” I laugh in malice.

“How can I expect you to forgive me when I can’t even forgive myself?”

I don’t respond instantly. What the fuck does he want from me? First, he proposes to my wife. Then, he stalks her, putting her in danger, and now he wants forgiveness so he can steal my nephew and brainwash my sister?

Adriana’s words ring in my head. “We all make mistakes, Lex. We’re all guilty of doing things that are unforgivable.”

Yeah, well, Julian’s list of ‘unforgivable mistakes’ is too long in my eyes. He isn’t going to get an apology from me, but I’m not that inconsiderate. I recognize he has been to hell. It doesn’t excuse anything, and to some extent I understand how easily life can fall apart around you. Nine fucking years of living in hell was enough for me to show a small amount of compassion.

“I’ve been there. When you wake up and realize every decision you have made in your life has been one big mistake and you’ve broken the only person who’s your reason for living, you run to anything that will numb the fucking pain. I spent six months of my life snorting that shit and taking anything else I could get my hands on. Some nights, I had no idea where I was, who was beside me, and what narcotics had been injected into me.”

“Then, you know.”

“I do know. Nobody else knows this. They only saw businessman Lex driven by power and money. They didn’t know that every night I was surrounded by dealers. Pimping their whores and drugs on to me like it was a big fucking game. I’m not proud of that part of my life, and the moment I saw Charlotte again, I knew you wouldn’t stand in my way.”

“It’s done, but just so you know, I love your sister and just like you said, you won’t stand in my way.”

I’m a fucking hypocrite and refuse to admit that openly, so instead, my lips remain tightly sealed as we continue to drive to the motel.

The night has fallen, and only a few lights flicker on the motel sign. I park the car in the almost deserted parking lot, and we both make our way to the front desk. The overweight sleazy man sitting on his fat ass behind the desk doesn’t even turn our way when the sound of the bell rings. Dressed in a greasy wife-beater and shorts, he faces our way when Julian clears his throat. I hold up the picture of Andy and ask him if he has seen him. He stares blankly at the picture and shakes his head.

“Are you sure?” Julian remains calm, not showing any sign of frustration.

The man shakes his head again. I take out my wallet and throw a wad of cash at him. I don’t even count it, and he appears to be pleased, but he doesn’t give any further information, instead, taking the cash and shoving it into his pocket.

I’m losing my cool and am ready to pounce, but Julian places his hand against my chest, holding me back.

“I’m sorry you couldn’t help us.”

What the fuck is this fucker doing!

I follow him outside making our way back to the car. “Now what, huh? Your damn dealer scammed us.”

“Well, tell me what you had in mind, Edwards? Waiting for the cops to do jack all?”

“I don’t know. I’d have done better than you,” I spit back.

“Yeah, well, you’ve done nothing but fucking complain so far.” He moves toward me, eyes wide and full of rage.

“Back the fuck off. I swear, Baker, don’t even fucking think about it,” I seethe.

He grabs my shirt with his fists, and with fast reflexes, I’m about to swing a punch when his face changes, and he lets go, frozen on the spot staring intently at the concrete. He starts to walk away, but I pull his shoulder back. He shrugs it off and kneels to the curbside to pick up a toy car.

“This belongs to Andy,” he says.

“That could be any kid’s car.”

“No, the windows have been colored in black marker. Andy does this to all his cars. I still remember when I asked him about it, he said ‘Uncle Lex has black windows, and I want to be just like him.’”

Andy said that? I crumple to the ground, defeated as the enormity of this situation consumes me. I can’t breathe let alone think of what to do next.

Julian continues to stand towering over me as I sit on the curb. “He’s here.” Julian motions for us sit in the car, so we can talk in private. “We need to come up with a plan.”

“Well, the fat fuck at the front desk doesn’t give answers with cash.”

“Then, we wait.”

We sit quietly, waiting as we watch all the motel rooms hoping for a sign of Andy. I call Charlotte briefly, letting her know where we are, and what is happening. She doesn’t ask too many questions, trusting our handle on the situation.

“Adriana’s asleep. I slipped a pill into her coffee that your mom gave me from your dad’s prescriptions. It won’t last long, though. Please be careful,” she pleads. “And I love you.”

“I love you, too,” I whisper into the speaker.

I hang up the cell and tell Julian that Adriana is sleeping. Amidst the conversation, a motel door opens. A man dressed in a caramel-colored velour tracksuit exits the motel room carrying a can of beer. The dirty scum walks over to the vending machine and nervously looks around. It’s the same man on the video, the mole blatantly obvious as Julian points out. He walks back to the room and closes the door behind him.

Julian and I give each other a look and get out of the car, quietly walking toward the room. I place my ear on the door and hear the sounds of the television. On the count of three, we lean against the door, then force it open barging into the room, The man panics, scurrying to the bathroom and tripping on a suitcase in the middle of the floor.

Julian follows him and grabs his jacket, slamming him against the wall as he yells for help.

“Tell us where Andy is, or you can kiss this life goodbye,” Julian grunts.

“I don’t… I don’t know,” he stammers, shaking his body trying to release himself from Julian’s grip.

I lean up against him and place my hand under his neck as Julian holds him against the wall. My grip is tight and choking him to death seems inevitable.

“Tell us now,”I spit back, directly into his face.

He coughs, almost blue in the face. “The next town over. They aren’t here… I swear!”

Julian drops him to the floor, and his body slams against the dirty tile. I’m just about to kick him in the ribs when Julian beats me to it, the man curling over as he begins to cough up blood.

Serves him right, piece of worthless shit!

He catches his breath enough to explain that it wasn’t his idea, that Mary Jean was desperate to take Andy. He only agreed to the plan because she paid him five thousand dollars.

Adriana’s five thousand dollars.

Julian takes his belt off and wraps it around the man’s wrist. I push him out of the room and shove the scum into my backseat warning him if we don’t find Andy, we’ll dump him in the desert for the vultures to feed off him.

It’s only thirty minutes to the next town, but I make it in fifteen, driving at record speed. The sleepy motel appears over the hill, and we pull into the driveway, the gravel hitting the tires as I slam my foot on the brakes. This time, the front desk is manned by an older lady. She hunches as she walks to the counter, lifting her head to look at the photograph Julian holds of Andy. At first, she is reluctant, and then she nods. We beg her for information, and I hand over another wad of cash. She refuses, pushing it back toward me and writes something on a piece of paper. The number says room thirteen. I smile graciously, and we rush out the door in search for room thirteen.

It’s down the very back corner, and as soon as we’re there, I close my eyes for a split second and pray to heaven above that Andy is alive and safe. We repeat our actions, barging our way through the door with our bodies. The room is silent, and immediately I’m drawn to Andy, lying on the bed curled into a ball. I rush over to him and check his breathing. He is asleep.

Relief washes over me as I fall to my knees thanking the Lord he has protected my little boy. I take count of his body, making sure his limbs, fingers, toes, and every part of him is intact. Dressed in his favorite superhero pajamas, he continues to sleep quietly and peacefully.

Julian is standing above Mary Jean. He looks at me, tormented and riddled with guilt as his face falls. Careful not to wake Andy yet, I walk to where Julian is standing and notice the empty bottle of pills beside her. Julian feels her pulse and shakes his head at me.

She is gone.

Beside her, there is a note. I pick it up, taking a deep breath before reading it.

Adriana,

Please forgive me for my mistakes and what led me to this moment. They say there is no greater pain than to bear a child, but burying your own son is much greater.

Every time I stare into Andy’s eyes, I see my baby boy, Elijah. It hurts me every single day, and I can’t escape the grief nor the guilt for still breathing when my son is no longer given the chance.

I know you will take care of my grandson.

You were always meant to be in Elijah’s life and Andy’s mother.

You are the strength I wish I had instilled in me.

Mary Jean

I walk back over to Andy and gently lift him, not wanting him to see Mary Jean in this state. Julian grabs his cell and makes the necessary calls. A minute later, he walks outside the room and stands beside me, stroking Andy’s hair. His eyes start to flutter, and slowly, they open.

“Uncle Lex,” he mutters softly.

I smile at him, relieved and grateful to have him in my arms. “Hey, Andy, everything’s okay.”

He places his thumb into his mouth, but with his eyes wide in fear, he lifts his head and turns to face Julian. Reaching his arms out, he begins to cry, “Jay, I thought you were gone to live with my daddy in heaven.”

Julian motions for me to pass Andy over, and I finally let go.

Safely in his arms, he rocks him back and forth soothing him, easing his fears. “I was gone for a little while, but I’m here to stay. Okay?”

“Don’t ever go, Jay. Makes Mama sad and me sad.”

“I’m not going anywhere, buddy,” he reassures him.

He tells me to call Adriana, and instantly, I grab my cell. She picks up immediately and sobs into the phone as I tell her what happened. Begging to speak to Julian and Andy, I place her on speakerphone.

“Pooh-bear, it’s Mama,” she strains, attempting to control her voice.

“Mama, Grandmama said she misses Daddy. She said she is gone to see him,” he informs us innocently.

Adriana cries softly. “She did miss him, baby. I miss you. Uncle Lex and Jay will bring you home now.”

“Mama, I was scared Jay was going, too, but he said he will stay with us, Mama.”

“Julian, are you there?”

“I’m right here, Adriana.”

“I love you.”

The second Adriana expresses those three powerful words, I know I have no choice.

Julian’s expression is one of complacency, and I’d be an idiot not to see that.

My conscience battles with the good and the bad of it all, and if their love is as forceful as Charlotte’s and mine, there’s no chance in hell I can stop them, even if I try.

Andy nestles himself into Julian’s shoulder, and with ease, he repeats the words back to my sister.

“I love you, too. Time to bring your baby home to you.”

“Thank you,” she tells him.

It’s time to say goodbye as the sounds of the sirens come rushing around the corner, but Adriana quickly stops me. “Lex?”

“Yes?”

“Thank you for everything you do for me. I love you, too. Please come home safely to your family now.”

I struggle to end the call, and as I do, the weight which remains heavily on my shoulders is lifting at a snail’s pace, and it’s triggered by the look that Andy gives Julian.

The same look he gives me.

It’s of adoration, respect, and love.

I’m not immune to jealousy, and for once, I am putting my sister and her son before my own selfish needs as hard as it may be.

They deserve to be loved. Everyone deserves to experience love. Whatever it may be—fate, destiny—I no longer care. He will take care of them. I’ll make sure of that, and I finally take a step back and allow the universe to do its own thing.

“Listen, Edwards, I owe you. For getting rid of it before it became a problem,” Julian mumbles under his breath, careful that the cops can’t hear.

“Well, I owe you for saving my wife and baby. Call it even, shall we?”

He nods his head, and that was that.

I look into the sky and stare directly into the stars. “Brother, if you can hear me. I’m leaving it all up to you.”

And from that moment, Elijah will forever protect us.

That was his nature, and this is his calling.