“You have a sick and twisted mind, Jacob. You need help.”

“Abby!” Melodi yells as she rushes to me, only to be stopped by Jacob grabbing her arm. Dragging her away from me and shoving her backward, he causes her to fall, hitting her head on the bench. She whimpers, pulling her legs up to her chest to protect her little ones. If something happens to her or them, I will never forgive myself and will be wishing for Jacob to finish me.

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Blake

Seriously, how can two people drop off the face of this earth? I’m pulling every string I can to find out where this lowlife and that stupid girl are. I haven’t even been able to work much on it today. It’s like everyone wants to start fights or rob a store. It’s never ending here. Since moving to New York work has been nonstop, even more so since Abby came back.

“Oi, Blake, you need to remember to take your phone with you. It’s been going off like crazy,” one of the other officers called out to me.

Oh, crap, how could I forget to take it? When the call came in about the robbery, I got caught up on the job, doing the best that I could to apprehend the culprits. It was probably some person trying to score cash for some drugs. It never ends. I grab my phone from my desk and see like ten missed calls from Corban and two from Abby. Along with about a million messages from Corban, Rachel, and three from Abby. Panic grips me as I know that Corban would only ring persistently when something was wrong. I call him back and he answers on the first ring.

“Where the hell have you been? Melodi is missing and I can’t get her on her phone.” The panic is evident in his voice and hearing that sends my mind into overdrive.

What did Abby’s messages say?

I ask Corban to hold on while I check my messages and seeing that she left the apartment without me makes me furious as, she knows not to leave without me. Dread fills me.

“What did Melodi say to you?”

“She didn’t tell me. She told Rachel that she got a message from Abby and that someone was in trouble. Rachel told her to wait until you or I went with her, but she didn’t!” he yells down the phone in frustration.

“Settle down, everything will be okay. Did she tell Rachel where she was going?”

“Rach said that she needed to stop by her apartment as Abby had asked her to grab something for her. Is that where she is?” Well, what a sneaky little mole Jacob was. He’s been hiding in plain sight. A place we haven’t been too often because Melodi has been staying with Corban and Abby at the new apartment, but why did he wait till now to make his move it’s been over a month.

“How long ago did she leave?”

“About twenty minutes.” Crap…that’s a long time and who knows what he’s been doing to our girls. Hate wells within me and I feel like I might lose it. I quickly reign in my emotions because I don’t want Corban to know how terrified I am for our girls.

“I’m going to get a few people together and get over to Melodi’s right away.”

“I’m heading there now.”

“Calm down and don’t do anything stupid. Wait for us to get there.” I don’t need Corban throwing himself in the line of fire. We don’t know what Jacob has in there and, for all we know he could have a gun.

“Don’t tell me to calm down! That’s my future wife possibly in danger and she’s having my babies, it’s not what I want to hear right now.” I understand how he’s feeling. I’m trying to keep myself together because if Jacob has Abby then he also has Katie as well, and that alone strikes fear into every fibre of my being. I want Abby and Katie in my future and if he harms one hair on either of their heads, I’m going to take him out. He has messed with my family for the last time in his lifetime.

“Just don’t do anything stupid!” Is all I hear as a grunt comes from the other end before he disconnects. I hope I get there before he does and with enough time.

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Melodi

Oh my goodness, what just happened? My head aches and then I remember my struggle with Athena when I walked in the door. My hand instantly goes to my stomach. Please, let my babies be okay. An overwhelming sensation of fear rushes over me. My heart races and I know this situation is not good. Abby, Katie, myself and my babies may not get out of here alive.

“Please, let her go, Jacob. I can’t do this anymore.”

I open my eyes to see Athena standing before me with Jacob. His fist quickly connects with her face, causing me to jump in shock and Athena lets out a loud cry in pain.

“You’re a part of this?” I say to her as she clutches her face. Tears are streaming down her face while my anger is at boiling point. “How could you?” I cry.

“I’m so sorry, Melodi. He forced me.” She whimpers as she swipes the tears off her face.

“I don’t care! How could you do this to me…to your brother…to your family?” I seethe at her.

“Shut up, you stupid girl! She would do anything for me. You’re nothing to her but a gold digger.” Jacob’s hand connects with my face, making my cheek sting. My hand instantly clutches it.

I look behind him and see Abby. I can hardly recognise her with her face bloody and hair matted with blood. What has he done to her?

“Abby, are you all right?”

She merely nods.

“So now everyone is here, we can let the party begin,” Jacob announces before his foot forcefully stomps on my leg. I scream out in agony. “You see, Melodi, I knew your sister wouldn’t break, but she has a weakness…you.” He gets right up in my face and smiles before his fist lashes out and connects with my cheek. I let out another cry as it feels like a hammer has connected with my face.

“Stop!” Abby screams.

Jacob just laughs like a hyena and grabs my hair, reefing me across the room with everything he has. I bring my knees to my chest in the hope to cover any blows he might make to my stomach. I need to protect my babies at any cost.

“You ruined my life! Now I’m going to destroy yours one step at a time then take my daughter and leave.”

“She isn’t yours, you stupid man!” Abby screams back.

Jacob’s face becomes hard, his eyes blaze with so much anger and hate. He turns away from me, heading toward Abby. He takes his gun out and points it directly at her chest.

“You slut, whose is she? She will suffer now, just like her mom and aunt.” He releases a guns, adjusting his aim for Abby’s leg and she screams out in agony as the gun goes off. My stomach drops as the tears begin to fall.

“No!” I cry. No…I just got my sister back and now I’m about to lose her again. He stalks back to me with the gun raised. I cower away in the corner, wishing the wall would swallow me and keep me safe from this monster. As I hear his weapon click, I close my eyes wishing with all my might to disappear. The shot never goes off. I open my eyes and see Athena climbing over Jacob. She’s thrown herself at him, her fingers digging deep into his eyes. I scurry toward Abby to check on her. Her body is crumpled over as if the spirit has left her body.

“Abby, no! Please don’t leave me again. I need you here,” I cry. The tears won’t stop flowing. I check her pulse and feel it, it’s still strong. I look around for my phone to try to call 911. I notice my bag by the door so I crawl over and tip the contents onto the floor. I dial and within seconds, they have people on their way. As soon as I hang up, a gunshot rings out within the apartment. I see Athena’s body slump to the floor. Oh no! My heart breaks for her. I should be angry with her, but she’s young and silly and fell for the wrong man just like my sister did.

“Jacob, please, stop,” I beg with everything I can muster.

“No! My life has been hell and it’s all because of her.” His finger stabs toward Abby. As much as I want to hate the man, and I do to an extent, he must have lived a crap hole of a life for him to turn out this way.