2. Stolen
TWO
STOLEN
UNTIL THE DAY I DIE: STORY OF THE YEAR
DOMINIC
A sharp, piercing noise fills my ears, drowning out all other sounds. As I struggle to open my eyes, shards of glass seem to dig into my skin, while a thick haze clouds my vision, shrouding everything in darkness. The acrid scent of gasoline assaults my nostrils, intensifying with every breath, quickening my pulse, and filling me with dread.
What the fuck just happened?
Suspended upside down, I fumble for the seatbelt buckle, finally managing to release it. The sudden jolt of freedom sends me crashing down to the ground, where I land in more glass, the shards embedding deeper into my skin. Though pain is the last thought on my mind.
"Calista!" I scream, but it feels as if my voice is trapped—a silent plea in the chaos.
Desperately, I rub my ears, not stopping until the buzzing subsides into a faint hum. I wipe the blood and dust from my eyes, blinking furiously until the flickering of streetlights becomes clear, illuminating the wreckage that surrounds me.
But Calista is nowhere to be seen. Her distant screams echo in my mind, mingling with the sound of shuffling that signals someone has taken her from the car. Through the darkness, I catch a glimpse of a tall, shadowy figure dragging someone across the street—the unmistakable panic tightening around my chest. The last thing I hear is her being taken away from the scene, and I'm left alone in the mangled metal that once used to be my favorite car. Although giving up is something that I don't ever do, I can feel myself losing hope, giving into the warm, fuzzy sensations coursing through my body.
But that flicker—barely perceptible—reminds me of Calista. I can't let myself drift into unconsciousness, not when she might still be out there, vulnerable and terrified. I push against the ground, feeling the sharp glass pieces tearing at my skin, yet the pain is a mere whisper in the face of my growing urgency.
I stagger to my feet, the world around me spinning, an unsteady carousel of ruin. It’s hard to think straight, but the instinct to fight overrides the throbbing in my head. I glance around, trying to find even the faintest hint of her presence. The road is empty now, mere silhouettes flickering in the dim light, shadows that mock my frantic search.
"Calista!" I call again, desperation clawing at my throat, each syllable echoing through the cold night.
My voice feels like it might break under the weight of panic, but I refuse to let it win.
A faint movement catches my eye at the edge of the lot, where tangled vines creep up warped barriers. Heart pounding, I weave my way through the wreckage, each step sending fresh waves of agony from my injuries, but I ignore it all. I need to press on toward that flicker.
I reach the edge, and my breath catches. The shadow emerges from behind a car, and in that half-light, I can make out the very last person I want to see—the figure looms large, imposing, but more than that, it holds something—or someone—tightly in its grasp.
"Calista!" I roar, adrenaline fueling every ounce of strength I can muster.
As they turn, I can see her face pressed against the figure’s shoulder, eyes wide, mouth moving in a silent scream. Their grip is too tight, a sinister promise that sends the shivers of fear deep into my bones.
"Let her go!" I charge forward, fueled by rage and an instinct to protect her at all costs.
The shadowy figure turns, placing themselves between me and Calista, grinning with a chilling confidence that sends dread coursing through my veins.
"Why should I?" they taunt, their voice low and sinister. "She already knows too much."
Who is that? What else could she possibly know? The questions spin wildly in my mind, pulling me deeper into confusion while the figure begins to retreat.
A spark ignites within me. I won’t let them take her, not now, not ever. With every ounce of strength left, I dive toward them, feet pounding against the pavement.
"Calista!" I shout again, catching her gaze just as they pull her further back, the distance growing even further between us.
She looks scared but resolute, her eyes pleading with mine. Suddenly, the world narrows to just us two. I can’t let fear win; I can’t allow them to erase us before I even find out what’s happening.
With one last burst of energy, I leap forward. Somehow, I’m closer; the figure turned slightly to catch me, but it’s all I need. I release a primal scream, one that echoes into the night, a sound so raw that it represents the fury and desperation brewing inside.
"Get away from her!" I tackle the assailant, a surge of adrenaline eclipsing the pain.
The two of us crash to the ground, the impact knocking the breath from my lungs, but it doesn’t matter. All that matters is Calista. In the tussle, I manage to wrangle my way on top, fists flying, fueled by fear and a fierce love that refuses to bend to the shadows.
Finally, I catch sight of Cali again, struggling against the half-light, and I lock eyes with her. She whispers something I can’t hear, but her gaze speaks loudly: Don’t stop .
I don’t intend to. I bring my fist down again, but before I can connect with the unknown person, another mysterious figure snatches me off of the one on the ground, throwing me into the middle of the street.
Utterly defeated, I hear Calista screaming as she's forced into the car, doors slamming soon after. And then the sound of the car speeding away lingers like a bad dream. As much as I fight, my eyes slowly flutter closed until I'm swallowed in darkness and left for dead on the side of the frozen road.
The silence that follows is suffocating, punctuated only by the distant whir of tires vanishing into the night. I lie there, hollow and immobilized, my heart a drum echoing the absence of what I’ve just lost. A cold sweat coats my skin, mingling with the shards of glass and the remnants of anguish.
How could I let them take her?
Just as despair threatens to drag me under, I hear a faint sound—twitchy, intermittent, yet undeniably there. Against all odds, I focus on it, straining to remember what it feels like to hope. The noise grows louder, morphing into a series of hasty footsteps approaching.
"Dom! Dom, are you alright?" A voice cuts through the darkness, sharp and clear, pulling me back into a world that still has colors to offer.
I force my heavy eyes open, blinking against the harshness of bright headlights that cut through the night like spears. Shadows gather around me, three figures silhouetted against the glow, their stances exuding urgency. One steps forward—light brown coat, sturdy frame, deep-set eyes, clearly holding concern instead of malice.
"Please tell me you can hear me!" Killian screams, frantic, rushing over to me as Ash and Five remain frozen to the cluttered pavement, shock, consuming their features.
Words tangle in my throat, but I muster the strength to nod, though the motion feels sluggish and foreign. I manage a fractured whisper: "Calista... they took her."
Instant panic washes over the group, their conversations punctuated by shouts and hurried commands, but amidst the chaos, my heart is racing for a different reason. Where there’s a shadow of hope, there’s a chance, and I cannot afford to lose it now.
"Damn it! Call 911 and get a fucking car!" Killian orders, kneeling beside me, grasping my shoulder. "We need to get you to the hospital; you’re hurt badly."
"No!" I jerk away, pulling myself up with desperate urgency, hardly aware of the jagged glass tearing deeper into my skin. "I can't leave her! Not like this."
A moment of tenseness hangs in the air. Ash now steps forward, and he looks at me with a strange mix of concern and determination. "Listen," he says, "we can’t save anyone if you’re fucking bleeding out on the ground. Right now, we have to secure your safety. After that, we'll find her!"
The assurance pulls me back from the ledge of despair; the rational part of my brain kicks in. It’s true; if I don’t tend to my wounds, I’m fucking useless. I take a deep breath, grappling with the confusion and dread still swirling inside me.
"Okay," I rasp, voice cracking, "just... don’t leave. Please."
Ash and Killan both nod, signaling to Five, and soon I find myself being carefully lifted.
My body screams against the movement, each throb a reminder of Calista’s absence, but I don’t stop. I can’t stop. The sleek outline of a car comes into view as they assist me into the backseat, the leather cool against my skin.
"You're gonna be okay, Dom," Five says as he seats himself next to me, his hands already reaching for a first aid kit strapped under the seat. "We saw the fucking crash from the lot and came as fast as we could. I promise, we'll get you the help you need."
I close my eyes briefly, trying to wrestle back the turmoil of emotion, the endless questions crashing through my mind like waves against a rocky shore. This was not just a car crash; it was an ambush—a fucking trap designed to take Calista away from me— from us.
As Five methodically starts cleaning the wounds across my arms, I can’t help but feel a flicker of anger igniting within me. Whoever did this—whatever darkness lurks beneath the surface—I will not rest until I find them. Until I find Calista.
"There’s something else," I say suddenly, startling Five out of his concentration. "I saw a car. An unmarked car, distinct from the others. It was black, and it had tinted windows."
The others in the car exchange glances, a collective understanding forming among them. "That’s a start," Five says, his hands steadying as he finishes with the bandages. "Do you remember anything else—license plate, any identifying marks?"
I shake my head, frustration coursing through me as I focus on the memory. "No, it’s all a blur. It happened so fast."
"We can check the surrounding areas; look for any cameras that might’ve caught the incident,” Ash chimes in, with fierce blue eyes and a fierce attitude. “But we need to fucking move now."
"Please," I whisper, desperation burning beneath the surface. "Before it’s too late..."
They share a swift glance, and their determination solidifies into a single, unspoken agreement. With Five beside me and the engine roaring to life, I suddenly feel the goading of purpose.
Killian gets behind the wheel, silent but determined, and as the car lurches forward, my heart pounds not just with pain but with a renewed sense of resolve. I will find her. I’ll break through the darkness that threatens to consume everything I love.
I’ll do whatever it fucking takes.
Because in this battle, I'm not just fighting for myself. I’m fighting for Calista. And no fucking shadow, no villain, will take her from me again.
“Mr. Gray, you need to stay and rest. Your body has undergone an unimaginable amount of trauma, and if you push yourself too hard, you might?—”
“I DON’T FUCKING CARE!” I shout, my voice echoing in the sterile room, prompting the nurse beside me to flinch and the machines to quicken their beeping, as if responding to my distress.
Killian, Ash, and Five stand with arms crossed, leaning against the wall near the window, their eyes filled with a mixture of concern and something I can't quite decipher. Ignoring them, I fixate on the nurse, my fingers digging into the IV line as I attempt to pull it from my arm, desperate to escape this fucking bed.
“Please, sir, keep your IV in,” she pleads, gradually backing away toward the door.
“I don’t need to be here. I have to go,” I sneer, baring my teeth in a primal display.
She casts a pleading glance toward the guys, silently asking for their support to convince me to stay. But looking at them, it’s clear they share my desire to leave this place. Five steps forward, taking the lead over the other two, who still look dazed by the events surrounding Calista’s kidnapping.
“Dom, just stay until the medicine bag is empty, and if you feel you really need to leave afterward, then you can,” he proposes, a mischievous glimmer in his eyes, as if there’s a hidden meaning behind his words.
Rolling my eyes, I relinquish my grip on the IV and throw my head back against the pillow with an exaggerated huff that I intend for everyone to hear.
“Fine,” I mutter, shooting a glare at the nurse. “You might as well give me some more pain medication if you’re going to force me to stay here any longer. My body feels like it’s on fucking fire.” I offer her a half-grin as she nods and walks toward the door, a relieved smile spreading across her face.
“Of course, Mr. Gray. I’ll be right back.”
As soon as she leaves, I take a breath, feeling a sense of relief wash over me even as the pain lances through my body, making me almost wish I hadn’t. Turning to the guys, I find myself at a loss for words; the events of the last few hours replay like a broken record in my mind. Cali's screams still echo, gnawing at my conscience, and my heart sinks further as I think about how we—how I—let her down once again.
“Has anyone heard anything about her?” I ask, my voice hoarse and laced with a flicker of hope.
“No, nothing,” Ash replies, his eyes averted, a veil of shame hanging over him.
“I know her parents are somehow involved in this. Who else could it be?” Killian adds, his hands buried deep in his pockets, struggling against the anxiety that threatens to consume him.
I nod in agreement. “It’s an odd coincidence, especially with everything that happened with our fathers. I don’t know what to think anymore.”
Shutting my eyes, I attempt to replay the crash and its aftermath, hoping to grasp something I might have overlooked. I remember two figures; at least one of them was a man, but his voice stumps me.
“Are there any men Cali knows personally?” I ask, keeping my eyes shut against the agonizing pain that races down my arm and into my spine, causing my legs to tingle.
“Shit, I don’t know. We could check her list,” Killian suggests, and suddenly, I feel a surge of energy at the thought.
“Damn it, I need to get out of here. The moment I’m discharged, this will be my focus. I won’t stop until she’s back where she fucking belongs. We should make our own list of potential suspects and hunt every single one of them down.” My blood boils, fueled by an insatiable thirst for justice and revenge, simmering just beneath the surface—ready to fucking erupt.
A silence settles in the room, thick and suffocating. The three of them exchange glances, and I can tell they’re weighing their options—whether to humor my manic energy or to try talking sense into me. I don’t need their fucking pity; I need them to understand that any moment we waste sitting here could mean another minute of uncertainty for Cali.
“Dom,” Five begins, his voice soft but firm. “I get it. We’re all worried about her. But you’re in no condition to be charging into a fight. You can barely sit up.”
I grit my teeth, frustration boiling over. “I don’t give a damn about my condition! We can’t just sit around waiting for someone else to save her. That's how we fail!”
Killian steps forward, his eyes intense. “You’re right, Dom. But we can’t be reckless either. We need a plan. Rushing out there without thinking could put us in even more danger—and what if it gets her hurt?”
“What if it already has?” I counter, the edge in my voice slicing through the room.
Ash, who has been silent until now, finally speaks up, shifting uncomfortably. “Maybe we can use this time to gather intel while you heal. If we can find even a hint of where she might be...”
I feel a spark of hope ignite in my chest. “Yeah. A lead. We need to dig into her past and find all her connections. Anyone she might have mentioned.” As I pause, my mind races back to her face, her laughter, and the way her eyes lit up when she was passionate about something. I can’t let that slip away. “Let’s take a look at her contacts, her social media, anything,” I say, my voice rising in intensity. “We’ll find out who she was closest to—anyone she might’ve talked to about us. This can’t just be about family ties—there would have to be more to it. And Five, I know she feels some type of way about your ass, so I think it would be best if you helped us, especially since I'm fucking useless.”
Five nods, looking more convinced now. “I’ll do whatever I need to. Just tell me what you need.”
“After I’m discharged. No more hospitals, no more of this bullshit. We hit the ground fucking running.”
The door swings open, and the nurse returns, a small cup of pain medication in one hand, her expression determined yet cautious. I snatch the cup from her hands without waiting for her to explain, gulping the pills dry as she pushes a liquid pain reliever into my IV port.
“Good,” she murmurs, fidgeting slightly as she watches the dynamic unfold. It’s clear she’s aware that we’re unraveling here, but I don’t care about her fucking opinion.
“Listen,” I say, turning back to the guys. “When I’m out of here, we stick together. No one goes off on their own. I won’t lose anyone else.”
The sincerity in my voice settles over the room like a blanket, thick with unspoken promises. They all understand. We are bound not by blood but by our choices, our loyalty and trauma, and by the weight of what it means to protect those we love.
“I’ll try to get the list from her bag,” Ash says, determination replacing the shame in his eyes.
“And I’ll dig into her phone and shit. See if anyone’s been sending weird shit lately,” Killian adds, an unexpected fierceness returning to him.
Five crosses his arms. “And I’ll check the physical locations connected to her life. Places she might’ve gone and didn’t mention.”
I take a deep breath, the pain medication beginning to dull the edge of reality just enough for me to focus. “Then it’s set. We divide and conquer,” I declare with a nod.
“Dom... just rest,” Ash says, concern back in his voice. “You’ll be back on your feet in no time, and we’ll find her. I promise.”
That’s the promise a brother gives. That’s the promise I’ll hold them to. Because we need each other now more than ever. We may be bloody and broken, but I’ll be damned if we let Cali stay lost... again.