Chapter 5
I closed Ella’s bedroom door softly behind me and smiled when I realized Jaxson was closing Alex’s door as well. He returned my grin before pulling me into a kiss.
Alex and Ella were becoming more and more independent in regard to bedtime routines but every now and then they were normal eight-year-olds and wanted a little extra attention.
Since we returned a few days ago, they seemed a little clingier than normal and requested bedtime stories after their showers.
I rarely complained because one day I realized would be the “last” time with them and I wanted to soak in their innocence and dependence on us for a little longer.
While Jaxson and I did their bedtime routine with them the rest of my guys were pulled away.
Remy, Troy, and Lincoln were making sure their teams were ready for their missions tomorrow morning.
Even though they were part of a team they still had responsibilities to the newer teams. In some instances, they also accompanied them, but tomorrow Kirk and one of the other leaders of another community offered to go.
Drake ran down to the kitchens to touch base with the kitchen manager and double check the food order for Thursday. It was the first Thursday of the month, so they typically requested a larger shipment to reduce the number of deliveries for the rest of the month.
Noah had barely finished dinner before he was pulled to L&D.
Two women were in labor while one mom was having complications, and yet another one had to have an emergency c-section.
The staff was already stretched thin so the four babies being born within the same time span put stress on them.
Technically, Noah didn’t have the schooling or the credentials but the doctors on staff didn’t care considering his experience and gift.
So, needless to say, the extra day we got in warmer temperatures had been a godsend. I just wished we had a few more days just to be. Hitting the ground running constantly seemed to be wearing on us all.
As we exited the hallway, I realized that Jace, Pops, and Greg were out of their meetings with our newcomers and our other allies.
They had returned to the apartment, and I witnessed Pops handing Jace a beer before pouring himself and Greg a tumbler of bourbon.
I froze, knowing Pops only hit the hard stuff when he had to deliver tough news.
Jaxson seemed to recognize the implications as well. “Uh oh, what happened?”
“Family meeting,” Jace stated as Pops took a sip of his drink.
Pops swirled his ice in his cup. “We’re waiting for everyone to get here along with Gavin, Sierra, and Mercedes.”
My heart sunk and I breathed out. “Jemmy.”
Pops nodded as the door opened, and Megan came in animatedly talking to Lincoln, Troy, and Remy. They all seemed to stop short when they saw Pops was drinking from his ball glass. They wordlessly found seats around the sizeable seating area.
Pops and Megan’s apartment was as big as ours but didn’t have the extra two bedrooms we did, so they had a larger living area. Since most of the teens liked to hang out at their apartment, Megan made sure they had plenty of seating. It was also convenient for us when we wanted to come over as well.
The door opened once again and Gavin, Mercedes, Sierra, Drake, and Noah came into the apartment.
They too seemed to pick up on the somber atmosphere because they all found seats without a word.
I slid over and tapped the spot next to me for Drake.
I had a feeling he would need me more than the others.
Pops took a seat and blew out a sigh of vexation. “There’s no easy way to say this. Tracey has taken a leave of absence at her job, and she never enrolled Jemmy in any schooling,”
I felt Drake stiffen beside me and I immediately slipped my hand in his giving it a gentle squeeze.
That sense of foreboding I had felt realizing Jemmy had gone radio silent on all fronts struck me once more.
Her cutting us off was understandable, her not being on her socials was a clear indication that something had to be wrong.
Jemmy publicized her meals, our training, school, nearly everything.
She may not have disclosed the specifics of our training or our locations, but she was always cataloging her activities.
We had jokingly counted the activity on her news feed for a week and on average she broadcasted about her ongoings ten times a day between all her social platforms. A slow day for her was four postings.
The last time she had been active on social media was two days after her departure.
A part of me felt guilty for not noticing sooner. Especially seeing how much this was tormenting Drake. No matter how much how different they were from each other, Drake loved his sister deeply.
“Does anyone know where she went?” Jace inquired at the same time Remy asked. “What about this promotion she was vying for?”
When we approached Pops about Jemmy, he had already admitted to hiring a PI, private investigator.
He confessed that he hadn’t trusted Tracey’s motives and didn’t believe she could care for Jemmy.
True, Jemmy was an adult, but Pops would always regard her as his daughter. Her leaving had hurt and bothered him.
Megan took a seat on the arm rest of the chair Pops was sitting in and began to run a calming hand over his shoulders. I didn’t think he realized it when he reached up to grab one of her hands. I saw the gentle squeeze of appreciation he gave her in return.
Pops lifted his foot, so it rested on his opposite knee.
“Tracey’s credit cards were used twenty minutes north of her home a few days after their departure, but since then she hasn’t left a digital footprint anywhere.
Our PI was able to talk to a few of her colleagues and from their accounts she didn’t seem to be herself the last few months.
She wasn’t staying as late or working on the weekends.
It didn’t seem like she cared to advance in her position any longer according to the information he had gleaned. ”
Troy looked at Gavin and Sierra. “Jemmy hasn’t contacted any of you?”
“She won’t answer my text or calls.” Sierra worried on her bottom lip.
Gavin shifted uncomfortably before admitting.
“I stopped trying. She put my heart in the blender when Lincoln arrived. When she was struggling with her mo—Tracey—reaching out to her she had used me as her verbal and emotional punching bag. After everything came to light, she begged me to forgive her. We had a deep and meaningful discussion and agreed to talk to each other in the future. When I returned, she didn’t want to talk, and I couldn’t force her. ”
I saw how some of the guys wanted to defend her, but I couldn’t allow them to criticize Gavin.
They were blinded by their fear and by loyalty.
Some of them were unable to objectively look at the situation with an unbiased view.
I wasn’t trying to blame any of them, and I felt a little guilty for thinking it but a part of me believed she was a product of their upbringing.
They had overindulged and spoiled her in many aspects, so when she finally hadn’t gotten her way, she had thrown a tantrum.
I immediately felt remorse for my thoughts, but I still felt I needed to speak up on Gavin’s behalf.
“No one can force Jemmy into doing anything she’s unwilling to do.
No one is blaming you for not reaching out to her, especially after she spurned your attempts at fixing your relationship numerous times. ”
Pops looked every bit of his mid-forties—if not older—as he rubbed the bridge of his nose in exhaustion.
“I’m not even certain she could receive any text or calls.
As of yesterday, our PI discovered they aren’t in possession of their phones.
Their phones are at Tracey’s penthouse, and we believe it was deliberate on Tracey’s part. ”
“So, Tracey kidnapped Jemmy and what, why—” Jaxson’s voice trailed off in vexation.
“Do you think Horatio has her?” Lincoln inquired.
“Do you think he was in contact with Tracey and used her to get Jemmy? No matter how much we think we trust the people surrounding us, not all of them are able to keep a secret. By now, everyone has heard rumors about Max being Gavin. Anyone inadvertently or maliciously could have let someone with ill intentions know that Gavin, Sierra, Mercedes, and Jemmy are connected. We already know that he covets us, who’s to say he doesn’t want them as well. ”
From the grim look on Pops’ face, I had a feeling the thought had already crossed his mind. I saw the look of complete devastation on Drake’s face. I leaned further into him and gently began to stroke his arm. I unwittingly began to push feelings of comfort on him.
My thoughts began to scramble hoping to find a solution to our problem. There had to be a way for us to discover the truth. Even if we couldn’t exactly pinpoint their location, there wasn’t a gaurantee we could find out if he had her. My mind spun and suddenly a thought struck me.
I voiced my inner musing aloud. “Neville. Can we reach out to Neville and ask him how his gift works? Is he capable of finding Jemmy.”
Megan sat up excitedly. “He’s leery with us, but I’m sure if a few of us were to contact him, he might be persuaded to help us.”
“I heard he’s a huge movie buff,” Greg slyly suggested. “If someone linked to the movie industry were to introduce him to some advantageous connections, he may be swayed more so.”
“Let’s pimp Lincoln out!” Jaxson excitedly exclaimed.
Lincoln shot Jaxson with an exasperated look but nodded. “I can do that. I have so many connections and once I get a feel of him, and see if he’s actually any good, I can make the introductions necessary to help him out.”
Pops gave a satisfied smile and nodded. “Let’s make a plan to visit Neville.”
We put our heads together to figure out the best way to approach him.
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