Chapter 14
Chapter fourteen
Opening Sprinkles today was not an option.
I sent Betty a text that I was down with the flu and offered her a paid day off, even though she offered to run a skeleton crew and limited menu for me, I couldn’t take her up on her kind offer.
Max helped me print off a sign that made it sound like we’re closed after celebrating Merry and Bright Night, and hopefully we will be open tomorrow because I won’t have an excuse for being closed two days in a row.
But I don’t care right now, not while we sit here and wait.
Forty-five minutes after Max showed up at my door and wrapped his arms around me, we’re sitting at the dining room table explaining everything—and I mean everything—to strangers on a conference call.
Max assures me they are all trustworthy and will protect our secrets, but right now, I don’t care about secrets or the bakery or anything other than getting my nephew and niece back safely.
I can’t sit still; I’ve checked and rechecked each of the windows and doors in the entire building, not that it matters if everything is secure now, but it gives my hands something to do.
In between checking the windows and pacing, I clench and unclench my hands repeatedly.
More than once, spots have danced in my vision, but I try to clear my head; I don’t have the luxury of relaxing.
Dante and Mila are out there somewhere—and they need me now more than ever.
Liam called Max on a conference call with someone named Ace, who has said two words so far, and a firecracker named Sophia who seems to run the show.
“I’m running a trace on that number right now.
Of course, it’s a burner, but it’s on, so we may be able to triangulate a location depending on the model of the burner,” Sophia says as I hear keys clacking in the background.
“These assholes taking innocent children, I can’t even.
I want this one to hurt, boys.” Liam and Ace hum in agreement as Sophia continues, “I’m also running a search for any known connections to Salvatore Serrano in the regional area, maybe he farmed this out to a local outfit.
But without knowing how they located you, I’m not sure whose world to burn to the ground yet. ”
“I wish I knew. I’ve been so careful! We haven’t even left Forrest Falls in months, except for the other day when we had to go to the city for Dante’s cardiology appointment.
” I twist my hands together, wondering if it’s possible to tie my fingers in an actual knot, until Max places a hand over mine and intertwines our fingers.
With a slight squeeze, he brings me out of my thoughts and back to the room.
“How often do those appointments occur?” Ace’s deep voice growls on the phone.
“It’s just an annual appointment,” I reply as I take a deep breath through my nose to try and calm down, but it’s futile.
“Dante was born with a combination of congenital heart defects, but he had surgery to correct them as a baby. It’s not a big deal for his day-to-day life, so long as everything stays stable, but he has to see a specialist annually to make sure the repair looks good and there aren’t any complications.
” I know everything should be okay, but I don’t want him upset in case it puts more stress on his heart.
Liam speaks up and startles me again from my thoughts. “Did anything out of the ordinary happen that day?”
I scrunch my eyes as I try and remember.
“No, it was only the second time we’ve seen this doctor, but he’s really good.
His team is great with the kids too; they even have activities for siblings that come along for these appointments.
We were late, but I’m always late. There wasn’t any issue getting there—oh, Mila stole my watch! ”
I jump up from the table and rush over to where I usually charge it—hoping there’s a chance it won’t be on the charger and maybe we can somehow find them with my watch.
It’s not on the charger and a surge of hope pulses through my chest as I grab my purse to make sure it’s not in there.
I dump the contents out on the table. “Dammit!” My watch sits next to my wallet, lip gloss, and an AirTag I don’t recognize.
“Can someone fill the class in, please?” Sophia’s voice calls out through the speaker.
“I’m sorry about that. I was hoping my little thief of a niece had stolen my watch again, and maybe we could track my watch somehow.
Shit.” I rub my eyebrows in frustration.
Despite being empty, my stomach still finds a way to be nauseous.
I press my palms into my forehead to try and focus on a different physical stimuli.
“What about this AirTag?” Max picks it up and looks at me, holding a small silver circular object.
I look up and slowly shake my head. “I don’t have any of those, so I don’t know where that came from. It’s not like I have people putting things in my purse for me.” I scrunch my eyebrows in confusion. Why would that be in my purse and how long has that been in there?
“An AirTag or electronic with Dante or Mila would be ideal to track their exact location. And I suspect you may be holding how they tracked your current location.” My stomach flips at Sophia’s comment and I think I’m going to be sick.
“I … I take that back. At Dante’s appointment, coming out of the exam room, I ran into a receptionist and my purse spilled.
She helped me put everything back in my purse, but she seemed so nice!
” I can’t believe the receptionist from the pediatric cardiology clinic could have done that.
I bite down on my lip, trying to hold back the tears that are threatening to fall again.
Max squeezes my hand as Sophia continues.
“You said Dante has a heart defect. He didn’t happen to have anything inserted during the surgery, did he? Like any kind of transmitter?” Sophia asks.
“No, he didn’t have that kind of surgery and the only thing he has to track anything is a watch I make him wear because I’m neurotic and anxious.”
“Cara, tell us everything about this watch,” Liam chimes in.
“It’s a special watch designed for kids that monitors his oxygen rates and heart rate. If anything is off, it sends a signal to my phone.”
“Your phone is connected to his watch?” Sophia asks.
“Yeah, it has an app so I can show the historic data to his doctors if I need to, and it also lets me know when it needs to be charged.”
“Cara, when did you charge it last?” Max asks.
“We charged it before Merry and Bright Night.” Oh! “He’s probably still wearing the watch!” I exclaim.
“Good job, little mama. I’m going to text you a link right now that’s going to give me access to your phone, and that app, okay?” Sophia tells me.
“You can have whatever you need.” I look up to meet Max’s gaze. “I don’t have any more secrets.”
“I’ve seen this model before; it’s one of the best models available for the general public.
Give me a minute, guys.” Sophia mutes herself—and it’s only clear because the near-constant tapping of her keys suddenly goes quiet.
Before I can start worrying all over again, she comes back on.
“I have a location. Assuming little guy is still wearing his watch, he’s just outside of Memphis right now.
The GPS historic data says they have been at the same location for the last sixty minutes, but it’s impossible to know how long he will be there. ”
“Liam, let’s move this conversation to a direct line,” Ace says.
“Yeah, I agree. Max and Cara, we’re going to put together a plan and either Sophia or I will be calling you back to bring you up to speed. Hang tight, don’t call anyone else, and don’t leave the apartment, okay?”
“Yeah, okay. Thank you, guys. Thank you … so much.” Tears are no longer threatening but are escaping down my cheeks.
“We’ve got you, little mama,” Sophia replies.
“Talk soon,” Liam says before the line goes dead.
As the silence of the call ending engulfs the room, I let go and break down right at my dining room table.
I barely register Max’s arms coming around me as my body heaves with sobs.
I will never ask for another miracle in my life—whatever it takes.
They are the greatest gift of my life, and I don’t know what I will do if they don’t come home to me.