Chapter 47
Chapter Forty-Seven
Atlas
Staring at the door, I weigh my options. On one hand, I need to know where my Firefly is, but on the other, I’m slightly afraid of the girl behind the counter, who is already glaring at me.
Mara is talking to one of her employees and ignores my approach. She knows why I’m here. Cora blocked me and refuses to talk to me, so this is the way it has to be.
“Get out,” she orders without even looking.
“I’m not leaving.”
“Suit yourself, but I’m not helping you.” She turns and walks to the back. Damn it.
Following behind her, I ignore the protests of the employee and push my way into the kitchen. When I enter, I find her sitting on a stool behind one of the counters, putting cupcakes into boxes.
“You must be deaf and stupid.” She shakes her head. “Cora is much better off without you.”
“Bullshit. Quit with the act. Tell me where she is. I know she was at your house and then left. Matt confirmed it.”
Her head whips up in my direction at the mention of his name. Interesting.
“What’d you do to Matt?” she asks, glaring.
“Nothing he didn’t deserve.” I smirk, not caring how crazy I look. “Look, let me make this easy on you. If you don’t tell me where Cora is, I’ll just follow you around until you lead me back to her.”
“You don’t even want her. I heard all about your talk with those asshats you call brothers or whatever.”
Clenching my teeth, I glare at her. “You don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“So, you didn’t say that you weren’t Noah’s, and I quote, ‘fucking father’?” She quirks a brow, looking at me briefly.
“It wasn’t like that, Mara. I love her. So fucking much. Her and Noah both. Seth was trying to figure out where my head was at and—”
“You seriously expect me to believe that?” She scoffs. “You’re a real piece of work, Atlas. I don’t know what she ever saw in you. Her or Noah. You have no idea what she’s been through.”
“But I do.” I move closer to the table, standing in front of her. “I know more than you think, Mara.”
“Doubtful, no one knows her better than us.”
“I know her. You can lock me out, that’s fine, but you need to know I’ll never stop. Her and Noah are mine. They’re my family. Don’t stand between me and my family.”
Her hands freeze, and I watch my words sink in as her head tilts up. Her eyes lock on mine, and I don’t know what she’s searching for, but I’m dead serious. I’ll get rid of anyone who stands in my way of getting Cora.
“Look, Atlas, I—”
“Where is she, you piece of shit?” Matt bursts into the kitchen, shoving me to the side. I almost fall but right myself and glare at him.
“That’s what I’m trying to figure out.” I shove him back.
“Knock it off.” Mara gets between us, then looks to Matt. “What are you talking about? And what the hell happened to your face?”
“Some asshole sucker punched me.” Yeah, I’ll fucking do it again in about thirty seconds too, asshole. “I was driving back toward Cora’s house, and I saw her car on the side of the road. It was empty. I called her, but she didn’t answer, so I came straight here.”
Mara’s face pales. “She’s not here, Matt. Are you sure it was her car?”
“I’m positive. It had that beach sticker on the back.”
Looking from Mara to Matt, I sense the panic rising in me. “I don’t have her, Matt. I came here to ask Mara where she is. I just need to talk to her.” More than that actually but it’ll come later.
Mara pulls out her phone to call Cora, and we listen as it goes straight to voicemail. Shit. Her expression changes to one of concern as she turns back toward Matt. “When did you talk to her last?”
“This morning. I was at the hardware store getting a new lock for her door.” He sends a pointed look in my direction. I don’t even have it in me to admire the black eye he clearly sports now. “And she told me she was headed to grab some things for Noah for Christmas.”
“I don’t get where she’d be. Let me call Mila.” Dialing her sister’s number, we deflate when Mila says she hasn’t heard from her, and neither has their dad.
“We need to call the police.” Mara turns and walks away from us, heading back toward an office doorway. I listen in faintly as she talks to the police to report Cora missing, and I ignore the looks Matt gives me.
My Firefly is missing. “Would Bea do this?” I ask him.
“Who?” He looks at me with a confused expression.
“Her grandmother. She’s an awful woman from what Cora’s told me. They have a bad history,” I explain, waving at Mara to get her attention. Putting her hand over the mouthpiece, she gives me a ‘what is it’ look. “What if it’s Bea?”
The color drains from Mara’s face, and fear quickly replaces the dread I was feeling before.
“Yes. I understand. Thank you,” she says and ends the call. “The police say she has to be missing for twenty-four hours before they can do anything.” She scoffs. “What a damn joke. My dad might know where Bea’s house is. She’s an awful woman, but I don’t think she’d do this.”
“Where’s Noah?” I ask, looking at the clock on the wall, noticing it’s almost three.
“He’s at school, duh.”
“Mara, if Bea took Cora or had a hand in it, do you think Noah is safe?”
“Why don’t we go to the school and see if she’s there. Maybe she got a ride from someone,” Matt offers.
“Don’t fucking bother. Stay here in case she comes back. I’m heading to the school.”
I turn to leave, and Mara’s words halt me.
“Cora doesn’t need you anymore, Atlas. This isn’t your problem.”
“My problem?” I whirl around and stride toward her.
“Every fucking breath that Cora and Noah take is my business. She isn’t a problem, he isn’t a problem, and they never will be.
They are mine, both of them. Do not get between us.
” I turn and run into Matt’s chest. “Same for you, pretty boy. Stay out of my way before I give you another black eye.”
I shove past and head back out to my car. Pulling out my phone, I call Seth. “I need your help. Cora’s missing.”
“What do you mean, missing? I thought she was just ignoring you.”
“No. Her car was found a while ago, but she’s not with it, and no one’s heard from her. I’m going to the school for Noah.”
“Shit. Okay, let me get the guys. Could she just be ignoring you still?”
“No. This feels different. We have to find her.”
“Alright, man. I’ll call the others, and I’ll meet you at the school,” he says, disconnecting the call.
Tossing my phone into the passenger seat, I hightail it across town. If someone has taken Cora, they may also try to take Noah. I have to make sure he stays safe. I’ll never forgive myself if something happens to him.
I make the usual twenty-minute drive in ten and park.
Rushing up to the doors, I watch as kids come out of the building.
I don’t care about any of them. I just need to see Noah.
The majority of the crowd leaves with their kids, but I still don’t see Noah.
I feel the panic rising in me when Seth joins me.
“Is he out yet?”
“Does it look like it?” I snap.
“Sorry. I can’t tell you how sorry I am, Atlas. The whole thing is my fault.”
Shaking away his apology, I can’t deal with that right now. Taking a few steps toward the building, I finally breathe when I see Noah running out. Thank God.
“Atlas! Seth! Why are you here? Where’s Cora?” he asks with a smile.
“We just came to surprise you.” Seth plasters a smile on his face.
I pull Noah into a hug, relief coursing through me.
“You’re going to hang out with Seth for a bit. Is that okay?”
His eyes light up, and Noah nods. “At the shop?” he questions. “Can Kash do another tattoo?”
Seth looks at me, and I nod. “Of course, but only after you do homework and read. Deal?” He holds out his fist, waiting.
“Deal,” Noah confirms, pushing into Seth’s fist. Walking back to the car with them, I notice someone standing at the edge of the parking lot. I guide Noah toward Seth’s car and watch them out of the corner of my eye. I don’t know what they’re doing here, but I know for a fact they shouldn’t be.