Chapter 49
Chapter Forty-Nine
Atlas
As I follow Seth to his car, I try to keep my composure.
I can feel Aidan’s angry, watchful gaze piercing through me as he stands at the corner of the lot, but I refuse to acknowledge him.
I can’t alert Seth without Noah thinking something is wrong, so I have to be smart about this.
The urge to confront Aidan and demand answers is overpowering, but he can’t know I’m on to him just yet.
“Why don’t you guys stop for ice cream or something first?” I suggest when we get to the cars. Somehow, Seth found a spot close to mine.
“Isn’t it kind of cold for ice cream?” Seth asks.
“It’s never too cold for ice cream,” Noah replies, looking at him like he’s crazy.
“Agreed. Why don’t you guys head over to Scooped, and I’ll follow you there?” After Seth unlocks the door, I help Noah into the seat. Moving toward the trunk, I wave for Seth to follow me.
“Don’t look, but Aidan is here.”
Seth stares at me for a moment, then realization crosses his face. “Like, Aidan, the guy we banned from the shop?”
“Yeah. The same one.”
“Maybe he’s here to pick up his kid?” Seth offers.
Shaking my head in disagreement, I explain, “He’s never been here before. I’ve picked up Noah a few times, and I’ve never seen him. It’s weird that the day she disappears is the day he shows up.”
Nodding in understanding, Seth asks, “Okay, so what’s the plan?”
“We go for ice cream and see what happens. I’ll follow you out. Pull around back if you can.” There’s usually off-street parking behind the building, and if I’m right, it will work in my favor.
Nodding, Seth slides into his car, and I head to mine. If Aidan had anything to do with Cora’s disappearance, I’ll kill him. Slowly and painfully.
Watching Seth pull out, my gaze follows, looking at where Aidan is parked. As soon as Seth drives past, Aidan pulls out right behind him. Got ya, fucker. Following their lead, I use the Bluetooth in my car to call Rhett. After what feels like forever, he answers.
“Did you guys find her?”
“Not exactly. I’m following a lead, though.” My eyes stay on Aidan’s sedan as I stay a few lengths behind him.
“What does that mean?”
“It means I need you to meet me.”
“Where’s Seth? I thought he was meeting you.”
“Just listen. Seth has Noah, and that Aidan prick has something to do with all of this. I can feel it. Meet us at Scooped in town; park in the alleyway behind, though.”
“Alright. I’ll be there. It’s probably best if you’re not here right now. Cops arrested Bri. She smashed the shit out of Kash’s car.”
Slamming my hand on the wheel, I grit my teeth. I’m so tired of everything right now. I need to keep Noah safe and find Cora. There’s no time to deal with Bri’s bullshit.
“Of course she did. Maybe it’ll teach him not to stick his dick in everything.”
Rhett snorts. “Doubtful, but one can hope. If she was a guy, he probably would have killed them. You know how much he loves his car. Do I need to bring anything?”
I’m about to say no but change my mind. “Bring your bat.”
Rhett goes silent, then asks, “What are you going to do, Atlas?”
“Whatever the fuck I have to,” I respond and disconnect the call.
If Aidan had something to do with it, he’ll pray to every god in existence that she is okay. If he’s harmed a single molecule of her body, no one will be able to save him.
Pulling into the back of the parking lot a few minutes after Aidan, I notice he’s sitting in his car.
Seth is walking up the alleyway with Noah, who’s talking a mile a minute.
I can’t hear what they’re saying, but Seth is smiling and nodding.
Good. Noah doesn’t have a clue that something is going on.
Aidan doesn’t move. Turning off my car a few rows back, I can see his face in the side mirror as he stares at the building.
The way he doesn’t move or make an attempt to get out only confirms my suspicions.
I watch as he pulls his phone out and presses it to his ear, talking to someone and gesturing around.
I may not be able to hear their conversation, but he looks angry.
Rhett pulls in a few minutes later and parks next to me. When he meets my gaze, I hold my finger up to signal he needs to be fucking quiet. Rhett grabs his bat from his backseat and gets into my car.
“Fuck, it’s cold out there. So, what’s the plan?”
“Seth and Noah are getting ice cream.”
“Okay, and?”
“And that suspicious piece of shit is still sitting in his car, and it’s been almost fifteen minutes. Bit weird, don’t ya think?”
Nodding, Rhett stares at the car a few rows up. “I don’t like this, Atlas.” He pushes a shaky breath out. “Something seems off.”
“I don’t like it either. Cora would never not show up for Noah, and then there’s that guy.
” I point at Aidan’s car. “Suddenly showing up at the school Noah goes to, when he’s never been there?
” Shaking my head, I steal a glance at Rhett.
He’s facing forward, eyes locked on Aidan’s car.
“Rhett,” I say firmly to get his attention.
“He has something to do with this. I can feel it.”
“Alright.” His light eyes connect with mine. “So, back to my original question. What’s the plan?”
Sighing, I yank my hat off. “I’ll text Seth to come out and take his time getting into the car. If I’m right, Aidan will try to snatch Noah. There’s no one back here.” I gesture around the lot. There are plenty of empty cars, but for how cold it is, there aren’t many people out and about.
“Alright. Lead the way, man,” he says as he hands me the bat. Rhett may not want to get his hands dirty, but mine will be bathed in blood if need be. Whatever it takes to get the answers I need.
Pulling out my phone, I fire off a message to Seth.
Me:
You guys ready?
Seth:
As a virgin on her wedding night.
Me:
Funny, but seriously. I think he might try to grab Noah.
Seth:
You got me covered?
Me:
Me and my friend Louie are ready.
Seth:
Fuckin’ A.
A few minutes later, Seth and Noah come around the corner, deep in conversation. Seth is acting completely oblivious, but I know he’s more alert than he lets on.
I nod at Rhett, and together we quietly exit the car. I watch as Aidan climbs out of his and walks toward them. “That motherfucker,” Rhett swears under his breath as we get closer.
Getting closer to Aidan’s car, an idea dawns on me.
“I’m getting into his car. You wait until I’m in the backseat, then call Seth’s name.”
“You can’t do that.”
“It’s fine. I have a plan. Just follow my lead after we get them out of here.”
Sighing, Rhett splits off from me. I creep up to the asshole’s car, quietly open the back door, and climb in, bat in hand. Rhett takes a few more steps, then I hear him yell, “Hey, Seth! Noah! How’s it going, guys?”
I hope it’s enough to spook Aidan out of whatever he’s thinking. Trying to overpower Seth is one thing, but he won’t try anything with Rhett there. I can’t risk him scaring Noah either.
I lean up and peek out the front window and see Aidan turn around. Bingo. Hunching down, I pull a blanket from the backseat over me. The car has tinted windows, so this should work in my favor. I know he has Cora, and he will pay for touching my girl.
The door opens, and a blast of cold air rushes in. “Motherfucker!” Aidan yells, slamming his hands on the dashboard. “I need him. She won’t give me the money without him. Damn it!”
I fucking knew it. I’m going to skin this bastard alive and break every bone in his body. Slowly, I wiggle up a bit, pulling the bat with me. The ringing of a phone stops me.
“What?” he shouts.
“Don’t yell at me, you ungrateful jerk. Did you get him or not? You should have been back by now,” a woman’s voice shouts over the speakers.
“Shut it, you old bag. I’ll get him.”
“So, you failed?”
“No,” he scoffs. “I’m just readjusting my plan. I’ll be back soon.”
“You’d better hurry up, or I’ll do more than break her finger like you did.”
“Whatever.” He ends the call.
Rage flows through my veins. I wasn’t sure how quickly I was going to kill him earlier, and now I’ve just decided it’s going to be slow and painful.
I’ll break every bone in his fucking body.
Taking advantage of his distraction, I slide up and grip the bat.
Swinging it quickly over the front seat, I jerk it against his throat.
Aidan starts thrashing around, but I just pull harder.
Leaning forward, I whisper in his ear, “Hello, Aidan.” He freezes at the sound of my voice. “We’re going to have a little chat, and you’re going to be really honest, or really fucking hurt. Actually, both works for me,” I finish, jerking the bat into his neck, enjoying the choking sound he makes.
“I don’t—” he starts, but I pull against his windpipe.
“Don’t lie to me. I saw you at the school, and I watched you follow my brother, but you hurt my girl. That is your biggest fuckup,” I growl.
The passenger door opens, and Rhett climbs in. “Sup, asshole. Tough day?” He laughs. Aidan tries to turn toward him, but Rhett moves faster and punches him in the head. He slumps to the side, and I look at Rhett.
“Dude. The hell?”
“We can’t do this here,” he states, looking around. Loosening my hold on the bat, Aidan slumps forward. Good, he’s out cold.
Pulling some zip ties out of his pocket, Rhett leans forward and ties his hands together.
Climbing out of the back, I pop the trunk and shove some things around.
Smiling, I pull out a roll of duct tape.
Thanks for coming prepared, Aidan. Moving back around to the front, I wrap the tape around his hands and pull him out.
Rhett acts as a lookout, and when he sees the coast is clear, he helps me drag him out and toss him in the trunk. I wrap tape around his legs and toss the roll in with him.
“He won’t be out long.”
“I know.”
“So, now what?”
“Now”—I slam the trunk shut—“I get my fucking girl back.”