Aria The next few weeks flew by as Jasper became even more entwined in our lives. He was staying over more, and Eli was ecstatic to have his father around. Jasper had taken over one side of my closet; his grooming supplies had their own space in my bathroom. It was seamless. I placed the dinner I had prepared on the table and called them to the dining room. “Guys, supper.” I yell out as I grab some drinks from the refrigerator. “Coming.” Eli yells out before running into the bathroom. I can hear him talking to his dad but can’t hear what they are saying as they wash their hands. I shake my head and wash my hands in the sink. Eli and Jasper sit down at the table as I dry my hands. “This looks great,” Jasper says, smiling up at me. “Yeah, mom this looks yummy.” Eli says watching Jasper closely, mimicking his movements. I can’t help but smile at them as I sit down and start dishing out food onto Eli’s plate.
He pushed his hair from his forehead and shrugged, “Honestly, I don’t think so as long as she sticks to Linc. He would do anything for her. Yeah, she pisses him off but I’m fairly sure he wants her.” “I just can’t help but worry. Messages like that keep popping up on all her accounts. Rather it's her blog, or her Instagram or even her twitter feed. She has hidden her locations for safety, but it scares me.” He wrapped his arms around me pulling me in and tucking my head under his chin. “We can’t do anything else to my knowledge. She has the SafeLinx bracelet, she has Linc. Plus, her entire entourage.” I nod then look over at Eli passed out on the sofa. Jasper follows my gaze and smiles. “I’ll put him to bed, love.” he says, pressing a kiss to my cheek before heading over to Eli. I turn and start cleaning up the dining room and kitchen, it takes a few minutes before I feel Jasper walk up behind me and press himself
Jasper POV My phone rang at two in the morning waking us both up. I glanced at the screen and saw Asher’s name. “Do you know-” I start. “Lori’s missing.” he yells. I sit straight up and look over at Aria, “Call Lori.” I say urgently. She grabs her phone and calls Lori, but the phone keeps going to voicemail. “What makes you think she’s missing?” I ask as Aria becomes frustrated and starts sending out texts and calling Braylin. Asher is cussing in my ear as I half listen to Aria’s conversation with Braylin. “What do you mean she’s been keeping secrets for months? This is insane Braylin. Sending her photos? What the ever-loving fuck?! Get here now! Everyone needs to meet now.” Aria looks over at me and I relay the message to Asher. “Braylin has something to tell us, it's about Lori.” “What is it?” he asks breathless. “Get here, I have no idea. Just get he
Aria POV The next few weeks I alternated between tears, fear and anger. How could Lori not tell me something was going on? How could she not trust that I would do anything to protect her. I spent half the time crying in Jasper’s arms as he held me close to him throughout the nights. The other half I pushed him away because I didn’t feel I deserved to be comforted when Lori is missing and possibly being hurt. The what if’s clouds my head to the point I can’t function. Jasper refused to let me be a part of the search which caused a whole lot of tension between the two of us. I was refusing to be intimate, but he just laughed and pulled me close like it didn’t faze him that we weren’t having sex. It was honestly infuriating. I had the right to search for Lori. Linc and Jasper had taken Lori’s work computer from the shelter and were searching for clues on it that would hopefully lead us to whoever had stalked her and taken her. I was curren
Jasper POV By the time I arrived Asher had already rushed in. An ambulance sat out front of the building. I could see Asher fussing over Lori. Linc was assisting a police officer in putting a man in the back of a police car. He was yelling for Lori. I shake my head; Of course I missed it. Asher wasn’t going to wait on anyone trying to get to her. I turned to the ambulance and holler out at him, “It took me ten minutes.” Asher turned and shrugged. “Get out,” Lori said to him. “I am not going anywhere,” he said. I could see her roll her eyes. “He’s not related to me.” she starts saying to the EMT crew. “I’m her fiancé.” he says, producing a ring from who knows where. I rolled my eyes; I was not getting involved with that. “No, he’s not!” Lori yells. I turn when Linc comes up beside me. “Why even call us to help?” I say nodding at them with a grin. “I was already with h
I shake my head, “I’m calling Aria, we’ll meet you at the hospital.” I say to Linc before I climb into the car and call Aria. “You found her?” she says without saying hello. “Yes, Asher had rushed in before I arrived, I don’t know all the details, but I saw her. She’s alive.” “I’ll grab Eli and we will be waiting on you.” she says. “Be there in ten.” She hangs up the phone and I drive back to our home and see Aria and Eli standing in the doorway. Eli is bouncing up and down. I smile, everything is going to be better now that our family is safe. She helps Eli into his car seat and secures him before hopping in the front seat and buckling herself in. I press a kiss to her cheek before heading to the hospital. I drop them off at the entrance to the ER, before parking the car and heading in myself. Asher was at the front desk growling at the nurses with Aria and Eli beside him. She was patting
Aria Eli launched himself out of my arms onto Lori’s hospital bed and wrapped himself around her like a spider monkey and broke down in tears. “Lo, you can never ever leave me again. I missed you so much. I cried and cried without you. You’re my best friend Lo. You can’t ever go away again.” He cried as she wrapped her bruised arms around his little body and held him tightly to her body. “I’ll never leave you buddy. I didn’t want to leave you. I missed you so much little love.” she whispered into the top of his head. I sat at the edge of the bed as he held her tightly. I cried silently watching my best friend love my son like he was her own. Her eyes locked on mine. I know the question was reflected in my eyes, the one I couldn’t bring myself to ask out loud. She swallowed deeply and shook her head no. Thank God! I thought and took a deep breath. “How bad are you hurt?” I asked instead. She shook her head and ti
“Join me?” I say softly holding my hand out to him. He jerks away from the doorway and grabs his shirt at the back of his neck and pulls it off slowly. I moan and then blush because his eyes catch mine and he smiles. “You like when I strip for you?” He asks the laughter evident in his voice. I blush but nod my head. He comes up to me and presses a kiss to my neck causing a moan to escape. “Baby I’ll strip for you another day. I just want to hold you right now.” I smile sleepily up at him, “Okay love.” He grins and helps me step into the bathtub before taking his jeans off followed by his boxer briefs. I moan at the sight of his erection. He shrugs. “Happens when you are near. Ignore him.” I laugh softly as he climbs in behind me sliding his legs around me and leaning against the back of the tub, my back to his front as I lean against him. “I love you.” he whispers in my ear before grabbing my loofah and body wash.