to my heart

JACKSON’S POV

I stroll out from my home with a huge smile on my face. Today is my daughter’s birthday. I cant believe she turned eighteen today. I can tell she will be always the little girl who was clinging on me for warmth when I was bringing her home from the streets. Having Lucas as my only son when I wanted a daughter made me upset low-key but I wont admit it infront of anyone. I mean Lucas was always mama’s boy, I too would like to have a girl child and make her daddy’s girl. Though trying for years it didn’t happened and I lost hope of walking my daughter to aisle at her wedding. But with Aurora I realised I could live all my dreams through her. Braiding her hair, making cupcakes with her, scaring away boys who tried to hit on her was my favourite parts of the memories I made with her. She is most innocent girl I have ever met, she was never a trouble maker and never demanded things from me even denied at times when I wanted to spoil her. Where as Lucas was a troublesome child with his annoying demands for video games and spending more time in the football ground rather keeping his head in his books trying to gain atleast pass marks which he rarely achieved. I can close my eyes and tell which one of my kids are my favourite even though Aurora isn’t my blood I would always choose her over everything and everyone.

Am glad that I listened to that man and took another way which lead me to aurora and am grateful for him for guiding me to my heart. Working with criminals and masterminds for years I lost the soft side of my heart which she brought it alive. Her green eyes and platinum blonde hair with tanned skin she looked like a porcelain doll, I still fear what would have happened if I didn’t take her home with me that night, am glad I did.

I take my phone out to inform her that am coming to meet her, I believe she didn’t go to her job today. She doesn’t have to work but she does because she wants to be an independent woman. I chest swells in pride thinking about how well behave and mature she is, sometimes bratty too but I blame Lucas and his girlfriend Catherin for it, their influence on my innocent daughter got her to be like so, one among them.

I frown as I hear her phone ring but left unanswered. She never ignore my calls even on the job, because she knows whenever am calling her it must be some important. I call Lucas to know if she is busy with them but on one ring Lucas lift my call with a hushed “hello”. “lucas is aurora with you?”, I ask him casually trying to not sound worried. “huh? No dad, Catherin said her manager called her today as the restaurant is busy, so she went to her workplace, we are preparing a surprise for her at our home”, he tells making me frown. My heartbeat started racing against my chest. But I still managed to tell “okay, I will call her workplace”, I tell him not listening to his reply and hang up the call. I immediately dial her workplace if she kept her phone in her locker by chance and was busy.

After two long rings someone answered the call in her professional tone. “Hello great grand hotel, how could I help you?”, the receptionist spoke.

“um, hello this is agent Davis, my daughter aurora works in your hotel as a waitress, can you please call her on phone as she isn’t answering hers”, I tell her calmly but my voice hoarse with the building tension in me.

“Oh, sorry sir but I haven’t seen her today at restaurant and if am not wrong she took leave since it is her birthday today”, the receptionist said sounding unsure.

“if you dont mind can you please ask someone or look for her if she is there by chance, because my son said your manager called her morning to join work as the restaurant is busy”, I inform her.

“yeah sure, hold on for a second”, she said.

After a five long minutes she came back on call and said something which made my heart drop in my stomach.

“Sorry sir no one have seen manager nor aurora today I dont think manager called her because the restaurants is not busy today, actually we are running low than usual on customers today, am sorry”, she said in her professional tone a bit worried but I cut the call not listening further, I have to make it sure myself by going to hotel and check with my own eyes. These people doesn’t knows how to work what a waste of being alive.

No it shouldn’t be happening, my daughter is in danger. What will I answer him? He will definitely kill me for sure but I will not be able to forgive myself if something bad happened to my daughter, my aurora.

I hopped in my car with my badge and gun still in my formal clothes, because I took leave from my cop duty to spend sometime with my daughter on her birthday but here am doing the same cop duty to save my own daughter who is in trouble.

In forty minutes of car ride I reached her work place and practically searched every corner of the restaurant where my daughter works. “where the hell she is?”, I snarl at the guards while I watch Catherin crying over Lucas’s shoulder.

“Dad, we will find her, dont worry”, Lucas assures as he turn towards the manager breaking the hug with Catherin. “Dad! I swear, something is bad”, Catherin tells as she wipes her tears.

I give her a sad smile agreeing with her as I rub my temples frustrated. “Find everything about the manager”, I order my co workers who nod their head. “we are on it, sir”, he said as he went to inform the people working from the office.

“The cctv camera is clear enough to know aurora isn’t here, we should trace her phone now”, I tell the officer over phone.

“But sir, it’s not even twenty four hours of her missing, I think we should wait, what if she went with her friends?”, he asks making me clench my teeth.

“I want you to follow my orders, Blake, she is my daughter, I know she didn’t go her own, wherever she is, I know she is in danger”, I snap at him angrily.

“As your senior, I advise you to follow my orders right now”, I snarl at him to which he just tells “sorry, Am up for it”, then hang up the call.

“Catherin and Lucas, I want you guys to go home, she might come back or call on the house phone”, I tell them to which they nod their head worriedly as Catherin is still crying for her dear friend.

“Okay, dad, inform us anything you get information about her”, Lucas tells holding Catherin’s hand. With my head nod they both walk out from the restaurant as I walk towards my car to meet him, I know am going straight into the lion’s den knowing what he will do knowing aurora is missing but I think I should take his help. Nothing is more important than her safety for me, even if it costs my own life.