Jake threw another punch, barely missing the officer's jaw. "You don't get it! My kid is missing! I need to get back home!I need to see him.I didn't even get to hold him... " "Sir, calm down!" The officer, struggling to hold Jake back, shouted. "We need you to cooperate!" "I am cooperating! But you people are wasting time! Every second counts!" Jake's voice was raw with desperation,breaking,cracking,squeaking.Lea stepped forward.Her eyes were wide with fear as she tried to intervene, "Please, he's telling the truth! Our son is out there, we need to find him!" She tried to reason with another officer, her voice shaking. "He's only three!He must be so scared. " "Ma'am, we need both of you to come to the station. We'll sort this out there," the officer said firmly, grabbing her arm. Lea yanked her arm back. "You're not listening! If anything happens to Kai, it'll be on you!" She was fuming but it was no use. They were on foreign soil and they had broken their rule. Jake was being
The jet shuddered through the storm as the four of them sat in complete silence. Jake and Lea sat on the far ends of the cabin. Both staring out through the window on either end. Mercy was seated towards the front but she excused herself to take the call as her phone rang aloud. "Yeah, Phill, we're just trying to make it through this storm. What's the update?" Mercy's eyes flicked towards Lea. " It's not good. We found a bloodied rod. It was probably used to strike the child. Don't tell Lea right away. They have sent it for investigation. I will give you an update as soon as I have one. " Mercy shook her head accompanied with a subtle " Hhmmm! " " Oh, there is one more thing that you must know. " Phill continued. Mercy glanced nervously at Lea, trying to shield her from hearing the conversation. "Go on," she whispered moving further away. "We can be somewhat sure that the boy was kidnapped. And from what the detectives have gathered, someone inside Lea's household had to be
It was way beyond 24 hours and there were still no signs of any call from the kidnappers. The reports confirmed that the blood on the rod was Kai's and from the amount of blood that they had found, the child had a serious injury. The cops weren't ruling out a murder angle to the situation but only Phill and Mercy knew about it. They didn't have the guts to tell Lea and Jake the about the development. " We will be looking out for unidentified bodies of toddlers, Kai's age. I know it's difficult but we have seen worst in our career! " Phill grabbed the collar of the officer who was briefing him but let go immediately. The officer patted his back understandingly. " I hope and I pray with all my heart that we are wrong and that the kids is safe. Rest assured to are juggling all possibilities here. We will not rest until we get his whereabouts. " Lea paced the hall looking repeatedly at the phones.She was still waiting for the kidnappers to call. It was already night, the next day and
Phill's POV When Mercy and I walked back inside, we couldn't find Jake or Lea in the living space. Lea had dismissed all her staff except for Anna who had insisted on being there till Kai returned. There was a new line up for security and an old housemaid, Lions stayed back. But neither of them had seen the two of them. They were definitely somewhere inside but they were too sensitive at the moment to be left alone . " Maybe they just went to get some sleep! " Mercy suggested, " I will go check the bedrooms. " I nodded before heading upstairs. Something told me, I ought to go check on the roof.I took the stairs instead of the elevator. Lea's place was only four storeyed , with a lush green surrounding, a gigantic pool and a couple of rabbits beside the garage door. It was tiny but elegant and screamed of her unique personality all the way. My intuitions were correct. I could hear Lea's voice coming in rapid succession. " Do you have any idea what it felt like to go into labo
The intercom beeped and Lea answered immediately.Before she could enquire about the person at the door, the security informed that she had a delivery,an urgent one, so they allowed the delivery man inside. Lea nodded with acknowledgment and turned the knob. The man handed Lea a big parcel and made her sign at several places. But there was no name for a sender. She quickly closed the door after her and rushed inside with the parcel. She set it on the floor and ripped the tapes open, her fingers hunting for what was inside. But the moment she opened the box, her eyes shot up. The whites in her eyes took over before her eye lids closed shut and she fell back on the floor. " Lea, noooo!!! " Jake and Phill rushed towards her from either side but it was too late. Her head crashed on the cold hard ground as Phill skidded to a halt and lift her head up on his lap. He immediately proceeded to check her breath and the back of her head for injury. Jake fell beside her, taking her hand in hi
The next morning, Lea fluttered her eyes open unable to make sense of her surroundings. When she tried to turn around, the back of her head throbbed making her realise why and where she had been taken. She tried to get up from her bed dragging the saline drip along with her. Phill entered just in time. " No! No! Lea! Stay in bed. " " Stay in bed my foot! I cannot stay like this. I need to go look for him myself. It's been two whole days already. Enough of those useless detectives and cops. I will find my baby by myself. " Phill tried to grab her hands from the back in an attempt to stop her from ripping her saline channel open. Whether Lea had gained tenfold strength overnight or whether it was the power of a mother's love, nobody would know. She literally shoved Phill back on the bed but luckily Jake came inside just then and grabbed her hands. " Lea, stop it. We are all down in this. Alright. Please don't make things more difficult. Put that saline back on. You need it. I need yo
" Lea, why did you come down all by yourself? Didn't I tell you not to get up and rest? You should not... " Jake ran towards her as she stumbled out of the door but he wasn't prepared for what greeted him. His face turned to the other side as a hot red flush appeared on one of his cheeks. Lea slapped him with all her might and he stood there, speechless, staring. Mercy and Phill gaped at them as well but neither dared to move. " Oh, please shut it! I have had enough of your bossing around. I am not going to take anymore of your nonsense. " She walked straight up to Phill who was watching them with his mouth wide open. Without warning she smacked her lips onto his and started kissing him like her life depended on it. Jake and Mercy thought their eyes were playing some trick but she continued kissing Phill, holding onto his shirt before ripping it apart, grappling his neck for support. " I should have done this right after I left you the first time. All that you and your family ha
The officer pressed play, and the room filled with the chilling conversation between Lea and the kidnapper. The three siblings listened intently, straining to catch any familiar detail in the distorted voice. After a few minutes, the officer rewound the tape and played it again, then once more for good measure. "Anything?" he asked, looking at their confused and frustrated faces. Jake's eyes widened as the realization hit him that Lea was in the eye of the storm. He lunged for his phone, frantically dialing Lea's number. "Come on, Lea, pick up," he muttered, pacing back and forth. After several rings, his heart sank as the call went to voicemail. "Her phone's switched off!" he exclaimed, panic setting in. "We need to trace her! She could be in serious danger.She couldn't even stand up properly up in her room. She is driving out there and doing what crazy stuff..." The officer put a hand on Jake's shoulder, trying to calm him. "Listen, I understand you're worried, but we can't trace
A month after Lea's death - Jake stood in front of Lea's grave, holding onto the bouquet that he had brought. He had her favourite box of chocolate, custom made by the old baker lady back in their home town. He brought her flowers everyday after seeing Kai off at his daycare. He spent the rest of his day talking to her before going back to picking Kai up again. He brought her all the things he had promised to get her one day when they were little. He was trying to give her everything he always wanted to give her but never really could. Today was no different. As if Lea's death wasn't enough of a blow, after the postmortem Jake was told that Lea was pregnant with their second child. It didn't make things any easier only driving another dagger through Jake's heart. Perhaps it was just because Kai existed that he could move forward.He didn't want to but he had to for the sake of the little guy. With Lea gone, there was no meaning left in this world. All colours were gone. It was o
" NOOOOOO! " Jake flung himself forward trying to put himself between Lea and the bullet but it was too late. The bullet hit her right on point blank. She fell right in front of his eyes,blood gushing out like a crimson fountain. " LEAAAAAA!!! "Jake's voice broke with the sheer intensity of his scream as he ripped his white shirt and pressed it over her forehead. " CALL FOR AN AMBULANCE! NOW!!! " He barked, desperately clinging onto Lea's body as Kai grabbed his shoulder and began to whimper. " It's alright, baby. Don't worry. Mommy will be fine. " Jake could barely hold onto his child as his hands started to tremble. Mercy fell down on her knees, probably the only one whose rationale was still working. She closed Lea's lifeless eyes as her body whacked with tremors as she cried.Lea was no more. It was instant death. " Mercy! What are you doing? " Jake shoved her hand away from Lea's body. " Somebody please call an ambulance! " He kept screaming as Kai's cries reached the breaking po
Lea's POV I stood in front of the grand mirror.Today, I would marry Jake, the love of my life, and the father of my Kai. Our journey had been anything but normal but it had brought us to this breathtaking moment. My dress was a masterpiece, a custom creation by one of the most renowned designers in the town. The silk fabric clung to my figure, adorned with intricate lace and delicate pearls that sparkled as I moved. The train flowed behind me like a river and the veil was draped over my shoulders, waiting to be lifted.I felt goosebumps at the thought. "Lea, you look like an absolute dream," Lisa said, fussing with the final touches on my veil. She stepped back, her eyes bright with unshed tears. "Mr.Rodger is not going to know what hit him." I laughed, trying to steady my breathing. "You think?" "I know," she replied, giving me a reassuring squeeze on the shoulder."Wow, Lea. You're stunning. Seriously, Jake's going to lose it when he sees you."The door opened and my maid of h
Suddenly Jake leaped off the bed, crossing over Lea as he did. He went for the cupboards, yanking them open, rummaging through the drawer as he did. Lea raised herself up on one elbow, watching him closely. " Jake, what's going on? " She asked with one brow raised. " I swear it has to be somewhere in here. I left it just as it was. " Jake kept searching not looking back at her. Lea signed as she got up from the bed, still very naked and walked right over. " If you tell me what you are looking for, maybe I can help. Is it your wallet? " Jake yanked another section of the cupboard open and Lea stopped at the sight of all the neatly arranged laundry. It was her side of the cupboard. Absolutely mess-free and tidy, just like she had left it years ago. She left Jake as he went through the night stand , touching the fabrics and checking if they were still in the same sequence like she left them. " They are untouched. Why didn't you move them? " Lea's voice was barely above a whisper
Lea's POV His kiss soothed me a little. Those things had been bottled up inside and it was high time I let it escape. Tears streamed down my face as memories I had tried so hard to suppress resurfaced. I couldn't hold back the sobs that wracked my body. Jake's presence beside me was both comforting and agonizing."Lea," he begged, his voice trembling slightly, "talk to me." I shook my head, unable to find the words to express the turmoil inside me. Instead, I let out a choked sob, burying my face in my hands. Jake's arms wrapped around me, pulling me close. His embrace was warm and strong."I'm here," he murmured, his lips brushing against my hair."I'm not going anywhere." His words broke something inside me. I clung to him, my fingers digging into his shirt as if he were the only thing keeping me from falling apart. His scent filled me with comfort as I burried my nose over his neck while he nibbled at mine. His lips slowly found it's way back to mine. But before he could kiss
Jake's POV " Yes, we are coming right now. Yes please. Keep the keys ready. " I called the old watchman because it had been ages since I last went there. Lea hadn't spoken for the rest of the drive and I knew for certain there was something cooking in her little head. I wasn't complaining. She had been through a lot and I was happy to be of any serve to her, any use... anything to make my Lea happy again. Make her smile and dance like when she was a little girl. My crazy, sweet, innocent Lea. She had been leaning on the seat but as soon as we entered the driveway towards the apartment she sat up, rolled down the window and stretched her neck out. " Lea, careful... " I tried to pull her back but she opened the car door before I could pull up and made a run for it. I tossed the keys to the valley with much frustration and ran after her. " Lea, wait" She topped right in front of the elevator and turned around. I was running so fast, I almost banged into her. She pulled my hand int
Jake's POV " Of course you get that job, whether you like it or not. " I wasn't even lying. Who better than Phil to look after my little one. I knew he would always have his back, no matter what. Phill chuckled before turning around. " By the way, did you sign the papers before coming inside? " He asked me and it took me off guard. " Papers? What papers? " " Discharge papers. Didn't they tell you before you entered? " He made a disappointed face and looked out of the door even though he could see no one. " These incompetent workers. They can't get one thing... " " Discharge papers? Who is getting discharged? I thought you needed around a week to recover. " Lea interrupted looking straight at Phill. " I am not getting discharged. You are! " Phill pointed at Lea but she stood up. " Me? Oh, alright. Makes sense. " Phill turned his gaze back to me and said, " Get the paper works done and take her home. I think I need to get some sleep... " " Take who home? " Lea stood face t
Phill's POV I had to do it. I knew how much I was going to suffer after that kiss ended. I didn't want it to end. I didn't want to let go of her hand. I didn't want to see her with anyone else, even if it was my own brother. I knew I was finally letting the dam break. I had been holding back way too long I couldn't do it anymore. I had to let her know. The moment her taste touched me, I lost track of everything. I lost control of myself. I lost my sense of the place. I kissed her and she let me and I was grateful for that. I was half expecting her to shove me back but she didn't. She held me, held my hand as I took from her what I needed. My life force. She was like an EpiPen bringing me back to life. " Phill... " She finally mumbled against my lips, her hands on my chest, gently holding them but not pushing. It took way too much of my energy to stop and finally look up at her face. I couldn't read her expression. Was it shock, fear, disgust, sympathy.... I could not understan
Lea's POV " Kai... " The moment my eyes opened I threw my hands in all directions, trying to get up and look for Kai. But i didn't have to look much further. He was right across and I could see him in the other room. My baby was latched to the beeping machines with pipes and wires and what not. And right beside him was Phill. He sat at his head side, his hand gently gliding up and down through his hair. Phill turned towards me with a smile when he realised I was up. My head was still groggy because of the sedative the nurse had injected me with but I was feeling all better and alright. " Lea, you are up! Are you feeling alright? "He asked me with that infectious smile. I should have been the one to ask him that question. He was the one with a wound. He had just saved my child's life all over again, perhaps for the zillionth time. " I am fine. How are you feeling? How is Kai holding up?" I walked towards where he was. He was in a wheelchair, I noticed when I went near. He