Page 57 of Bittersweet Redemption

“I haven’t seen him today. But that doesn’t mean he’s out taking people off the street.”

“Also doesn’t mean he’s not,” I counter.

Nick is silent again. “I mean, he usually hangs out at my parents’ house. He stays in their basement when he’s not with me. His job is remote so he can work from home.”

“What’s his job?”

“Something with computers,” Nick says before he sucks in a breath. Because someone who knows his way around a computer could easily tamper with security footage. “I’ll call my parents to see if he’s there.”

“Might be better if you don’t call them. It might spook him,” River finally interjects.

“I really don’t think he took her. This has to be a misunderstanding.” His voice sounds hesitant, like he’s trying to convince himself more than us.

“Let’s just rule him out, ok?” River says casually. “If he’s at home and Willa’s not there, then we’ll go back to the drawing board.”

Nick finally agrees and tells us his parents’ address. He swears he won’t call them and wants to meet us there. Great.

When we end the call, River tells the police what we found and what we suspect because he knows I wasn’t going to tell them shit. Riley and Kellan agree to stay with Roman and keep watch in case Willa comes back.

I go to my bathroom for a minute, splash water on my face, and look in the mirror.

We’ll find her.

We have to. I don’t want to think about what would happen if we don’t. . .

I wipe the water off my face before I head back into the living room. Kellan pulls me aside.

“You going to be ok? Might not be a bad idea to hang back with us and wait on news from the police.”

I look at him like he’s speaking a foreign language right now. “Are you telling me that you’d be sitting around waiting for updates if Riley was missing?”

He rubs his hands down his face. “Shit. No, I wouldn’t.”

I stare at my little brother. I know he worries about me and doesn’t like the idea of Willa and me together, but it’s happening. He’ll have to get over it. “I love her, Kel. I have to bring her home. I have to.”

He’s quiet while he takes in my declaration. “Alright. Be careful. Don’t do anything stupid.”

“I’ll try my best.” He pulls me into a hug, and then I’m gone, sliding into the passenger seat of River’s car as we take off down the road after the police.

The house isn’t too far from mine, but the drive is long enough that sweat starts trailing down my back even though it’s winter.

My knee bounces as I think through all the possibilities. What if she’s dead? What if we’re too late? What if he doesn’t have her?

That question scares me the most. If he doesn’t have her, I don’t know where else to look. We have no other clues. No other options at this point.

My knee bounces faster with each turn, and bile rises in my throat. The last time I felt this nervous, this fucking helpless, I was waiting for the verdict to be read at my trial.

“We’ll find her, man.” River must notice how on edge I am right now. I grunt in response because I can’t think of any words.

We turn down the final street, and I sit straighter in my seat. The police got here before us and turned their lights and sirens off so Jake can’t hear it. Another man stands off to the side of the house by the tree line of the yard. I assume that must be Nick.

River and I walk to where he’s standing because we both know the police aren’t going to allow us to mess up their investigation. We probably shouldn’t even be here right now, but thankfully, River has connections with this police department. I don’t bother introducing myself to Nick, and he doesn’t approach me, either. We stand in silence as we watch the scene unfold in front of us.

Two officers make their way to the front door of the normal, two-story suburban home while the rest surround the house.

When an older woman opens the front door, Nick visibly stiffens and takes a few steps back to hide in the trees. He clearly doesn’t want his family to know he gave away his brother’s whereabouts, which makes me wonder if there’s something else he’s hiding from.

“What’s going on?” the woman asks as she takes in the line of cop cars in front of her house.