The Missing One (Lost Series Book 2) Read online

  “Do you think he is out here?” I voice my concern.

  He takes a moment to answer. “I honestly don’t know, but if you want, we can go back to my place and stay there if that makes you feel safer?” His idea doesn’t actually sound too bad, but I can’t leave my house full of people who I classify as family, at such short notice.

  “I would love to, but I can’t do that to my houseful of guests. I think after we get something to eat, we can sort out our living arrangements.” He looks a little confused by my statement. “What I mean is I can’t have Abby, Blake, and Katie at my place.”

  “We already discussed this, don’t you remember? I’m going to let them use one of my properties and they will stay there. You will come stay with me. Jacob might only watch this place and he may not even know where I live, but he won’t find where Abby and Blake stay. I promise you that.”

  I nod, not wanting to speak about it anymore.

  We stop at a burger place that just opened up a few days ago. We purchase food for everyone and head back to my crowded one-bedroom apartment.

  I begin clearing up the rubbish and scraps after our meals. I can’t help but look at Katie and think I’m going to have my own children in the coming months. Mine and Corban’s lives are going to change forever. This is not how I planned my life, I never expected to meet Corban and fall madly in love and then fall pregnant, but he completes me in every way and I couldn’t see my life without him now, just like Abby couldn’t see her life without Blake.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Abby

  The guilt that fills me is unbearable. I honestly thought it was the best thing to do at the time. I didn’t think I would ever be coming out of hiding. I watch Melodi as she clears things up, and she can’t even make eye contact with me. It breaks me knowing I’ve caused her so much pain and now we have this rift between us. I don’t see why Blake had to come for me and ruin it all. I was finally accepting the fate of my life before he walked up to my doorstep a few days ago.

  When Melodi left to purchase our dinner, I broke down. Luckily, Melodi’s friends had Katie because I would hate to have her see me break like I did. Blake, my rock, my support, was there as usual. Too bad he wasn’t there when his daughter was born. That right there is another problem in itself because I still haven’t told Blake that Katie is his. So many secrets, and it feels like my world just might crumble beneath me.

  “Here, Mel, let me give you a hand,” her friend Flick offers and they disappear into the kitchen.

  Tomorrow, Katie and I will be moving to a different apartment. I don’t really know what the plan is after that. I do know I don’t want to spend the rest of my life in hiding, with Katie not getting the kind of life she deserves.

  This whole thing with Jacob needs to end now.

  “Abby?” I look to Blake, who’s made his way over to me. “Are you okay?” He looks around the room that’s filled with Corban, Rachel, and Katie.

  “Yeah, I’m okay. I think this whole thing needs to end, and I still haven’t finished telling Mel everything.” I release a huge sigh. “This is all one big mess. Why couldn’t you just leave me where I was?”

  “I’m wondering the same thing,” Corban pipes up.

  I hadn’t realised we were talking that loud or that he was even listening. Melodi and Flick haven’t come back yet, which means they’re probably having a discussion about me in the kitchen. She has every right to. She should be mad. I’ve uprooted her life and put her little babies’ lives in danger. She’s at a very critical stage in pregnancy, so stress isn’t very good for her right now.

  Blake looks at us, pondering his answer. “I thought you’d want to be back with your family, to end this drama once and for all.”

  “I do. Don’t get me wrong, but how am I meant to stop it? You’re the police, so tell me what you think I should do to end this?” Anger slowly rises within me, but I try my best to keep it at bay.

  “We’ll go to the police tomorrow. Tell them that he has begun harassing your family and you have been in hiding for the last three or so years. They can take care of it from there,” he states simply.

  “Did you think about my family in all this? My Mum, Dad, and Melodi? I know I’m to blame for running in the first place, but I was so frightened back then. No one would believe me that he was, and still is, the monster in all this.”

  “Abby, it will all work out. I promise nothing will happen to you, or Melodi, or Katie. No one, okay?” He reaches out and takes my hand, soothing me.

  “I know, but you aren’t God. You can’t control what he’s going to do next,” I snap.

  “I’ve been watching him carefully for that last twelve months. He hadn’t noticed me until I ran into Melodi that day.”

  “So, this is all my fault because I ran into you, or is it because Jacob has had his eye on me since my sister died? Now he’s decided to make his appearance known and him coming into my workplace…is it all part of his master plan?” Melodi asks from the doorway. Flick’s by her side, wearing a stone face. She’s very protective of Melodi, as is everyone else in here, especially me.

  “What! No. This is not your fault at all. It’s all my fault. I should have dealt with it all those years ago, and now he has a lot of anger built up and who knows what he’ll try. I was stupid back then when I decided to leave, but I had no choice—”

  “You always had a choice, Abby!” Melodi screams at me. Corban is by her side instantly. I hang my head in shame as Katie comes over and climbs onto my lap. I wrap my arms around her and take a deep breath.

  “I know. I wasn’t thinking. The whole thing was staged, my death was staged.” There’s silence all around me, and I look up into the shocked faces of everyone present.

  “What do you mean, staged?” Melodi asks.

  “What I mean is I had been planning it for a little while with the help of Blake.”

  “Tell me.” Melodi walks over to the lounge and takes a seat, as does Corban and the rest of them.

  “I’ll put Katie to bed first. I don’t think it’s something she needs to hear.”

  Blake steps forward taking her from me. “I can do it for you, they deserve all the answers.”

  Seeing her wrapped in her father’s arms fills me with a joy that I never thought I would experience, and that’s another thing I need to face. My list just keeps growing with all the mistakes I’ve made.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Abby

  The Plan and Execution

  Three Years Ago

  I was sitting there, talking, looking over this crazy idea Blake and I had come up with. Who in their right mind would do something like this? Oh, that’s right…me.

  I saw no other way to get out of this mess. Of course, there was the police, but I didn’t want my family knowing how terrible my relationship with Jacob really was. Blake was the only one who knew about everything. Jacob was out of town for a few more days, then everything would be set in motion.

  We had a plan.

  So much thought had been put into this, but was it really worth all the trouble?

  I honestly didn’t know.

  “Are you okay, Abby?” Blake’s voice pulled me from my thoughts.

  I looked over the paperwork spread out in front of us. Plane tickets bought with cash. A detailed plan and notes for how everything would flow. Now we just needed to compile enough money to survive for a little while. Blake was taking care of the new paperwork, new name and security numbers. Once again, there was so much work to achieve something that could easily be fixed by just going to the police, but Blake said that they couldn’t do anything unless there was proof. The only thing was to obtain a restraining order against him, and knowing him he would violate that within a matter of hours. Who knew what would happen then.

  “Yeah, this is so much to take in. I don’t think I can go through with this.” So much crazy was running through my head.

  “I know you can do this. You’re a strong woman and I’m crazy abou
t you. I want you safe and all to myself.”

  “This just doesn’t seem right.”

  He moved closer, wrapping me in his arms. As soon as they were around me a sense of relief enveloped me.

  “Everything will work out for the best. It might take some time for things to smooth over, but I know it’ll all work out.”

  He tried his best to comfort me, and yes it worked for a short time, but once I was on my own again, I thought about things and began to fall back into the doubtful pit of despair.

  “Abby, don’t overthink this, it needs to be done. He’s back tonight and you need to be prepared for the following week and what’s got to happen.” The thought of what was going to happen in the next week made me sick to my stomach. “Now do you know what you need to do?”

  “Yes, I don’t need reminding, thanks,” I snapped, not wanting the reminder.

  “I’m sorry, but it has to be perfect. One slip up, and he’ll know and then this will all fall apart.”

  I aimlessly nodded, not really listening anymore. I already knew what was at stake…my life and the lives of those I loved around me.

  Blake took a hold of my face, gently lifting it so my eyes met his. His warm hands caressed my face, sending a single shiver of excitement down my spine. His eyes blazed with concern, mixed with a hint of excitement. I leaned into him, meeting my lips with his, such a small connection, but with feelings of the highest magnitude. He made me feel things I’d only ever dreamed.

  Our kiss intensified and we both knew what was coming. This could very well be our last moment together for a long time, so we devoured every inch of each other as though we were about to take our last breaths. His touch left tingling sensations over my body as his fingertips danced over my highly sensitised skin.

  I could only hope everything worked out and we’d have our time together in the future.

  I was startled awake by my phone buzzing with a message. I glanced at the clock seeing it was 1:00 a.m. Who messages anyone this late? Only one person came to mind…Jacob.

  After I’d left Blake’s, I went straight home and laid awake for what felt like ages. When it finally felt like I was drifting to sleep, I heard from the one person of whom I was most petrified. I picked up my phone and I was correct, it was Jacob.

  Jacob: Hey, beautiful. I can’t wait to see you tomorrow. We have so much to talk about and sort out. I love you so much, please forgive me for how I’ve been acting. xx

  Wow! I was speechless. Was he delusional? It’s like that phone call never happened, but this is how it goes though. He would try hard to forget the fight or anything that happened, and act as though it never actually transpired. I knew what I needed to do, and that sick feeling I was able to push aside when Blake was with me was back in full force. I thought I might be sick, but I swallowed the lump rising in my throat and sucked up the emotions and did what I needed to do to pull this off. My shaky fingers robotically typed the reply.

  Me: Looking forward to it. Yes, we do need to talk about things. xx

  Typing those kisses at the end were the hardest buttons to press. Two simple xx’s only because they represented a kiss, and I would prefer to never kiss, or even think about kissing him again. I knew it was going to happen and I don’t know how I’m going to go with that, but hopefully I could pull off the real girlfriend act. I wished I’d met Blake first because then I would never have had to have gone through any of this. My heart ached with all the, what ifs, I’d been experiencing lately. Nothing in life was easy and to get to the happiness we want and deserved, we needed to push through those trials and hurdles that come our way. This was one huge hurdle I needed to get over to be able to achieve the happiness I wanted and deserved.

  Sleep finally met me again as I filled my thoughts with all the positives in my life.

  My heart raced as I entered the hospital. I was here to give blood, nothing new to me, but today I needed to be able to pull off a miracle. I was there for the next hour or so then I had to go meet Jacob for lunch. Everything was moving so quickly that I was worried I would stuff it all up and not do what I needed to, and I would stay stuck in this almighty rut which was my life.

  I can do this, I can do this.

  I was shown to my seat as they prepared and gave me the usual speech. My heart felt like it was going to jump through my chest and land on the floor in front of me. I couldn’t believe I was actually going to go through with this.

  I sat and waited, the time ticked by so slowly it was as though I was sitting there watching and waiting for paint to dry. Luckily, it was nearly time for a shift change amongst the nurses which was why I planned it at that time. I’d done this numerous times over the years. I liked to give back to those people who needed it, so it was the least I could do.

  I looked around at the current nurses who were doing some last checks and making notes for the nurses’ change of shift. I looked to my blood bag and saw that it was about halfway full. Looking up, I saw that the nurses were at their station discussing things and now was my chance. I pulled the needle from my arm, trying hard to ignore the stinging pain. I reached up and took the bag of blood and placed it quickly in my handbag. I kept watch the station and noted that all the new nurses were signed on and beginning their rounds. I was glad there were curtain separators between the patients. This was when this whole process began. The nurse arrived in my cubicle and I was nervous as hell because I needed this to work.

  “Hello, dear, weren’t you hooked up?”

  “Oh no, they hadn’t gotten to me yet. They asked me to wait those few minutes until shift change occurred.”

  The elderly nurse looked at me then back to her notes, I instantly felt sick to my stomach. She was sure to notice something like maybe the small pinhole that I was trying to keep concealed and not bleeding.

  “Okay, well, let’s get you hooked up—”

  “Actually, I’ve just had a call from my sister and her car has broken down, so I’m unable to do this now. I’ll have to come back next week. I’m really sorry to have inconvenienced you.” I quickly snatched up my bag, keeping its contents concealed and walked past her while not meeting her eyes.

  I was shaking so badly that when I got in the car I couldn’t even bring myself to start it. Instead, I broke out in tears. Tears of fear. But what was I more afraid of? Fear of getting caught, or the fear of continuing my life how it was with Jacob and his unpredictability?

  Now I needed to mentally prepare myself for seeing him again. Just the thought caused my stomach to fall. I knew Blake would be close by if Jacob tried something or got physical in any way, but it still did nothing to quell my innate fear of what was to happen.

  Chapter Eighteen

  Abby

  Three Years Ago

  I was sitting in front of the restaurant. It was the exact same restaurant I ran out of when Jacob proposed. I knew he was doing this to taunt me, to show me that he was always going to be the one in charge and that no matter what I do I would always be trapped in his net. Well, not for much longer. I sent a quick text to Blake.

  Me: Hey, I’m outside the restaurant waiting. I’m so nervous. I honestly don’t know if I can do this.

  I hit send and waited. I checked my watch and saw that I was about ten minutes early. I didn’t want to be late because I didn’t want to upset him. This whole idea rides on him forgiving me and us being the happy couple again. My phone went off causing me to jump.

  Blake: It will all be okay and everything will work out.

  I hit reply.

  Me: How is this right when we won’t get our chance in the future if I’m ‘away’ for who knows how long?

  I wish I’d met Blake before Jacob. Jacob was the man in the mask. With the mask on, he was a kind and loving man, but take that mask off and you would see the ugliness that hid underneath. The controlling and possessive nature he had was like a virus and once it touched you, it ate away until you’d been brought down to his level and were willing to bend to his every whim.
I knew I was missing my chance with Blake, but I also knew my safety came first. If I simply just ended it, he wouldn’t leave me alone. Hence, he thought that we were still in a relationship and that everything that had happened recently was simply forgotten. Believe me, it absolutely was not. My phone beeped.

  Blake: We WILL have our time. I promise you, we will have our time. It may not be right now, or tomorrow, but we will have it. I’m so glad I’ve had a small amount of time with you, it’s better than none at all. You’re the best thing in my life, and as hard as this all is, I know it will all work out in the long run.

  Butterflies raged in my stomach as I read his words. He made me feel giddy, like a girl with her first crush all over again. I was sure he was right about us getting our time, but it upset me we can’t have that now.

  Me: I know. I can’t wait to see you later. x

  His reply was instantaneous.

  Blake: I can’t wait either. I want as much time with you as I can get. Also don’t forget to delete these messages from your phone.

  What a way to ruin the moment. I went back and deleted all the messages. I even went so far as to delete his number because I knew exactly what Jacob was like, and would probably want to see my phone to see what I’d been up to since he’d been away and we hadn’t actually seen each other.

  I checked the time and saw I was five minutes late already. Yeah, he wouldn’t like that. I freaked out and grabbed my bag, practically sprinting to the door of the restaurant.

  As I stepped inside the room, I saw him looking down at his watch with a scowl on his face but the instant he looked up and saw me, he greeted me with a smile, then stood from his seat to come and meet me. I felt sick to my stomach. I didn’t want to kiss him or be anywhere near him. I took a few deep breaths, plastered on a fake smile and began walking toward him, meeting him halfway.

  As I stepped in front of him, I paused for a moment. I wasn’t sure why, it was as if fear caused me to freeze. Thankfully he didn’t notice and wrapped me up in his foreign embrace. I had become accustomed to Blake and his warmth as he tenderly wrapped me within his secure arms. I couldn’t remember a time that I’d ever felt like that in Jacob’s arms, so I was fighting the urge to push him away and run again, but I didn’t.