Find me

Chapter 10

Henry POV

Will I get my little girl back?

Was the new girl at Gabriel’s school really my little girl? What if it wasn't her?

God, I hoped she was. I wanted my daughter back more than anything else in this world. I wanted to hold her again. I wanted to kiss her cheeks again. I wanted to tell her how much I loved her again.

I just wanted my child back.

Losing her was the most painful thing I’ve ever experienced. I only had her for two days when she was taken from me. I never got to see her grow up. I never got to teach her to walk. I never got to hear her say her first word. I never got to buy her dresses and little pink shoes. I never got to see her get nervous before the first day of school. I never got to help her with her homework. I never got to help her solve her problems. I never got to comfort her and tell her that nothing bad would ever happen to her as long as I was around. I never got to hear her call me dad.

I wanted her back. I wanted my little girl back in my arms, where she belonged.

The knock on the door interrupted my hug with Gabriel.

Owen was here.

Thank fuck.

I told Owen about her the moment Gabriel and I moved into the town. Back then, Owen was a deputy. He helped me a lot, and he made sure to follow every lead he got. Unfortunately, none of those leads ever brought me close to my little girl.

Not until now. Not until her brother recognized her.

I think a part of him always knew that he had a sibling. He always spoke of how much he wanted to have a sibling. He always spoke about growing up with someone. He said that he missed a sibling he never had.

It broke my heart each time I heard him talk about it. He did have a sibling, but he didn’t know about her. I couldn’t tell him. I couldn’t break his heart.

But he knew. He always knew.

The front door opened, and Owen rushed inside.

He looked like he ran all the way here.

“Tell me everything.” he said before any of us got to speak.

He walked over to us in four long strides and sat down on the couch opposite Gabriel and me.

“A new girl at school looks like Gabriel.” I said immediately.

Owen looked at Gabriel. “Anything else? Is there anything that would give me a reason to bring her supposed parents to the station?”

“She is 17 and her name is Aria.” Gabriel added, making my heart skip a beat again.

It did that every time I heard or said her name.

I haven’t said her name in 17 years, though. I haven’t even heard it much either, and if I did, I blocked it. I pretended that I didn’t. It hurt too much.

I chose her name. I loved that name.

“Aria?” Owen repeated, raising his eyebrows and looking at me. “Isn’t that the name you’ve given her?”

I nodded, gulping down the lump in my throat.

“Why didn’t they change it?” Owen mumbled, furrowing his eyebrows.

I wondered the same thing.

“Change what?” Gray asked.

“Her name.” Owen said, looking at Gray. “If they kidnapped her and wanted to hide her, why keep her real name?”

“You can ask them that when you arrest them.” Gabriel said, clenching his fists. “I don’t give a shit why they didn’t change her name. I just want her back.”

I placed my arm over Gabriel’s shoulders and kissed his temple.

I couldn’t even imagine what he was going through right now.

“Do you know her last name?” Owen asked.

“Evans.” Gabriel responded immediately.

My heart clenched painfully. Her last name wasn’t Evans. It was Sanders.

But I would give it back to her. She would have her real last name as soon as possible.

Owen nodded and pulled his phone out of his pocket. He scrolled through it and put it against his ear.

I took Gabriel’s hand in mine and squeezed it.

“Brad.” Owen spoke after a few moments. “I need you to find out everything you can about the Evans family. They moved here a few days ago. Find out everything you can and bring them in.”

Owen was silent for a moment before he spoke again.

“I have a reason to suspect that the child with them is a victim of a kidnapping.” Owen said. “Be careful. Don’t let them suspect anything.”

Gabriel squeezed my hand, and I looked at him. He was staring at Owen, and I could tell how scared he was.

I leaned in and kissed his temple again.

“It’s going to be okay, bud.” I mumbled quietly. “We will get her back.”

He glanced at me and gave me a small nod.
I looked back at Owen, who was putting his phone back into his pocket.

“Brad and the guys will bring them in.” Owen said. “Do you want to come to the station?”

“Yes.” Gabriel and I said at the same time.

I looked at my son. I didn’t want him to go. It could be dangerous.

“Gabe, bud, maybe you should stay here.” I said quietly. “It could be dangerous.”

He narrowed his eyes at me and shook his head.

“No fucking way, dad.” he said angrily. “I’m going. I will be the first one to hold her. I will be the one to tell her that she is mine. I’m not staying here.”

The possessiveness in his voice made me shiver. I’ve never seen him like this.

“He will be okay, Henry.” Owen said. “He will be safe at the station.”

I nodded reluctantly, and Gabriel stood up immediately.

“Let’s go.” he said, walking toward the door.

“What about me?” Gray asked, making the three of us look at him.

“Stay here, Gray.” I said. “Gabriel will call you as soon as we know something.”

Gray nodded and stood up. He walked over to Gabriel and patted his shoulder.

“Call me, okay?” Gray said softly.

Gabriel nodded and watched as Gray left the house.

He looked back at Owen and me and narrowed his eyes.

“Let’s go.” he said sternly. “I’m not waiting here any longer.”

Owen and I nodded and stood up, following Gabriel out of the house. I grabbed the keys out of the bowl and locked the front door.

Owen hurried to his car. Gabriel and I entered mine, and I followed behind Owen.

“Drive faster.” Gabriel mumbled, making me look at him.

He was tense. He clenched his fists and tightened his jaw. He looked like a coiled spring, waiting to go off at any moment.

“Breathe, bud.” I said softly. “They are not at the station yet.”

“I can’t, dad.” Gabriel said. “I need her. I want her back.”

I sighed and tightened my grip on the wheel.

I wanted her back for 17 years. I needed my daughter back for 17 years.

I will finally have her back tonight.