Chapter 1
A/N: Hello everyone... I hope you join me on this new journey...
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"I want to see Edward Cullen, right now," Bella demanded with fire in her eyes. Angrily, she clenched her jaw as she stared at the security guard. When he purposely snubbed her efforts to communicate like a normal human being, she attempted to push past his bulky frame, his full arms coming out to block her. "Someone kidnapped our son. He would want to know about that."
This time his steely blue gaze dropped to hers. Once she had his attention, she continued between clenched teeth. "Please, call him down here so I can talk to him. Or let me pass…"
Bella hadn't seen Edward in seven years. Matter fact, the very last night they'd seen one another had been prom night, the night Micah was conceived. Of course, since he'd promptly disappeared the day after the most defining moment of her life, he had no idea about Micah's existence.
There'd been several times over the past few years when she wanted to contact him. Let him know he was a father…ask for help raising their growing son…tell him Micah needed a dad. It had taken all of her willpower to deny the urge. Yet, apparently, his musical career had been more important than their high school romance. Not that she could fault him from wanting to escape the southside of Chicago.
Who wanted to live in the fucking ghetto for the rest of their lives? Drugs, gangs, and violence being the most prominent part of their existence. Once she'd discovered she was pregnant; she'd opted out herself, moving to a little city in South Dakota, right on the edge of the Lakota reservation.
Her life was pretty peaceful until two weeks ago when her son came up missing. Contacting the authorities was little help, and then, three days ago, she'd received a ransom note. She'd given it to the police, but no progress was made in the case, leaving her bereft for her lost son. The half a million dollars the kidnappers were requesting was not an amount Bella had readily available, leaving her no choice but to contact Edward.
When the guard still appeared reluctant, she stamped her foot as a fit of temper overtook her. "Are you going to call Edward down here, or not?"
She noticed the wall before her breathe a resigned sigh, his arms falling from his massive chest as he reached for the cell in his back pocket. Punching a number, she heard the phone quick dial Edward before lifting it to his ear.
"Yeah, boss, there's a lady down here claiming your son was kidnapped." Sam held his ground, his watchful black gaze never wavering from the woman before him. If this was some trick to get past the guard, he was not falling for it. After working this job for the last several years, there was no limit to what obsessed would say to get around him.
"Son? I don't have a son, Sam."
Bella heard the skepticism in Edward's voice from where she stood. Her chin dropped a notch as bile filled her throat. "Because I never told you about him. You kind of ditched me to fast to enlighten you to the fact, jackass."
"Who did she say she is?"
"Bella. Bella Swan." Bella rocked back on her heels. Anticipation tightened her stomach at the prospect of seeing Edward after so long. While she wanted to believe no lingering feelings existed for the man who'd left her high and dry, his name still caused flutters in her belly, her abdomen drawing tight. "Edward, get your ass down here."
"Let her up, Sam."
Relief, coupled with the prickle of her nerves, stole through her. An odd sensation constricted around her heart as Sam stepped back from the entrance. The door buzzed, admitting her into the lobby of the hotel, and instantly, she reached for the handle, her fingers curling around the cold brass, yet Sam's voice stalled her before she entered.
"He's on the fourth floor in suite 412."
Bella didn't respond, rushing into the Hilton, she hurried to the elevator near the hallway. She punched the button, watching as the up arrow lit bright, and the hum of the elevator reached her ears as it spun into motion. When the silver doors slid open, she stepped inside and hit the button for the fourth floor. Wiping the sweat from her palms on her jeans, she chewed nervously at her bottom lip, her gaze darting around the small confines of the elevator.
The second the doors opened, her dark chocolate gaze locked onto the directory, turning to follow the direction the arrow pointed. Moving briskly down the hall, she glanced from door to door, finally finding 412 at the end of the hallway. Anxiety nearly choked her as she stalled before the wooden structure, her hand lifting to knock, yet she was suddenly immobile.
She was about to come face to face with the man who'd ruined her entire life. Getting knocked up and abandoned at seventeen wasn't precisely college material, especially when the child's care fell in her single hands. Working two minimum wage jobs to make ends meet to provide for their young son was her life. Dreams of a better life had flown right out the window when Edward left her in that dingy motel.
Renewed anger filled her when she considered the difficulties she'd endured. Not wanting to provide for Bella and her unborn child, her mother had kicked her out, simply handing her a bus ticket to stay with her dad. Charlie, her father, had done everything he could for them. Having little to offer, however, she'd been pretty much on her own to provide for Micah.
Edward must have been waiting for her because she no sooner stopped in front of his door, then it swung open, his whiskey eyes settling on hers. Bella's heart stammered in her chest at the sight of him. Micah looked just like his father. The same toffee color hair, his golden eyes, and his thin firm lips. The thought caused her eyes to fill with tears, her nostrils flaring as emotion choked her, threatening to consume her.
"You have to help," Bella cried out, her chin wobbling as she spoke. Reaching into her back pocket, she pulled a piece of paper from her jeans and handed it to him. A shudder escaped her when his fingers brushed hers as he took the note she'd extended in his direction, yet his gaze never wavered from hers. Lashes fluttering under the weight of his piercing stare, she continued, "I tried getting the police involved, but I don't think they are doing anything. You have to help me find our son, Edward."
Edward's fingers shook as they ran through his hair. Bella Swan. Bella fucking Swan stood before him. His brows lifted as her words sank into his dazed mind. His son…their son…huh? Stumbling back on his heels, he made a sweeping gesture with his hand, unable to find the right words to greet the woman who'd left him years ago.
He closed the door firmly behind her when she stepped over the threshold. A shaky breath left his body as he watched the ghost of his past head toward the living space. Still lost in her explanation, he mumbled, "Bella, how do I…"
Bella didn't let him finish speaking, abruptly turning to face him, she yanked her phone from her pocket. Punching in her code, she hit the photo button and held the screen up for him to see Micah. Softly, she whispered, "He's your son, Edward."
"Why didn't you tell me about him, Bella?" Edward wanted to know, taking the phone from her, he studied the picture long and hard. The boy had his pointed chin and sharp cheekbones. Edward stared into the reflection of his golden gaze, and his eyes slowly lifted to meet Bella's.
"When was I supposed to do that? Hmm… when you left me the morning after we slept together?" A muscle worked in Bella's jaw as she watched Edward intently. "When I went to your house and found your entire family gone? When I tried calling, and the number was disconnected?"
Edward's mind reeled as she spoke. "My father witnessed a murder, Bella. The DA relocated the entire family… I didn't have any choice in the matter. I came to your house a week later… Your mother said…"
"None of this matters, Edward. The past is the past," she explained, shaking her head. Pacing away from the pain in his eyes, she headed for the sofa and sat on the edge. Momentarily, she buried her face in her hands, trying to soothe the worry from her cheeks, her fingers locked into her long dark hair. "Someone kidnapped our son and is demanding ransom. I don't have the money they're asking for. I need your help."
"Edward, baby," a sickeningly sweet voice called from the bedroom. "Are you coming back to bed?"
"Oh, yeah, that's just fucking fantastic," Bella growled, jumping to her feet. Even though they hadn't seen one another for years, a spark of jealousy ripped through her chest. Without giving him a chance to say anything, she started for the door, taken aback when his fingers locked around her bicep, preventing a quick escape. Bella yanked at her arm; her piercing stare met his, "Let me fucking go."
He was a famous musician now. Why wouldn't he have women in his hotel? Knowing and accepting the fact was to vastly different concepts, however. When his harsh tone cut into her sense, she paused. "Do you want my help finding our son, or not?"
At the mention of their son, Bella returned to the couch, her gaze roaming to the doorway. His door was slightly ajar, making see inside the room impossible, yet her nerves chewed at her existence.
"What's his name?" Edward asked softly, sitting next to her. "How old would he be?"
"He's seven," she replied, turning her attention to him. "I named him Micah."
Micah. Micah. He had a son named Micah. He had a seven-year-old son named Micah. He would have down so many things differently had he known. "When…when was he taken?"
"He was at baseball practice…I had to work late," Bella explained. She shook her head, her voice filled with regret. "He was supposed to wait at the ball diamond until I came to pick him up. I was only ten minutes late, Edward. When I got there, he was nowhere to be found. I went to all of his friends…nothing. I called the police, and they searched the area for about a week. After that, things seemed to die down, and nothing happened."
Edward unfolded the note she'd given him when she'd entered his room. Quickly, he scanned the contents, his brow drawing tight as he studied the words. "Five hundred thousand dollars cash by Friday at noon…if you hope to see your boy alive."
Immediately, he grabbed his phone and dialed the number to his security team. Edward lifted the phone to his ear, his gaze studying Bella as he waited for them to answer. "Hey, Paul, I need a team put together to locate my son. Find me the best investigators you have, and send them to me right away."
He listened as they agreed before disconnecting the call. "I need you to send me pictures, and any information that would be helpful, Bella."
Bella hastily complied, scrolling through numerous photos and sending them to Edward. Rifling through the bag she held, she found Micah's birth certificate and social security card and handed them to Edward. "Thank you so much, Edward. I didn't know who else to turn to."
"You should have contacted me seven years ago," he stated, taking the information she passed him. "The boy shouldn't have been without his father, Bella."
Bella didn't miss his accusing tone. "How the hell was I supposed to do that, Edward? I had no way to contact you… Hell, the monster downstairs wouldn't even let me talk to you. I argued with him for an hour before he even phoned you…"
She broke off when the bedroom door swung open, and a luscious blond stepped from over the threshold. The brazenness of the woman as she strode out wearing a thong, and an open robe, surprised Bella, causing her to fall quiet. Fury filled Bella when the girl crossed the living space, and she sat on the arm of the couch, her flirty gaze landing on the top of Edward's head. "You should've told me; we had company, love. I would have dressed accordingly."
Edward pulled away from the voluptuous blond. "Tamara, can you get some clothes on and get out of here? I have important issues at hand."
Bella felt a pang of sorrow for the girl when a wounded look entered her gaze. Without argument, she promptly lifted from the arm of the couch and disappeared inside the bedroom. Bella could hear her collecting her things and dressing as she went. "Do you have to be such an ass about it, Edward?"
"Asshole is the only language these women around here speak," Edward shrugged. When a hard knock sounded on his door, he lifted from the cushion and hurried to answer it. "Come on in, Paul. Were you able to get a hold of Billy?"
"He's currently busy working on another case. He said to get the information from you, and he'd send Jacob over." Paul moved into the hotel room, shifting to the side when a hasty Tamara darted around him toward the door. "You say, your boy came up missing? I didn't even know you had a kid, man."
"That makes two of us." Edward barely noticed the door slamming as Tamara left. Abruptly, he turned to Bella. "Tell him what you told me. Locations, possible suspects…whatever is relevant."
For the next half an hour, Bella went over everything she could think of before falling silent. Micah's description, his age, his school, where they lived, who lived around them. Anyone in the last year they'd been in contact with; friends, family. When Paul deemed all relevant information had been noted, he climbed to his feet and headed for the door. "I'll have Billy call you as soon as we locate your son, Edward."
Bella climbed to her feet as well. "I should probably get going. Will you call me if there is any word? Any word at all, Edward."
"Bella," Edward started, falling silent as he noticed the worry etched in her brow. "You should stay…I want to know everything about my son…"
Surely, over the last several years, there'd been some opportunity for her to tell him of the kid he hadn't known about. He'd missed out on the boy's entire life. Micah's first words, his first steps, his first fucking ball game. "Why didn't you tell me about him before this, Bella?"
When her mouth fell open to respond, he stopped her as his hand lifted, stalling the words on her tongue. "You purposely kept him away from me, right? You thought I abandoned you years ago, and so you kept me out of his life…"
Dumbfounded, Bella's lashes fluttered as Edward's temper climbed. She would have never imagined he'd be so upset. "What should I have done? You were out on the road, living your dream without a care in the world. Should I have interrupted your life…"
"YOU SHOULD HAVE TOLD ME I HAD A SON!"
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