Chapter 67

I knew something was wrong just by the way they couldn't look me in the eye and tried to ignore me when I asked what was going on. I should have known better.

What's frustrating is no one wanted to tell me what was happening. They said it's because of the botched attempt in taking my decoy at the police station but I know there's more to it. I kept pushing, kept asking them. Finally they tell me and say my home had been 'damaged' by one of Too Mean's guys, my bedroom to be more specific.

I just looked at them and knew they were hiding something. I knew there was more to this tale.

We were all on edge after hearing about the bugs in our office, I knew they would find some at Houston's House and mine. Whomever this person is has been privy to a lot of information. It sickens me and now with this attempted kidnapping my nerves are shot and I feel my control slipping away from me.

What if we didn't figure out that the office was bugged? I would have gone down to the police station to straighten this mess out, Hoyt was angry and he would have to follow policy, he had been assaulted. I would have helped Luca and Devin, they are family and are proving to be a big help with our bug problem. I would've done everything in my power to help them. But realizing how close I had come to being a victim again, was a bitter pill to swallow.

I need space. I feel claustrophobic like the walls are closing in on me. I wanted to leave and take a walk to get my thoughts together but I couldn't go outside. I am not safe, no one is thanks to me. Every time I stepped outside was someone watching? Following me? How long has this been going on? So many questions and no answers. I wrapped my arms around me. I'd have to wait to find my answers, I had something more important to worry about.

This would have to be put on the backburner. Jake was the most important thing right now. My worries would have to wait.

So that's why I am in a car with Houston and Devin. I am not speaking to them at the moment. If I had my way I'd be taking a cab just so I wouldn't be in the same car with them but I don't have that luxury any longer. My stalker has made that clear and I was just tired of fighting with them.

We are on our way to meet up with Ms. Bloom to talk about what steps we have to take to ensure Jake has a Plan B just in case his mom isn't found or if she decides that she doesn't want to come forward or she does and doesn't want him. There is that possibility that maybe she didn't want to be a mom but still no word from her is just not adding up. I try to distract myself from this reality. I look out the window watching us get closer to the Hospital but remembering what had happened earlier.

At the office Hoyt had told us that Jake was going to be featured on the news. This filled me with dread, would our spy be watching and would he find out where he was and try to harm him to get to me?

He said word needed to get out, the fluff piece on me and Beast finding Jake wasn't centered on finding information on Jake's mom, this would be geared more on seeing if anyone would come forward with information regarding Jake or a woman that was pregnant and no longer is. He asked if I wanted to go on air. Devin, Houston, Uncle Roy and Luca all answered with a loud No!

I looked at them. Something had happened but they were not letting me in on the secret. Michael pleaded with them to change their mind. I listened to him giving them the advantages of me going on TV and asking the mother to come forward. This makes me wonder if Jake's mother truly wanted him in her life.

It had been two days since I found him and Hoyt said no one had come forward and a lot of the people that were interviewed stated they didn't know anything. He said most were homeless people and the few leads they had got them nowhere. I didn't say anything about Star, I couldn't let him know we had an insider. He'd ask too many questions and being a police officer he'd have to take her into custody. She was a minor living on the streets and he had an obligation.

"CJ did you hear me?"

I hadn't. I looked up at him and Houston had walked over to us. I shook my head having been lost in my own thoughts.

"Houston says he is putting up a reward for information leading to Jake's mother's whereabouts."

He looked at me waiting for my response. I smiled saying he didn't have to do that but I would have done the same. I wanted to solve this mystery. I wanted to find his mom and ask why. But the more days that passed an ugly knot started to twist in my gut. Maybe she had been harmed, or worse.

"Hoyt maybe the Hospital or you can go in front of the camera's if you can't find anyone I'll do it. But CJ will not be doing any more interviews."

He put his arm around me and I wanted to ask what happened but was interrupted by Uncle Roy. He wanted to talk to Houston and he left me to go to him.

I called Maureen.

"Did Hoyt tell you about their grand plan?"

She said Luca had just gotten off the phone with Will and she had heard about the bugs and Hoyt wanted me to go in front of the cameras again.

"Sis, are you okay? This is pretty devastating news."

I told her I was okay and she snorted and said I wasn't fooling her and asked me what else was going on that Will went around her house to make sure it looked secure. He had handed the phone to Carol and she kept ensuring Luca that she was okay and yes for the 10th time she would stay with Will till he got to her and why did he feel he had to send two more guards. Will assured him that no one was leaving till they got there.

That had gotten me wondering what exactly Luca had said to Will and what they were not telling me.

She said she would be at the meeting and would be going to the hospital with Will after they dropped off Carol at the Clinic. She told me she had been contacted by Mitch Fowler they want to know if I wanted to do a follow up interview,

"Sis, we will control the narrative. It's up to you but I think it might help in getting access to Jake, call it Goodwill towards helping the DCFS find Jake's mom and maybe even implementing our Plan B."

Plan B was us getting custody of Jake once he was able to go home. We had touched on it briefly the other day but with everything going on I was having second thoughts. I was being targeted. I didn't want to put him in danger.

"I know what you are thinking CJ and stop. Jake will be safe, he needs you in his life, you're his person. His family will keep him safe. We will find this creep and it will be over and he will always be a part of us. You should think about doing that interview."

I told her I'd think about it. But, if this gave us some good faith with the DCFS then maybe I would do it.

I was meant to find Jake. It was fate and I would do everything in my power to be his support. He had no one but me and Houston. He had not bonded with anyone, we were his people and he was already a fixture in my heart. I felt I owed him I needed to be the one to help him out of this. Before hanging up she said she'd meet us in the hospital lobby.

I looked around and Luca and Devin were missing. Uncle Roy was not around also and Houston was fidgety.

I asked where everyone was and Houston's demeanor changed. He looked around and said they must have gone upstairs and before I could ask him anything else he went to talk to Hoyt.

Chris was on the phone talking to someone and she was not happy.

I went to Chris. She slammed the phone down and looked lost.

"Hey what's going on?"

She looked like she wanted to cry. "I just called my boyfriend and a woman answered. I asked who she was and she laughed and hung up. I called back thinking it was a wrong number but she answered again, ``oh CJ I knew he was too good to be true."

Chris had started dating the man of her dreams right around the time I had been abducted. She said he had been there for her when things got ugly but he understood her not being around because her family needed her. He had been there when she needed to talk to someone about her feelings and she said she had felt a connection to him that he had been her rock, even saying he was her Houston.

I asked if he was upset because of all the time she had been spending with us and she shook her head stating he understood her job was a priority and that he had encouraged her to be there for me.

"I told him what had happened to you and he said he understood and that you needed me more and he understood. I thought I had found the perfect guy, someone who understood my work and family were one in the same. I was going to bring him around to dinner the other day but he had plans. Now I know what his plans were."

I hugged her and said it was his loss.

"I'm swearing off men I can't deal with, what do you want me to do? I can go back to Houston since I won't be going home anytime soon. I don't want to be alone. I need a dose of my family to get out of this mood."

"Who's swearing off men? CJ did my future wife call to vent to you, I swear Red is going to be the death of me. I asked her nicely to wait for my guys before leaving Maureen's. She said she had to get to work. I understand that but my priority is her safety and she just brushed me off saying she needed to get going and I told her to sit tight and she ignored me and then I said things I shouldn't have."

I explained to Luca it was Chris swearing off men not Carol and what was going on. Did they find more bugs at Houston's place or mine?

He stared at me and looked behind him. Houston, Devin and Hoyt were in a heated discussion and I pushed past him and walked towards them, when I got close they all shut up and stared at me.

I put my hands to my hips, "Spill it! What are you hiding? What did you find out? No secrets remember I need to know everything."

Devin was about to speak and Houston cut in.

"Nothing to get upset about CJ, Too Mean called he said the guys did some damage to one of the walls in your bedroom, he didn't know how to tell you but I told him to fix it he just didn't want anything more on your plate. He asked me to apologize."

Uncle Roy came close to me and said, "Yeah he was really upset with his crew. They should have your safe room up and functioning by tomorrow so you need to spend the night at Mattlock's place for another night. I'm heading over to your house. Do you want me to pick you up some clothing? Make me a list and I'll bring it to you."

Devin looked at both of them, shook his head and walked away saying since they had this handled he needed to get back on the phone and that he was coming with us to the hospital.

Houston rolled his eyes and I looked at Hoyt.

"Michael you've never lied to me please these cowards won't tell me the truth please tell me. I need to be prepared and as much as I know you want to protect me Uncle Roy this needs to stop., Houston you hiding things is not helping."

Michael looked torn. Devin put down the phone and Luca just turned away. I knew something was wrong.

I faced all of them, the men that swore to protect me.

Michael looked at them and started to speak.

"I'm sorry Houston but she's right. CJ, someone broke into your house, they ransacked it and left you a message, it was from the guy that's been following you. Your abductor."

I closed my eyes, I knew why they did it but I had told them no more secrets and the first thing they did was hide this from me. I wanted to lash out. But only asked what the message was.

Luca told me I bit my lip not wanting to cry. I looked at all of them and no one looked at me except Devin. He was livid.

"Don't cry anymore, you need to get angry this jackass crossed the line for the last time. We will not let anything happen to you, do believe me Beautiful."

Houston came forward, "I didn't want you to have this hanging over your head when we met with Ms. Bloom I was going to tell you but, I'm sorry you are right we need to tell you everything."

He put his arm around my waist but I was angry.

I looked at Devin, "You are right I should be angry. I am angry, he's taken too much room in my life, and I won't let him win."

I pushed off Houston and went to the elevator and it opened. They followed but the doors closed. The doors opened to our penthouse office. I walked in and Luca's crew stopped. I whispered if all the bugs were found and they nodded. I asked if any cameras were found and they shook their heads no. I asked where the bugs where he pointed to the bar. I was about to walk into the bar when the stairway doors opened, Houston, Devin and Luca ran in and stopped. The elevator opens with Uncle Roy, Michael and Chris.

"What are you doing CJ?"

"Taking my life back, he knows we are on to him well I'm going to give him a parting message."

"Beautiful, this is a bad idea. Take a breath."

I shook my head no, "I'm done hiding, he needs to know that I will not cower any longer. Uncle Roy, Luca unless you tell me I shouldn't destroy them please let me do what I want to do."

They looked at each other and nodded. Uncle Roy came next to me and led me to the bar the rest of my family followed.

I looked at the bugs and wondered where he was and what would he do when he didn't have the luxury of listening in any longer. I closed my eyes and started to yell.

"You will not frighten me any longer, do you hear me! I am not your Princess. If you try anything I will be ready for you so bring it!"

I smashed each of the bugs and felt a sense of relief I was done being a victim.

The car had stopped and Devin had stepped out. Houston opened my door.

"This isn't going to work if you continue to do this Houston. I need to be kept in the loop. This is my life and as much as you want to protect me and keep me safe you are not telling me the truth when I asked for it…"

"You're right I'm sorry but I failed you and not being in control…. I know all excuses but I promise no more hiding no more keeping things from you please believe me. I can't lose you now CJ we've come too far and I want this more than I've ever wanted anything. Come let's go fight for our boy."

I looked at him and I saw the toll this had taken on him. I could never stay mad at him for long. He gave me his hand and I stepped out of the car.

I took both of his hands. "Promise no more keeping things from me no matter what it is. I'm stronger than I look."

He kissed me on my forehead. "Come let's get our little man."