"Well if it isn't husband of the year." Says Virginia sarcastically on the phone.

"Hello Virginia." She must have arrived earlier to the apartment with Lina.

"What did you do to my sister?" She says sternly.

"What are you talking about?" I ask even though I know what she's talking about.

"You know what. What's got her all upset?" She asks. "Seriously though I got here and she was upset she hasn't said anything but I know it's about you."

"Maybe it's not. Maybe it's about someone else." I tell her pushing off the question.

"Well first you don't deny it so it has to do with you and usually you two would be all lovey and whatnot, you would also be asking being all worried if she's okay, but instead she hasn't talked to you once and you haven't called. Until now, somethings up. Just tell me so I can help her. That's why I'm here ain't it?"

"I hung up on her and it doesn't matter I'm calling now so can I talk to her?" I don't know why I'm explaining it to her I called to apologize to Lina not her sister.

"You can but that would involve me waking her and she's pretty tired. She's still trying to get Evan used to New York time."

"Please wake her. I know your on her side of things but I need to talk to her."

"I'm on the side that makes Lina happy. We have a common goal here. It's not you against her. So yes I will wake her. Because you make my sister happy. She loves you Elliot just be gentle with her, she's sensitive." I hear as she walks around then tries to get Lina awake. "It's Elliot. No he's on the phone. He said to wake you." There's some shuffling and muffled talking.

"Hello?" She says tired.

"I'm sorry to wake you but I needed to talk to you."

"What is it?" She sounds nervous.

"Well nothing I just wanted to apologize for yesterday." That's a start. I'm not sure what else to say so I just wait.

"Oh ok." She says slowly. "Did you want to talk to Izzy?"

"No. I do but I want to talk to you first. Lina yesterday, I went to my moms and she was upset at how I sent you away. Which is what I did. That's what happened but I'm not doing it for me. I really do need you safe."

"I know. I was joking. But you just got upset so easily. And did you get my message yesterday?" All of them. They only added to the guilt.

"Yea but that's crazy Lina. You're my family, how could you even think that one day you would not matter to me. I've constantly told you how important you are. Don't be insecure about that. Have I ever given any indication that I would lose interest. You have to stop that." I hear her sigh.

"I know. I don't know why I feel that way. You never have shown interest in anyone but-"

"No buts baby. I haven't so please just know I won't leave you okay?" I wait for her to responds. "This is why I want to be married. Maybe you would be more sure of me if we were."

"I want to marry you because I want to spend the rest of my life with you. I know you love me. I'm tying... To not be so insecure. I am."

"I know baby. I'm trying too. I shouldn't have ignored you like I did yesterday. I was upset. I'm sick of people pinning this shit on me."

"That's true. Everyone is blaming you but on some level I wanted to leave Seattle too. In my head you would have come with me but I didn't feel safe there." She's never mentioned this to me. Why hasn't she? She's not ashamed of this is she? Being scared is normal. She's the only one who went through shit but that doesn't mean that I don't feel bad about it. I'm suppose to be the father, the man of my family and I can't seem to keep my girlfriend safe in our own home. It's as if I failed her somehow. She'd never blame me but that doesn't me I don't blame myself.

"I'm sorry baby. I promise it won't happen again."

"Kay. How was your day?" She asks changing the subject. I tell her about work and a new house we are going to start building for some rich guy. I met him a few months ago but this guys is so fucking indecisive I don't know how the fuck I'm going to ever even get started. So far all we have planned is the demolishing of the current house then we can get started on the architectural of the house. Lina told me about her sister and how she and Isabelle went out for a while while Evan and Lina slept. They just got back from their outing.

"She's in the shower now but I'm sure she'll be done soon. If you wait you can talk to her. It's almost bed time for her anyways."

"No I can wait." I get comfortable on the couch.

"So how is everything with finding Rick?"

"It's okay. He took your cards and that's all we have to go on now." It's fucking ridiculous that all we can do right now is wait for him to magically appear.

"Well it's something at least. We just have to wait, be patient. He seemed to be in a hurry to find her lately so I hope he's stupid enough to use them."

"So do I. I wish we had more to go on but it's a start. Hows Evan?"

"Adorable as always. He's awake at the moment on his back playing with some toys. Evan just learned this really funny thing called pulling mom's hair which he loves. He makes that face where he scrunches his nose." I hear him blabbing in the background and I know exactly what face that is. He always uses that face when he is playing with his pacifier.

"Yes I love pulling mommy's hair too. But I only do it when mommy likes it." I hear her giggle and it makes me laugh.

"Mommy loves when you pull her hair too. Especially during sex in the kitchen, or anywhere for that matter. Mommy really needs sex right now." I groan at her. Fuck I wish I was with her now.

"Mommy needs to stop or else she'll be pregnant again in the next year."

"Mommy says she'll stick to masturbating then. Or oral."

"To what? What are you talking about. You're disgusting. Poor child you're scarring him." Shouts he sister in the background. I can't help laughing when I hear Lina laugh too.

"What he won't remember anything and it's just sex. It's how he was made made." Lina says to her sister.

"So doesn't mean you have to scar the poor kid. Let's go baby where you won't hear these nasty people talk. They're disgusting." I'm assuming they walked out because her voice fades off.

"Isabelle is out of the shower. Can you talk to her while I put Evan to sleep and give him a bath?" I tell her I can so she puts the iPad on Isabelle's room. We talk about what she did today. She's really enjoying Virginia there. I read her a bed time story until I see that she fell asleep. I sit waiting for Lina watching Isabelle sleep. She makes faces as she sleeps which are adorable. She's pretty cute if I do say so myself. That's not me being a biased parent she really is the cutest kid. "Are you just watching her sleep?" Lina whispers when she walks into Isabelle's room.

"Yea." I admit.

"I do that too. She makes funny faces. I just fed the baby so now I'm going to lay in bed and watch some tv talking to you until you hang up on me." She says sitting on the bed.

"What are you watching?" She blushes before she tells me she's watching that dating show again. "What channel? I'll watch it with you." She smiles at me knowing that I'll watch this annoying as fuck show just so it can be like in with her somehow.

Luckily Lina is a forgiving person when it comes to me. She never hates me for too long even though a majority of the time, always, deserve it.

The next few days are spent in that fashion. I call them in the morning and they tell me their plans. At night I call Lina so she and Isabelle can tell me how their plans went about. Just because they make plans doesn't mean they follow through. They were going to go ice skating with Isabelle but ended up staying in the apartment because Evan was crying.

"Is he sick or something?" I ask her.

"No I... Hold on I'm putting the phone down." There is some shuffling on the other line. "Ok sorry I have to feed him. God he eats forever so I'll be stuck here for an hour."

"Well I'm here for you. Do you want to get on Skype so you won't hold the phone?" Plus she's breast feeding. Not in a kinky way but I love watching. She says she does and in a few minutes much to Evan's impatience, we have set up the screen.

"Have you shaved?" She asks once she sees me. Fuck I forgot again. I always Skype with Isabelle but not Lina. I missed seeing her face. She has a beautiful smile, perfect teeth with full lips.

"Um no." I didn't see the point. I usually would but Lina is t here so it doesn't matter. I used to do it to impress women but now I have Lina and she's too far to care.

"Oh. I mean you don't look bad but it's different. You should at least trim the edges baby. You're hair looks darker. More I don't know." She blushes looking down at Evan.

"I'll shave soon. Since my fiancé doesn't like it." I says smiling at her.

"Your fiancé loves you no matter how you look."

"My fiancé is hot." She is. She's beautiful, sexy, smart, she's fucking perfect.

"You're fiancé says thanks."

"He's not tired is he?" Evan is fully awake just eating.

"No he's... Shit. Holy fuck." She pulls Evan off her breasts.

"What? Are you okay baby?" She scoffs looking at me.

"He bit me. That hurts." She palms her breast somewhat surprised.

"He has teeth?" This is what I get for being away from them. I'm going to end up missing a lot of Evan's firsts.

"No just with his gums. But that's a lot more painful then it looked." She continues to rub around her nipples when Evan cries again, he's probably still hungry so she moves him so he can latch on again. We talk normally until he bites her again. She moves him to the other side so that he may stop but it doesn't work. Just when i think he stopped she tell me that he's still doing it but she's just ignoring the pain. "It's okay. He still needs to eat." After a while longer she hangs up to sleep. I've been keeping her up lately but she said she doesn't mind.

"Wake up Elliot. We have to go." Someone says interrupting my sleep.

"What the fuck. Go away. It's too fucking early to be awake so early. Damn it." I say pushing who ever is next to my bed.

"Rick used the cards." That got my attention.

"Christian how the fuck did you get in here?"

"I used your key. Get up before we lose them." He says pushing me off the bed. I run around my room getting some jeans and shirt and my phone. I get some sneakers I can put in the car.

"Where is he?"

"Olympia. He used it at a mall." What time is it? It's about to be eight. Fuck I guess it's not early. "Why the fuck are you sleeping?" He says as we drive through the streets.

"Some of us don't have the luxury of sleeping in until seven am Christian which means we have to sleep early. Why the fuck are we here?" We pull into the bays of Escala.

"We are taking Charlie tango to Olympia. It's faster. It only seats five. It will be us Taylor, Luke, and Ryan. Mia doesn't know so don't answer her calls." He says as we get out.

"Sir the cards were being used all day today. Seems as if they are going on shopping trip." Luke meets us on the helipad of the building. we get in and get strapped into the seats. It's not until we have the headphones on until Taylor continues. "They were used for a large amount in a Jewelry place. They notified the card company who transferred the call to my people." I remember telling Taylor to transfer any calls from the credit card company from my phone to his when we first set out to track them by the cards.

"Ok so now what?" I ask when he's done.

"Now we have the employees stalling them in the store as much as possible. They've been there for at least half an hour from the time they called to now. So chances are low of actually finding him there."

"Why didn't they tell the police he's still a wanted man?" He did kill someone I don't get how hell just walk around like nothing is wrong.

"He wasn't there long. He was with a woman. The woman is being stalled and we don't want to cause a scene this way we can catch him quickly and quietly." I don't give a fuck about a scene I want them to find this piece of shit. We go over the plan to have Luke approach the woman because I'm too familiar. Christian is a public figure and Taylor is the boss so he's the one with a plan. Ryan is here as back up security for Christian in case something goes wrong.

"Where does Ana think you are?" I ask Christian. He stiffens and fists his hands.

"Getting drunk at your house. Guys night."

"She probably knows you're lying." I say laughing. Ana's too smart to fall for some shitty excuse as boys night. Sure Christian has been loosening up lately but boys night is stupid.

"I know she does. She also knows that but that's why she sent Ryan."

"That's cute. You're wife demands you have a body guard." I say pinch chin his cheek.

"You're girlfriend sent me." Luke says from behind me. Yeah I believe that.

"I have two kids, I need more protection than any of you. Or all of you combined."

"Fuck lelliot when did we get so old?" Christian says looking at me.

"When you met Ana." That's when our lives started changing. "It's crazy to think that two years ago we were all single. Except Taylor. Now we are looking for some psycho."

"It's better now. If we look at the general picture of our lives. Everything has gotten better." Luke says. He's starting to grow on me. I try to not be to friendly in front of Christian but that guy is good to have around in situations like this.

"I'm glad my sister has you. There are things I can live without seeing but you're good for her. You helped her grow up. Thanks for being with her. For taking care of her."

"I do it for her. And no one is going to die we don't have to go around telling each other our secrets and shit. Toughen up Elliot." Fuck I'm a pussy. I don't think anything will happen. We will all be fine.

As we start landing Taylor let's us know that a car is waiting for us even though the mall is five blocks from the landing pad we are using. The faster we get there the better.

"How's Lina?" Luke asks while we wait in the car.

"She's good. Evan started biting today. And Isabelle is having fun." He nods his head. I'm aware this is all small talk to fill the silence.

"What did he bite?"

"Lina's finger."

"He's probably teething soon. Teddy was the same way but then he started getting a fever. It was just his teeth coming in. You can see them now." Christian says. He'll take any chance he can to talk about Teddy. I'm the same way with Evan. I'm glad their close in age because Lina isn't budging on another baby. I won't dare to ask because of how emotional she was with Evan the first few months but that doesn't mean that I wouldn't want another one. Preferably soon but I'm not picky.

"Have you and Ana talked about another baby?" I ask him.

"Yes." He smirks at me. Fucking asshole. "She said to fuck off. She even asked me to get snipped. But there is no way I'm doing that. Especially not when she's so young. She will change her mind." That sounds more like Ana.

We park in a handicap spot then walk to where the jewelry store is. There are two woman who are talking with an employee. They look about 24 maybe a little older but they are on something. They have short skirts and thin low cut shirts. One of them sees us and walks out without another word. The other eyes us and turns back to the sales person. Taylor says she's the one so Rick is gone.

"We should go he isn't here. Let's find any cameras and see if we can find where he left to." I'm not leaving. No fucking way. I have to talk to her. She may know him. It's not by chance she has my cards.

"Hey." I says smiling at her. She looks at me but turns away quickly. "Where'd you get the cards?" She has a half smile then looks away.

"You can't afford me. Just walk away." Oh she is one of those girls. I thought she wouldn't be but might as well go with it. Luke stays behind and the other guys leave probably to see if there is any footage of Rick anywhere.

"You've been using my money all day. I'd say I can afford you. Ten of you." I smirk at her. She look down at how I'm dressed, she might believe Christian more.

"I don't work just anywhere." She says as she takes a step closer leaning forward.

"Then where can I meet you." I take a step closer. I hear Luke clear his throat but I don't care I need to find him. She writes down an address and puts it in the front pocket of my jeans. They give her whatever she bought as she's about to leave.

"I'll be there tonight." She says winking at me. I walk up to Luke who looks like he might castrate me.

"Do you know Stephanie?" I ask randomly. It's a long shot but I might as well try. She stops mid step and turns to face me. The color has drained from her face.

"How do you know her?" How do I know her? Technically I don't but what do I say.

"She's... We're related, cousins." I tell her.

"Then why did she send you to me?" She asks.

"She didn't. I'm looking for some one, Rick. You know him?" She looks around nervously.

"I can tell you tonight." She's probably afraid they're watching her. She's about to walk away again but stops. "How's Isabelle? Is she..."

"She's good. Very good." She smiles sadly. She definitely knew her. One step closer.

"Is steph okay?" Fuck she doesn't know.

"No she isn't." The other girl comes back and they walk away.

"You do realize she just stole like ten thousand dollars from you and you just let her leave right?" Says Luke. What the fuck?

"On what?" I ask him.

"She bought ten grand worth of stuff just now. And since you were here they approved it. Plus it's on credit."

"Let's not tell my girlfriend that got it?" I say walking to where Christian and the other guys are.

"Are you going to tell her you got some whores phone number?" He says when we finally reach them. Christian looks like he's about to hit me.

"She knows Stephanie and Rick. And Isabelle she has to know where he is. She gave me an address so I can talk to her later." I say defensively.

"Talk, right. Where are you gonna talk with her? Her bed some alley way where you can screw her." Luke says. Is he fucking joking.

"What the fuck is your problem. You don't know shit about what she said and I wouldn't cheat on Lina. So just calm fucking down." I say getting close to him.

"Dont fucking cheat on Lina. She's too good to have some shitty guy step all over her." He says getting close to me.

"I'm not stepping. All over her. You don't know one thing about me and my wife so shut it."

"She isn't you're wife she's your girlfriend." Ryan pulls him away before he has a chance to finish. Or before I knock him out piece of shit. Christian looks at us irritated.

"You're meeting a whore?"

"I'm not explaining my self to you little brother." I don't have time or patience to put up with their bullshit.

"Elliot's right though we should talk to her. But you shouldn't be the one to do it." Ryan says after he comes back with Luke.

"We said this was my issue I'm not going to let any of you do this. It's not a fucking negotiation." Funny thing is I'm taller than all these guys and they want to come and tell me what to do.

"But you also said you have two kids and a wife who need you. If shit happens you have the most to lose. And you're not a liar to Lina. How the fuck is she going to react when you tell her you're going to meet with a hooker alone. Lina trusts you but that doesn't mean she's stupid either. I'll go. I'll talk to this girl. I'm the only one who doesn't have to explain things to anyone. And I'm more qualified than you to take care of myself, sir." He adds just for good measure.

He's right. I can't push Lina's trust and I have to think of them if something happens.

"He's right Elliot." Christian says. That pisses me off though. Son of a bitch thinks I would do that. Without another word to anyone I leave and start pacing round the car.

A while later Luke comes up to me. What the fuck does he want now.

"What?" I snap at him.

"She's a good person. Somewhat naive and too forgiving. Not just to you. It wasn't my place to assume anything of you. I spoke based on what I saw."

"I wouldn't sleep around. I wouldn't do that to her." I shout at him. It's more out of frustration in the situation but he added to it.

"I know. Hell Lina would have dumped your sorry ass if she even thought you were being unfaithful. She's good but not stupid. And she would know. She's scary like that." We drive out to where the address is but Lina calls. She shouldn't be now. It's late. She should be asleep. She'd only call this late if something was wrong.

"Hey what's wrong? Are the kids okay?" I ask right as I answer.

"What no. They're fine. Nothing's wrong." Then why is she calling now. Not that I mind but it's not like her to call this late or to stay awake this late. "Well there is something wrong," fuck I knew it. I'm mentally planing how long it will take to get to New York. I'm thinking five hour flight maybe longer but by the time we get back to Seattle. So it would take what ten hours? "It's just the heater in the apartment shut off and we are literally freezing." She says chuckling. I start to laugh and everyone in the car looks at me. Christian just smirks beside me from eavesdropping. "Don't laugh seriously we are all awake because it's so cold."

"I'm sorry baby. I can get you guys a room at a hotel." I hear Isabelle in the background.

"No we can stay it's just I can't even find the thing. So we thought you might be able to tell us." Damn it's been so long I'm not even sure. I think about it for a minute before I remember.

"Yea it's in the living room behind the curtain."

"Behind... Virginia take the kids to my room. Just sleep in my bed. No I got it. Sorry Virginia is here using my kids body heat." She shuffles around a bit. "Found it. Okay thanks baby. I'll let you sleep."

"No problem. Anytime." I says hanging up. But she calls back a few minutes later.

"I forgot to tell you I love you. That and I have no idea how this thing works." She send me a picture if it so I can see what it looks like. I give her instructions and stay on the line until it's back on. "Thanks Elliot. You're a life saver. Ok goodnight. I love you. Be safe." She says just before hanging up.

"See that's why you shouldn't get into messy shit. She needs you. Not just for things like that but she depends on you. You don't see it but it's true." Says Christian next to me. I know he's right but I still want to see this through. "Ready?" He asks Ryan. He nods just as he's about to get out. Waiting is annoying as fuck. All we do is sit here we wait for him to get back.

...

I think it was an hour that he was gone. Luke and Taylor said if he dint get back within two they would go find him. But he came back. We started throwing questions at him but he wasn't saying much until we all shut up.

"She said she works for him. He comes by every Wednesday to collect. She was friends with Ms. Anderson when they worked together a few years back. She worked here after she was let go from her job because she couldn't work anymore. Anderson had already had the baby at the time she started. She came here after her relation with Mr. Grey. She didn't directly mention you but she said she came after the playroom incident so that's when she was desperate for money. She dated Rick for a few months then he forced her into this they broke up but last year they got back together. She didn't start doing drugs until she met Rick. She was pretty clean before. She said Wednesdays. So that's our best bet to find him. On Wednesday."

"So Rick isn't her father?" I ask to clarify.

"They were close but no he wasn't. She doesn't know who is but neither did Stephanie." I'm not sure if that's a good thing or not but at least we know now.

"Then we'll come back Wednesday." Christian says.

"She gave me her phone number and she has mine incase anything happens." Ryan says.

"Wednesday." Taylor says. "We'll get a team in place. But what would you like to do when we find him?" He says looking at me. truth is I have no fucking clue. I shrug my shoulders and we head back to Seattle. Back to the lonely as fuck house where there is no one waiting for me. I fall asleep easily because it's late and the next day sucks just like the rest of this week. Normally I would be happy that's it's the weekend but not now. Now I'm thinking of making plans to keep myself busy since I have nothing to do.

If everything goes well he could be caught that Wednesday and Lina and the kids will be on their way home Thursday. That's six days. Only six. Fuck it. Six is too many days.

"Last call for flight 218 to Chicago." They say in the airport. I'll be home sometime tonight. I'll take a flight from Seattle to Chicago then from there to New York. Then a taxi ride to the apartment. I sit next to a woman with a newborn who apologized in advance if the baby cried. It didn't bother me though. It just reminded me of my kid. All I thought about was finally seeing my son and daughter. A week feels too long without them.

I talked to her this morning and an hour before I decided to take this flight so she doesn't know I'm coming. I hope she isn't pissed me for not telling her.

After hours of traveling I get in the apartment I using a key from the lobby mist dead silent and I can't wait to finally sleep. Evan is sleeping peacefully in his crib while Lina's tiny frame is curled up on the bed. I take my shirt, pants and shoes off quietly just before getting in bed behind her. She shifts and looks back at me.

"Elliot?" She asks looking at me.

"Hey." I say smiling at her. She probably can't see me because it's dark though.

"What are you doing here? I've missed you." She turns on her side to face me.

"I missed you too. I came to visit you. I hope that's okay. Sleep baby. I'll be here in the morning." Because she's too tired to react she turns back over so he back is to my front.

"I love you Elliot." She mumbles sleepily. I kiss her shoulder wrapping my arm around her waist before going to sleep not worrying for the first time all week.