Her Little Helper

Chapter 8

*Savannah's POV*

The apartment was ransacked. Stuff was strewn all over the floor. Any drawers in the studio apartment were wide open, clearly rummaged through. However, nothing seemed to be stolen. The TV, game console, her computer were all still there. So what would the thieves have wanted from Abigail's apartment?

I felt my heart beginning to beat faster as my anger built within me. My breathing quickened as the urge to exact vengeance on those who did this began to consume me. I'll make the building owner show me the security footage, then I'm going to track down these bastards and fucking kill them. 

But that's when I heard a gentle, sniffly, "Mama," behind me. I turned to see Abigail on the verge of tears. She held her left hand to her mouth, biting at her knuckles as her right hand was held firmly against her chest. That image made me forget about my anger for that moment. She was so tiny and vulnerable and scared. All I wanted to do was wrap her in my arms and hide her away from this vile fucking world. 

"Mama, where's Rosie?" She asked with so much worry. Her apartment had clearly been broken into and her first priority was about her koala stuffie. My heart sank at her adorable innocence. I looked all around for her, hoping that maybe she just feel between the bed and the wall in the chaos. But I checked every crevice of the apartment and found no sign of her. 

I looked at Abigail, whose eyes were starting to leak tears as she looked at me, pleading for me to find her beloved Rosie. But she was nowhere to be found. My eyes started to water as the anger began to flood back through my body. These people broke into my babygirl's apartment just to take her fucking stuffie? It made no sense to me, which only made me angrier. 

My blood boiled as a made a snap decision. Abigail is not safe here. If these people can break into her apartment once, they can do it again. And I will not stand idly by as my little one is put into harm's way.

"Abigail, listen to me," I said, my anger very clear in my tone. She looked up at me with her watery eyes, very shaken up by what just happened to her. "I don't want you staying in this apartment anymore, okay?"

"Mama, where's Rosie?" She asked again, this time with even more anxiety in her voice. 

"Sweetheart," I let out a breath, trying to calm down just a little bit for the sake of the terrified girl in front of me. "I don't know where Rosie is. I think they may have taken her."

The whimper that came from Abigail's mouth followed by the trembling of her lip was enough to break my heart. Her hands returned to her mouth as I scooped her into my arms, trying not to let her see me as tears began to form in my eyes. I held her as she sobbed. She stared at her bed over my shoulder at what I assumed was Rosie's normal place. 

"Abigail," I said, unsure if I broke her out of her despaired trance, "you're going to be staying with me from now on, okay? I don't feel comfortable letting you stay here after this. With me, you'll be safe. I pinky promise." I leaned back, creating enough space between us for me to stick my pinky out. Still steadily crying, she wrapped her pinky around mine. 

I kissed her on the forehead before I picked her up and carried her on my hip out of the apartment. She snuggled her face into my neck as she quietly sobbed. I would have my people come by to clean up and move Abigail's clothes and other belongings to my apartment.  

I buckled my sniffling little one into the car before climbing out to talk to Victor. After shutting the car door I told him what happened. I didn't need Abigail worrying any more than she already is. "Victor, I said, "I need you to get any security footage you can from this building and any others in the area. I feel like whoever this was, did this to scare her; to scare me. I want them found and I want to know who they work for. I'm trusting you with this, Victor."

"Yes, ma'am," Victor replied. He was loyal to me, a bit more than just a driver. Dirty work isn't uncommon in my field of business and having someone like Victor to carry it out is a blessing. The image of what might have happened if Abigail hadn't stayed the night at my apartment would not escape my mind. If they were trying to scare me, it fucking worked. But I couldn't show that. I needed to stay strong. Not just for myself and my company, but for my Abigail. 

On the car ride back to my apartment, I felt a little head fall onto my shoulder. Abigail had fallen sound asleep beside me. I moved close to her and let her cuddle up into me. This whole experience has taken a lot out of me. I can only imagine what it's taken from her. 

She remained asleep as I put her in her bed for a nap. I heard her walk down the stairs a couple of hours later. I had been doing some work at the kitchen island to try to keep my mind off of things. 

"Hi sleepyhead!" I said, trying to sound cheerful. She sat at the stool next to me. I could tell she had cried again before she came down here. I pulled her into my embrace. "Sweetheart," I began, "is there anything, anything, in the whole wide world that I can do to cheer you up a little bit?" I asked, desperation in my voice. 

Abigail looked up with a subtle smile on her tearstained face, "Chinese food and movie night?" 

I smiled wide, so happy to see even a tiny smile from the girl beside me. "That sounds wonderful, lovebug." 

I ordered a big helping of Chinese food, making sure to get a large order of chicken and broccoli stir-fry, seeing as Abigail now loves broccoli, miraculously enough. We ate our food before settling down in the living room. Abigail had decided on Encanto for movie night. I had never seen it before, much to her disapproval. But her face lit up and she giggled when she saw me dancing a little bit in my seat to some of the songs. 

Before long, Abigail's eyes were starting to drift closed. I picked her up and got her ready for bed before she fell totally to sleep. Though she was adamant to remain awake long enough to hear her bedtime story. Cuddling up next to me in her bed, Abigail listened intently as I read Where the Wild Things Are. She was mesmerized by the book. Well, for the first few minutes at least. Before sleep really started to take over. 

When she was fast asleep, I gave her a kiss on the forehead. "Goodnight, little one," I said as I slipped out of the bed as gently as possible. I fell asleep that night with a smile. Even bad days can end well.