Desire

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

Carter Gilmore

Even if she hasn't completely forgiven me I feel like we're making progress. She's not avoiding me anymore. I think she just feels bad for me so she pretends she's not mad at me. It feels like a truce for now. I decided today I was going to go to the police station to see if they have any updates on Adelaide. It's the middle of the day and all I have done is sit in my office and yell at my staff. I know it's not their fault but I feel so fucking angry right now.  I have never felt so fucking useless. I have been avoiding going to the police station because I don't want to hear bad news but it's not just about me anymore.

Ella is missing her best friend and I will do everything in my power to bring her back alive. If not for me then for Ella. I rather Adelaide come back to me alive and not be with her than lose her forever. Losing her forever will kill me. It's time to bring in the big guns. If the police won't find her then I will no matter what it takes. I'll call my contacts. Ella walks down the stairs looking a little better than she has in the last couple of days. I'm glad we got to talk to her clear the air and have a truce even if it is just for a short period.

"Are you ready?" I asked.

She wrapped her arms around her body like she was uncomfortable. "Yeah, let's go.'
I can tell this is hard for her but she's making due. I wish I could make this easy for her or for her not to be going through this at all But, here we are.

She started walking towards the door but I stopped her but grabbing her arm. I didn't want her to do this if she wasn't ready for it. She could take a step back and let me handle this. I will fight for Adelaide. "You don't have to do this," I say with a smile.

"I do. For Adelaide. She deserves someone to fight for her and I will until the end," she states firmly.

I nod. "We'll both fight for her," I stated. We both started to walk towards the door and got into my car in the driveway.  My hand is on the gear switch when I feel her hand on mine. Her eyes meet mine and say a thousand words. "I know."
She's scared. We're all scared. She smiled at me and took her hand off.

I rode to the police station and drove up. I saw Adelaide's parent's car in the parking lot. Ella looks over at me a confused look on her face. Why are Adelaide's parents here? I got out of the car and walked into the police station immediately met with loud screaming. Adelaide's mom is screaming at the lady at the desk.

I walked up to her and tapped her on the shoulder. She looked over at me, tears falling down her face. When her eyes met mine she eyed me in disgust. "What the hell are you doing here?" She screamed at me turning her anger on me. I was taken aback not knowing how to respond to her. "My baby is gone and it's all your fucking fault. You couldn't stay away from her to had to have her and now she's gone," her voice cracks at the end.

I know she doesn't believe that. She's just mad and trying to make sense of the whole thing. Even I have blamed myself. I felt guilty. I should have killed that man as should as I knew he was hurting her but I didn't and now. I don't even want to think about what she's going through right now. "Leave now!"

'I can't. I need to know what to know what happened to Adelaide," I demanded. "No matter what you think I love Adelaide."

"Your "love" is the reason why Adelaide got kidnapped" she shot back to me. "All this started when you decided to catch her because she was something forbidden. You destroyed her life and if she dies it will be on you,"

The police behind her give me a sympathetic smile and says, "I think you should leave sir,"
I think that's the best thing. but hasn't she thought that I have thought the same thing a million times over? I don't think I can bring myself to regret it. Adelaide has always been willfully, strong, and feisty. She never lets the world bring her down and even in the face of all that is bad she always wears a smile.

Ella grabs onto my arms and tries to pull me towards the door. This isn't fair. For right now I think it's the best thing is do to this my way. Stay away from Adelaide's family for now. Let them do this their way. I need to call in the favor of Jack but I don't want my daughter involved in what I am planning. I'm going to take her home and go into my office.

When I got home I went straight into the office. I took my settled into my car. I took a deep breath, rubbing my hands in my face. Jack was just in case of emergency. Calling him would mean me getting involved in a life I ran away from but, it's Adelaide and I will open the floodgates even if it means getting back involved in that life.

I picked up the phone and a deep voice came through the phone. "Hello?" The voice asked. I found my hand shaking. I haven't spoken to him since I left.
I cleared my voice and spoke into the phone. I tried to speak confidently. We could always smell weakness. It was a family thing. "Hello Brother,"

He laughed into the phone. "Hello Carter, It's been ages. What do you need?" He asked in a highly accented voice. He could always read me like a fucking book. He is my older brother. I just need to come out and say it.

"My daughter's best friend was kidnapped by an ex-boyfriend of hers. I need you to find her and eliminate him. Bring her back safely and awake,"

"On it," he replied quickly. "But you need to tell me more ideas than that. I hear you have been messing around with a younger woman. Is she your daughter's best friend? Are you having some kind of mid-life crisis?"

I couldn't lie to him he would just see right through it. I could practically see the smirk on his face. I have to keep him away from Adelaide. If he knows I care about Adelaide he'll never leave her alone. Jack is completely dangerous, A cold-blooded killer. The last thing I need is for him to know I care about Adelaide.

"He's just my daughter's best friend. Don't make it into something it's not. You out of everyone know that I don't date," I lied. He started to laugh an evil long laugh.

"Whatever you say, little brother. I just hope she was worth cashing in your only favor."
Me too. I know that I'm going to regret this later but, I need Adelaide back like I need air to breathe. Whatever it takes. Then the phone hangs up.

A knock on the door. I call for them to open it. My daughter opens the door slowly then all at once. She walks into the room, a sympathetic look on her face. "You know that this isn't your fault right? Adelaide's parents are just upset."

"I know, Princess."

Then she comes to my desk and hugs me crying into my chest.