After Happily Ever After

Chapter Four

Despite knowing that they should contact Delilah and Lucas to tell them what had happened, they decided against it. The time that the young couple had left was needed for rest and recuperation. It was only a few days before they'd be coming back, maybe Rayn would have been found by then. They hoped so anyway. On the news, police campaigned for anybody who may have seen or heard anything that could help. Leads poured in but, once investigated, were found to be from people who were just looking to make things harder for the investigators. In Roman's phone, his brother's number was saved and he thought that dialling the number was worth a try. There was a high chance that the number was disconnected. After all, it had been literally decades since they were last in contact. Pressing the call button, he stepped out into the back garden so that he wouldn't disturb his husband who was laid on the couch, napping as he hugged Rayn's stuffed bear to his chest. After a few rings, there was a click and then the sound of muffled voices on the other end. Listening closely, crying could also be heard.

"I know I agreed to this, but could you please shut that kid up?" a voice complained.

It was a voice that Roman didn't recognise, followed by one he knew all too well.

"Can't you see I'm busy, Janus."

Hearing that name, he quickly made a note of it in his phone before lifting it back to his ear just in time to hear Remus speak, this time it was actually addressing Roman.

"Hello, little brother. Did you miss me?"

If the crying on the other end hadn't confirmed it, then that just had. The exact words from the note being said to him proved that he was correct. His brother had taken his grandson.

"What the hell is wrong with you?! You disappear for years and then come back and kidnap my grandson! What kind of psycho are you?! If you've got a problem, it's with me! You didn't have to drag an innocent child into it!"

"Rude much. There's no issue here, just me wanting to reconnect with my baby brother. Is that a crime?"

"A phone call would have done! You could have come and knocked on the front door! Breaking in and kidnapping a three year old should not have been an option! Bring him back, Remus! Now!"

There was silence on the other end before a simple word.

"Nope."

Then the line went dead. Roman clenched his jaw, turning and going inside. He called 911 and updated them on what had just happened before sitting down near Virgil, watching him sleep. He was calmer than you would expect. Deep down, he believed that Rayn would be okay. He didn't think his brother would harm him. Truly he didn't. The police team were working hard but seemed to be getting nowhere. The week was coming to an end, Delilah and Lucas were due back the next day at around midday. With Rayn still missing, their return to town wasn't going to be the happy reunion they were used to and expecting. The only good news they'd receive was that they knew who had him. The two couldn't sleep that night, too worried about how they were going to tell their daughter and her husband what had happened. Sleep eventually came, then it was gone as the sound of raindrops hitting their bedroom window woke them. It was 9am.

"They'll be here in three hours. How are we going to explain that Rayn has been taken? How do we even approach that?" Virgil asked, anxiety through the roof.

That was saying something. Roman hugged him, kissing his temple.

"We'll figure it out, okay? We always do."

The three hours flew by and at 12pm on the dot, a knock sounded and the door opened, Delilah and Lucas walking inside.

"I've been dying to see my baby the whole ride home."

She looked around, not seeing him.

"Where is he? Is he napping upstairs?"

Her parents looked at one another, unreadable expressions on their faces. Lucas noticed this and could tell that something was up.

"Why don't we sit down and have a drink first? We've been travelling since the early hours of this morning."

Virgil went to grab each of them a drink and then came back, setting them down on the coffee table before taking a seat. The atmosphere in the room was tense, it made Delilah nervous and it became clear to her that something was wrong too. Grabbing her husband's hand and holding it tightly for support, she took a deep breath and addressed her parents.

"Just tell me what's going on. Please..."

"Okay..."