The Criminal Soulmate

Chapter Nine

It rained for three days straight. Every hour spent indoors left Leanna feeling even more helpless than the previous hour. She had nothing to do, not since Dylan had taken her phone away from her.

The young man seemed more distant, avoiding conversation whenever he could. He would only speak to her to ask if she was hungry. The silence hurt more than any words ever could. Though Leanna knew it should make her happy that they weren't getting closer anymore, she also knew Dylan keeping his distance would make it harder for her to coax her parents' location out of him.

When the sun still shone in the sky, Dylan would disappear to do Lord knew what. Leanna didn't bother to ask him, and she didn't dare think of trying to leave again. Leaving wouldn't do her any good. She didn't know where they were, and she still needed Dylan to tell her how to find her parents. It didn't matter how long it took for him to break down and reveal their whereabouts. She would wait as long as it took.

On the third day of being trapped in the dingy motel room, a news report caught Leanna's attention. She jolted up straight on her bed, eyes widening at the familiar faces appearing on the screen.

"Sources cannot confirm just when the Bruckner family was abducted from their home, but neighbours claim that it has been over a week since they've seen any sign of Friedrich and Isla Bruckner. Their eighteen-year-old daughter, Leanna Bruckner, was last seen leaving the house with an unfamiliar young male."

Leanna stood from the bed and sat down in front of the television, fear settling in her bones. She reached forward to turn up the volume.

"A missing persons report is now being filed, and anyone who might have information on any of the three are urged to contact their local authorities. Further details have not been released as of Tuesday, April 18th.

"The last reported sighting of daughter Leanna is reported as being on Saturday, April 15th, when several witnesses claim they saw her aboard rail transit. It has not yet been confirmed where she is believed to have been going."

The door burst open as the female reporter started speaking again, and Dylan walked into the room, shaking rain from his hair. He froze when he saw the report.

Leanna turned to look at him, surprised to see fear written on his face.

"How long has this been playing?" he asked, slamming the door shut behind him.

Leanna chewed on her bottom lip a moment before clearing her throat. "It just came on a few minutes ago."

"What are they saying? Was I mentioned? Do they know where we are now?"

She clenched her shaking hands into fists, pressing them against the sides of her thighs. "I don't know. They haven't released much information yet. It took people a week to even notice my family was missing." Leana felt tears of anger welling in her eyes. "Do you see how much we mean to people? It took a damned week before they contacted the police."

"Leanna, was I mentioned?"

"Of course you were! The last anyone saw of me was when I was with you, why wouldn't they mention you?"

Dylan cursed, reaching behind him. Leanna tensed when she saw him draw out the gun, thinking a brief moment he might end her life right there. Instead, he threw it on one of the beds. More foul words left his mouth as Dylan walked into the bathroom. The door slammed shut behind him, and the shower head started up.