Page 37

Jade

I’m so fucking angry and worried and there ain't shit I can do about it. No one, I mean no one, is answering their phone. Everyone's locations are off and I’m literally in panic mode. Rafe and Gio have been looking all morning for them because after Zayn’s bullshit note, I went back into my house and noticed Spade and Ryder were not home yet, so I immediately started making calls.

The kids are playing in the living room as I try to stay calm while feeding Prince, but my mind is racing. Spade has never shut off his location nor contacted me with an update. It’s been twenty-four hours since I’ve seen him and a little over twelve hours since his last text. I need to just think positively that maybe wherever they are is a no service zone, but with Zayn leaving so abruptly after the night we had along with Jamie’s bullshit videos and messages, and no word from anyone,–I’m about ready to fucking snap. My chest is so fucking tight with worry and my gut feeling is telling me something bad is going to happen. Call me dramatic, but I need to prepare for whatever my gut feeling is trying to tell me.

After burping and changing Prince, I place him down in the swing as Jaxon and Hazel play with their toys on the carpet. I go upstairs real quick and grab the kids' bags along with my own and a duffel of weapons, bringing them downstairs and placing them in the safe room. My phone rings and I see it’s Rafe. Immediately I pick it up, praying he’s found them.

“Any word?” I ask, out of breath.

“I’m sorry, ma’am. Nothing. Gio is scouring all the last locations, but he’s coming up empty,” he informs me, and I sink to the floor next to the safe room door. “Whoever is behind this keeps bouncing the locations. We can’t get a damn spot to actually stay still for more than ten seconds. It’s like they know how you operate and know that you would send men out looking for Spade and Ryder. It's being done deliberately,”

“Do you think we have a rat?” I ask, gritting my teeth.

“I sure hope not,” he says, not sounding too convincing, to say the least.

“Thanks, Rafe. Keep me updated,” I say, sounding completely defeated.

“Ma’am, we will find them. Don’t give up hope,” he assures me, but I end the call, tossing the phone to the ground. I’ve lost all hope as of lately. Dario’s dead. Jameson has conformed and probably will never return. Spade and my brother are missing. What do I fucking do? I can’t just go out there and help Gio and the others find my husband and Ryder. The kids need me and they always come first, but I know what I need to do. Picking up my phone, I press the number one and bring the phone to my ear.

“Princess,” he says, and tears fall down my face.

“Jamie? Or am I speaking with, ollphéist?” I growl, and he takes a deep breath.

“No, baby, it’s me. Listen, I know I’ve done some terrible things and I need you to let me explain. Dalton is gone. He had me chained up, but I was able to get the antidote to bring me back. Max and Monty are dead and I took all the injections this prick had. I’ve missed you. I’ve missed the kids. I have so much to make up for–” he says but I interrupt.

“Wait, if you're back and have been chained up, then who the fuck has Spade and my brother? Everything that is going on fits your profile, Jamie. I don’t know what to believe. Is this a trick? You’ve done enough damage and I can’t take this shit anymore!” I yell into the phone as I hear a car door slam and an engine come to life.

“What do you mean who has Spade and Ryder? What the fuck is going on?” he growls.

“Prove to me you are my husband, the man I fucking fell in love with and not The Monster that I am very well going to kill if he ever shows his fucking face again,” I promise, my tone laced with venom.

“Do you remember that time at the academy when I was a prick to you and all you wanted from me was some Mary?” he asks, and I smile.

“Yes, I do. That's the night you smoked me up and pressed a knife to my pussy. How could I ever forget that?” I say, and he laughs. God, I missed his laugh.

“I never did tell you why I ran like a bitch and hid in the bathroom,” he says, and I wait for him to continue. “It was because I wanted you so fucking bad, but knew that I was the reason you lost your mother. The way you smiled at me with sadness in your eyes. I knew I was the reason for your heartache, and it seems that hasn’t changed.” He sighs as tears pour down my face.

“Jamie, as much damage as you’ve done, I’m going to need a lot from you, but I also can’t fault you to a certain extent because you were being controlled,” I tell him, as I hear him driving. “Are you coming home?” I ask, hoping he is so then I have someone else to help me find everyone.

“Can I? Please, princess?” he asks as I stand to walk out of the house to let Rafe know that Jamie is allowed on the grounds.

“Yes, just let me go tell Rafe. I’ll see you when you get here,” I tell him.

“Jade, baby,” he says, and I smile.

“Yes?” I say.

“I love you, Princess,” he whispers.

“I love you too, Mo Gra,” I whisper back, hanging the phone up and walking to the security booth. I don’t see Rafe’s bright red hair sitting at the desk, so I turn aroundas my phone rings, but I ignore it, seeing it’s a call from unknown.

Stepping into the house, I go to press Rafe’s name, but my phone rings again from an unknown number. Pressing decline, I send them to voicemail. I go back into the living room to check on the kids who are still playing quietly on the carpet with blocks and toy cars.

Once again my phone rings, looking down I gasp, dropping the phone, covering my mouth. I blink once, twice, three times before the screen darkens.

“Mama, Mama. Everything okay, Mama?” Jaxon asks, and I have no words. The phone rings again, vibrating against the wood floor and I see his name again. Slowly, I bend down, picking it up, pressing the green button and bringing it to my ear.

“Hello?” I say in a shaky voice.

“Kitten. Listen to me,” he says, and I gasp.

“Dario?” I say, as tears pour from my eyes.

“Yes, Kitten, just listen. I know you have a lot of questions, but I need you to get the kids and run. They’re coming, baby. They are coming, you need to move now!” he shouts.

“B-ut, bu-t,” I stammer.

“Jade, focus. Listen to my voice. Get the kids and run, baby. Fucking run!” he screams down the line as the glass behind me shatters, sending bullets through the window.

“Dario!” I scream… To be continued in: THE FALLEN KING: Dario Roselli's Novella.