Page 82 of Rum & Coke

“I don’t know,” she cried.

“Where’s Colton?”

“Sophia said that Tessa came and got him before I got back.”

“Really?”

“I don’t know what’s going on. The driver took forever to get me here, and then when I arrived, I stopped by Tessa’s, and no one was there. I went to Sophia’s, and she said that Tessa came and took Colton. Why would Tessa take Colton somewhere at this hour?”

“Where’s Sophia?” There was no reason for Tessa to take Colton anywhere at this hour unless he was sick. I needed to check with Sophia.

She pointed at Sophia’s apartment. “Home.”

I walked to Sophia’s door and knocked, not caring that it was midnight. Sophia watched Colton until two-thirty in the morning on Friday and Saturdays, and I was hoping she was still awake.

When she answered the door a few moments later, her eyes widened. “Vinny!”

“Hey, Sophia. Do you know where Tessa went?”

She shook her head. “No. She came in with a guy—”

“A guy?” I asked, raising my voice in concern—and anger.

She nodded slightly. “A man I’d never seen before. She also looked like she’d been crying.”

“What?” I bellowed.

“She took clothes with her.”

I looked over at Melony. “What the fuck is going on?”

She shrugged. “I don’t know. She went to the bathroom at the party and never came back.”

I dug my wallet out, pulled out my S&R business card, and handed it to Sophia. “If she comes back, call me. If you hear anything, call me.”

“Do you think she’s in danger?” she asked.

I closed my eyes and sighed. “I hope not. Call me if you hear anything.”

Sophia nodded, and I stepped back as she closed her door.

“What are we going to do?” Melony asked.

I took another deep breath. “I don’t know.”

“I don’t understand what’s happening,” she cried.

“Me either,” I admitted. I’d thought Tessa and I were good—moving forward. Now I wasn’t so sure. But, it didn’t make sense. Why would she stay and Melony leave when they went together? Why was she crying? Why did she take Colton? I had too many questions and no answers.

“Can I give you my number in case you hear anything from her? I’m really worried.”

“Yeah, I’ll give you mine too.” I pulled out my phone, and we exchanged numbers. “Do you think he kidnapped her?”

Melony blinked and then motioned for me to go inside her place. “Want to go inside?”

“Yeah.” I walked inside, and she closed the door as I sat on her couch.

“Sorry, I don’t want the neighbors to hear anything else.”