Aria Graice - 22. Chapter 22

Drew was about to leave the boys with Jeff and investigate, when Julianna Graice swept into the room. She was dressed a long, trailing dress of white silk and lace with a large, wide-brimmed had. She might as well have been going to her own wedding as her sons’ birthday party. Alright, she was stunning, but she wasn’t supposed to be the star of the show tonight. A glance at the boys showed both were looking apprehensive, and Aria seemed on the point of tears.

“Darlings.” She air-kissed the boys who both stood like statues. Julianna didn’t seem in the least put out by her chilly reception. In fact, there was a smirk on her lips that made the hair on the back of Drew’s neck stand on end. “What a beautiful setting. It was a stroke of genius to have that screen, don’t you think? I spent hours picking out the photographs.”

“Your personal assistant did, you mean,” Amara said coldly.

Julianna waved him off. “You loved them, didn’t you sweetie.” She raised Aria’s chin with one delicate, lace-covered hand.

“I…”

“There were all of you, mother,” Amara said. “It’s our party.”

“Oh sweetheart.” She sounded disappointed, one hand fluttering to her chest. “When did you become so conceited and selfish?”

Amara snorted. “I think we’re talking about the wrong person.”

“Mara, don’t. Please.” Aria hung on Amara’s arm sending his brother pleading looks. “Don’t spoil the party.”

Julianna smiled a blinding smile at Aria. “You always were the sweet one,” she purred. “So thoughtful.” Then the smile dropped off her face and her eyes turned cold. “I am very disappointed with both of you though.” The false French accent, she’d dropped until now returned with a vengeance. “How could you be so spiteful, mon petite angé? I did not think you so selfish that you would spoil my wonderful news by doing such a terrible thing to me?”

“I-I don’t understand.” Aria frowned, hurt and confusion marring his face.

Amara understood, though. His face turned red and he clenched his fists at his side. “Don’t go there, Mother.” His voice was tight, throbbing with anger.

Julianna turned to him, smiling sweetly. “I have not forgiven you either, for allowing your sweet brother to do such a terrible thing. And after I had travelled all that way to give you good news.”

“First,” Amara said, taking a step toward her. “It wasn’t good news. You told us you’re going to replace us with your new toy. You told Aria that you don’t need him anymore. Do you have any idea how much that hurt? Do you?”

“Easy.” Henley put a hand on his arm. “You know she does this on purpose to upset you.”

Julianna’s sickly smile turned on her husband. “Bonsoir Henley, my darling. Do you not have a kiss for your dear wife?”

“You know the situation, Julianna. Let’s not air our dirty laundry right now. It’s a party after all.”

“But of course you would not want to talk about “the situation” when you are behaving so badly. You would leave me destitute in the gutter, with a baby.”

Henley snorted. “Hardly. Sit down Julianna and let the boys get on with their party. They really don’t need you making a scene.”

“I’m sure they don’t. They care nothing for their Maman anymore.”

“Mother, don’t say that. I do. I care about you.”

Julianna pushed Aria away. “Non. You have hurt me.”

“I didn’t mean to. I—”

“Be quiet, Aria. This is exactly what she wants. Come on, let’s go sit with Alice. I could do with a drink.”

Aria ignored him, clinging to his mother’s sleeve. “Maman please, forgive me. I-I didn’t know what else to do. I have to… I couldn’t… I just couldn’t do it anymore. I couldn’t live like that. I have to be who I am.”

“And who, exactly are you?” Julianna said in a cold voice, her false accent falling away again. “A pathetic little boy who’s never been anything but a disappointment to me. At least your brother has some spirit, but you’re both your father’s children.” She spat the words out. “Well, he’s welcome to you. I have my own sweet angel now.” She patted her stomach. “She will not be cruel to her Maman as you have been. And I will not have to see your father every time I look at her.”

Aria froze.

“What do you mean?” Amara asked. He glanced at Henley. “What’s going on?”

“Now is not the time,” Henley said, trying to steer the boys away.

“Of course, you would say that. You do not want anyone to know how badly you are treating me.”

Drew saw the exact moment Henley snapped. He pushed the boys behind him as he took two steps toward Julianna, who shrank back a little. “Badly? I’m treating you badly? I’m not the one whoring around, and if you really want to go into it, I’m not the one abusing our sons.”

Dead silence fell. From where Drew stood, which was further away that he would have liked, it seemed as if Aria and Amara had stopped breathing and he readied himself for another panic attack.

“Whoring? How dare you.” A slap rang out through the ballroom as Julianna’s hand connected with Henley’s cheek.

He didn’t flinch. “I’m sorry, have I used the wrong word? What do you call it when you sleep with goodness knows how many other men, and get pregnant by one?”

“P-pregnant?” Aria gasped. “Th-the baby isn’t—”

Julianna laughed gaily. “Of course not, silly boy. Do you think I’d have another child with him when all he gave me was you? This child will be so much sweeter, so much more loving, so much more beautiful. She will never hurt her Maman by spreading lies all over the internet.”

“Lies? What…what…”

Aria staggered, and Drew pushed forward, concerned he was about to faint.

“Ah, Mr Chance.” Julianna’s voice dripped poison as sweet as honey. “I thought to see you around. Tell me, which of my sons are you screwing?”

“How dare you. How fucking dare you say that to Drew,” Amara hissed. “You’ve no right to speak to him like that.”

“Is it you then? Funny, I thought it would be Aria. Oh dear, how silly. I forgot. He doesn’t, does he? He’s broken.”

“If he is, you’re the one who broke him.”

“Amara, darling please don’t raise your voice with me. You’re so like your father.” Julianna flapped a hand in front of her face in a way that made Drew wonder if she’d practiced.

“I hope I am. God forbid I be anything like you.”

“Julianna?”

A soft voice from behind her had Julianna turning with a nasty smirk. “Darling.” She draped her arms over the shoulders of an incredibly pretty young man who didn’t look much older than the twins. The man seemed stunned by the gesture and glanced nervously at Henley.

“You said he wouldn’t be here. You said you wouldn’t—”

“Darling, I’m a lady, we are allowed to change our minds. As for him,” she waved at Henley with distain. “How was I supposed to know he’d leave his whores in Africa, or wherever he was, to come to this…shambles.”

“Is… Is he…” Aria took a step toward his mother and the man who was clearly more than an employee or even friend. “Are you the baby’s…” Aria spoke very softly, struggling to get the words out. Drew’s heart broke for him.

“The baby’s father, yes. Which twin are you?” The man smiled, still appearing very nervous although he seemed to be at least trying to make an effort.

“What does it matter,” Julianna broke in. “They’re not important anymore.”

Drew didn’t know if it was the words or the look she shot him that broke Aria, but, with a strangled sob, he ran, twisting and dodging through the crowd that had gathered to watch the spectacle.

“Aria.” Both Amara and Drew bolted after Aria, but Julianna grabbed Drew’s arm as he passed.

“You might think you’re on to a good thing, but those boys are no good. They’re pretty enough and no doubt good in bed, but that’s all they’re good for, and when they get tired of you, they’ll cast you off just like all the rest of them.”

Drew didn’t even bother to explain, again, that he wasn’t sleeping with the boys, because Aria was out of sight and that was not okay. Wrenching his arm away, not caring if he hurt her, Drew bolted for the door.

There was no sign of Aria, Amara or Jeff.

“They went that way.” A young man Drew vaguely recognized waved across the hall. “It’s alright, they were with security. I think they’re getting them out the back door.”

Drew went cold. The plan was that if anything went wrong, the boys were to be taken to a safe room where they could be better guarded. To take them out of the house, without preparing the limo was asking for trouble. He bolted toward the door he knew led into a short corridor behind the kitchen, then out into the garden and around the house to the car park.

The night air was fresh and clean, highlighting how cloying it had been inside. Drew barely had time to register, though because he caught sight of Aria being hurried along by a man in the uniform of one of the private security guards supplied by Julianna. Drew hadn’t had much to do with them, something he now bitterly regretted. Amara was just behind, with Jeff at his shoulder. He was yelling at his brother but although Aria tried to turn to answer him, the man kept dragging him along by the arm. Everything in Drew screamed alarm.

Sprinting along the path, Drew gradually drew closer to Amara and Jeff but he wasn’t close enough to stop the shadow that stepped away from the wall and dropped Jeff like a stone before grabbing Amara and hauling him around the corner. Drew ran faster.

When he finally turned the corner, bright lights lit the small square that served as a car park. A large black car, not quite a limo, thrummed in a way that told Drew it was fast. The boot was open and the man next to it was sickeningly familiar.

“Mara. Drew.” Aria screamed as the guy, who Drew was now certain wasn’t part of the security team, manhandled him the last few yards to the car. He tried to struggle, to get to his brother, who was also fighting a man three times his size.

Drew was so focussed on Aria, he didn’t quite see what happened with Amara, but one minute he was kicking and struggling, and the next, the man cried out and Amara was running for the car, free.

“Amara,” Drew yelled with as much breath as he had left, “get away from there.”

Amara ignored him. He arrived just as the man holding Aria lifted him off his feet and threw him hard into the boot, slamming the lid on his screams.

Ben saluted Drew and leaped into the car, calling to the others to leave Amara, who was hammering on the boot screaming obscenities. He almost fell on his face when the car took off. Drew didn’t pause to check on him. He’d be okay. It was Aria who was in trouble now.

At first, Drew pelted after the car along the drive, but there was no chance of catching it that way. He veered off the road, heading for the bend. If he could make it before the car there might be a chance. He might just make it, and even if he didn’t they’d be stopped at the gate.

His stomach flipped almost the point of vomiting when he realized two things in quick succession. First, this was clearly an inside job and it was highly likely the gate guards were in on it, and second, Amara had not stayed put and was not only running for the bend, as he was, but was doing it much faster. Drew had never seen the boys run before and he was shocked. Whether he made it to the turn before the car or not, one thing was for sure—he wouldn’t make it before Amara.

“Amara, stop,” he yelled, pelting across the grass. The headlights of the car spun around the bend and highlighted Amara’s slender figure as he threw himself at it. Drew was just too slow to stop it, or to catch him when he bounced off the bonnet and spun away into the darkness.

For a split second, Drew was torn, but his training clicked in, and as hard as it was, he ignored Amara and continued after the car. What had happened to Amara, as bad as it might be, was done and there were others to help him. Aria was still in danger, and at this moment all he had was Drew.

The car slowed slightly for the second bend and Drew leaped onto the boot. He clung on for all he was worth as the car swerved from side to side. Drew could only hope it would hit the grass and spin or turn over. God knows what would happen to him if it did but at least Jeff would have a chance of getting Aria out. Damn that they weren’t allowed to carry guns like their American counterparts.

The lights of the gatehouse came into view through the windscreen. Drew couldn’t see clearly but it looked like the gate was open. Indeed, seconds later they sped through unhindered. Turning onto the road outside, the car took the corner on two wheels and swung madly. Drew lost his grip and slid off the car. He hit the ground hard but rolled as he’d been taught and was on his feet moments after. It was too late. All he could see were the tail lights disappearing into the distance.

Swearing, he fished in his pocket for his phone, praying it hadn’t been damaged. He set off back toward where he’d left Amara, his heart thumping all kinds of rhythms, as possibilities regarding both boys spun through his head—none of them good.

By the time he got back to the second bend, he’d called in what happened to the emergency services and knew the police would be there in minutes, given they were on stand-by. He also knew they’d be tracking the car through CCTV and prayed they could stay with it long enough for the police to catch up with it. Given how slick the whole thing had been, though, it was highly likely they’d have a plan in place. Goddamn it.

Jeff was back on his feet, thank god. Even as he jogged across the dark lawn, Drew could hear him talking to Amara. That was a good sign. At least Amara was conscious. He’d taken a hell of a hit though.

The lawn, all the way up to the house was dotted with lights as people from the party moved closer to the action, as people always do, using their cell phones as torches. When Drew arrived at Jeff and Amara though, they were nothing but darker shadows on the grass. No light had yet penetrated this far.

Drew was able to make out that Jeff was crouched next to Amara, who was on his hands and knees.

“What the hell are you doing?” Drew dropped to his knees. “You took a hell of a knock, you need to lie down.”

Amara shook his head. He was panting which wasn’t a good sign. He must be in a lot of pain, but he was stubborn as all hell.

“Aria,” he gasped.

“I’m sorry.” Drew choked on his words. “I couldn’t…”

“My phone.”

“What.”

“My…phone. Can’t… Help me.”

“You should be lying down,” Jeff chided. “You could be doing yourself a lot of harm.”

“Don’t…care,” Amara spat through gritted teeth. He grabbed Drew’s shoulder, his fingers digging in, as he hauled himself back on his heels. He moaned, but ignored everyone, focussed on finding his phone in the pocket of his trousers. Given how tight they were it was no easy feat to get it out.

By the time he had the phone in his hand, Henley had arrived and he also threw himself to the ground next to his son.

“What happened?”

“Aria’s gone,” Drew said flatly. “It was an inside job. One of the security men was waiting when he left the ballroom. They put him in a car and drove off. The gate was open. I couldn’t catch them, but I’ve alerted the services. Amara tried to stop the car, but it hit him. He should be lying down waiting for the ambulance. God knows what damage he’s done.”

“Amara?” Henley carefully put his arm around his son, who was staring intently at the screen of his phone.

Amara hissed and pushed him away.

“Amara, this is stupid,” Drew said. “You’re obviously in a lot of pain. Whatever you’re doing can wait.”

“No. Aria.”

“I don’t understand.”

Amara was shaking so badly he could barely hold the phone, and his teeth were chattering. It was cold out here, kneeling on the grass. Drew began to unbutton his coat with the intention of wrapping it around Amara.

“Mara, what the hell’s going on?”

Drew groaned. The last things he needed were Jay and Alice, although perhaps Amara would listen to them. Alice was a sensible girl, she might be able to get him to see sense.

Alice pushed Jeff out of the way and draped her arm around Amara. “Christ, Mara you’re freezing.” She raised her voice. “Someone get a blanket or something.” She leaned closer to Amara and he paused what he was doing to rest his head on her shoulder. “What happened?” she whispered.

“Aria. They took Aria.”

“Oh dear God, no.”

“Alice,” Amara whispered. “They… They put him in the boot.” His voice choked off at the end and he gave a sob, then a moan of pain.

Drew went cold. He hadn’t thought of that. He’d been so intent on trying to get Aria back he hadn’t given two thoughts to where they’d put him. Drew swallowed bile as he remembered the expression on Ben’s face in the split second before he’d got in the car. He knew, goddamit. He knew Aria was deathly afraid of small spaces. He’d been the one to tell Drew in the first place. Right at that moment, Drew made a silent vow to himself that he would find Ben and if Ben was very lucky he’d get to spend time in prison—but that was if the police got there before Drew did.

“Oh Darling, I’m so sorry,” Alice crooned. “They’ll find him. If there’s anything I can do to help… There are people I can call.”

“The app,” Amara whispered through tightly clenched teeth. “Can’t… Can’t do it.”

Alice gently took the phone from Amara’s fingers and glanced at the screen. “Shit, you did it, didn’t you?”

“Course we did, girl,” Jay said, their teeth flashing as they grinned at her.

“Not you too?”

Jay shrugged.

“Goddamnit, why didn’t you tell me?”

“Well, it’s not as if you were going to get it done, you being a princess and all. They wouldn’t let you.”

“I didn’t say I was going to get it done, but I could have downloaded the app and had lot of fun.”

“Mhm.”

“Look, I don’t know what this is about, but we have bigger problems at the moment. Can someone please help Amara see sense here? He’s been hit by a car. He needs to lie the hell down until help comes.”

“What? You were hit by a car? Jesus Mara. Lie down.”

“Aria. App. Please.”

Eyes flashed as Alice and Jay exchanged glances. “Alright, show me.”

Jay and Alice bent over Amara’s phone while she carefully cradled Amara against her side.

Drew was frustrated as hell. Didn’t these kids realise how serious this situation could be? Everything he’d been taught about immobilising victims of trauma was screaming at him, but he couldn’t force Amara down or he could cause even more damage.

“Got it,” Alice cried. “Damnit, it works.”

“Course,” Amara mumbled. “Cost enough.”

Alice chuckled and handed Amara’s phone to Drew. He glanced at it. It was a map. A closer inspection showed it to be a map of their current location and surroundings. A tiny flashing dot was moving steadily away.

“What is it?”

“Aria,” Amara whispered.

“I don’t understand.”

“The idiots got themselves chipped.”

“Chipped?”

“Microchips. They’re implanted in our arms,” Jay explained. “The app tracks them. Look, there’s me and Mara.”

It was more difficult to see the stationary dots until Jay pointed them out.

“I didn’t think this tech was available.”

“It’s not,” Jay said, “not officially, but we know people.”

He grinned, looking triumphant.

“We’ll talk about this later. I’ll get this phone to the police.”

“I’ll take it,” Jeff said, getting stiffly to his feet “You stay here with Amara. Keep me informed.”

“No,” Amara whined, reaching for the phone. “Aria.”

“I’ll take care of your phone and your app, don’t worry.” Jeff said. “But this needs to go to someone who knows what to do with it and has the resources to back it up. Okay?”

Amara looked stricken, but he finally nodded and dropped his hand. Jeff disappeared into he darkness, back toward the house. Sirens sounded in the distance and Drew breathed a sigh of relief.

“Will you lie down now, Mara?” Alice asked gently. “There’s nothing more you can do, and I don’t want to have to worry about you too.”

Amara stared at her glassy-eyed, then sighed and nodded. Drew laid his coat on the grass and eased Amara down onto it. Amara squeezed his eyes closed and his hands were clenched into fists, but he didn’t make a sound.

Someone arrived with the blanket Alice had requested and she laid it over Amara, tucking it in carefully.

“It won’t be long, sweetie,” she said stroking his forehead. “Someone will come soon then you’ll be warm and comfortable.”

“Aria,” he whispered miserably. “They put him in the boot, Alice.”

“I know, sweetie. I know. He’ll be alright. He’s stronger than you think.”

“Not about this.”

Drew sat back as Henley and Alice held Amara’s hands and spoke to him softly. To be fair, Amara was remarkably calm given the circumstances, and if anything, seemed impatient with all the attention.

When Julianna’s voice floated over the lawn yammering something about her “beautiful babies” Amara stiffened. “Don’t let her come anywhere near me, or I swear I’ll hit her no matter how much it hurts.”

Henley paused for a moment, gazing at his son, then he nodded, got to his feet and strode into the darkness. Shorty afterwards raised voices bounced off the bricks of the manor’s façade, fading to silence as Henley directed the argument inside the building.

As silence fell again, Amara relaxed and closed his eyes. Drew felt unaccountably proud. He wasn’t sure that even he would have been so calm in Amara’s position.

“Are you alright, sweetie?” Alice’s voice was soft and full of fondness. She was still holding Amara’s hand, their fingers laced together. She must have been cold, kneeling on the damp grass, but she didn’t complain.

Amara opened is eyes and flashed a brief smile. “Been better. Where’s Drew?”

“Here.” Drew leaned over so Amara could see him without moving his head.

“It’s not your fault,” Amara said evenly. “No one could have stopped them. If it’s anyone’s fault it’s hers, making him run.”

“Don’t, Mara,” Alice said softly. “You know how she is. You knew she was going to do something like this. That’s what it was all leading up to. If you didn’t know it was coming, everyone else did.”

“She’s right,” Drew said. “This was carefully planned. It was an inside job. They knew what was likely to happen and what your reactions would be. Even if this hadn’t blown up or you hadn’t run, they would have got you on your own somehow. Maybe it would have been worse.”

“Worse? They threw him in a boot.”

“But they didn’t get you, and you’ve got the app.”

Amara pondered, then nodded. “Yes, I do. I hope it’s enough.”

“It will be,” Alice said. She sounded a lot more confident than Drew felt.

Amara was right; he was feeling guilty. It was the first time he’d ever lost a charge, even though he’d been told from the start of training that it sometimes happened. Not even the best could guard against everything. But this was Aria, and he’d allowed himself to be distracted by Julianna long enough to lose precious seconds when he could have caught up. When he could have saved him.