The Parent Trap

Chapter 34

Austin Reed

POV

Pain.

It was the first thing I felt. Every part of me ached.

I groan forcing my eyes open.

The unfamiliar white ceiling and the fluorescent lights scared the living daylights out of me.

Did Angelo come back?

It wasn’t until I looked around the room did I realize I was in the hospital.

"What the hell..." The words came out hoarse.

Melissa stared at me her eyes red from crying. One hand on her stomach the other holding my hand.

She looked utterly exhausted.

"Austin! I’m so glad you’re awake. I thought you were dead. When I went to visit you to find out about Koah. The door was open and when I walked in the house was a mess and you were on the ground all messed up..." she hugs me hurting my ribs.

I let out a gasp in pain.

She jumps back. "Oh, I’m so sorry. I’m just glad you’re awake..."

I frowned. "How long have I been here?" I ask her.

"Two days." she cries again.

Jesus two days?

How could I be here for two days?

I needed to find Koah so I could pay back the Bianco’s before the week is up.

I try to sit up only to hiss when the pain shoots through me.

"Don’t try to move yet." Melissa sobs. "The doctors said you have three broken ribs, a fractured cheekbone, a broken nose, a concussion and internal bleeding."

I clenched my jaw. I couldn’t even be mad at them. This was all Koah’s fault, if she hadn’t ran away I would have paid them back by now.

I didn’t want my organs to be sold off.

When I get Koah. I’m going to make sure she never walks away from me again.

A knock interrupted my thoughts.

The hospital door opens and two police offers walk into my room.

Fear spreads through me. Shit did Koah report me? Did they find out I owe money to the Bianco family?

The older officer offers me a polite smile. "Good Afternoon Mr. Reed."

"He-Hello..." I stutter out.

"How are you feeling Mr. Reed?" he asks.

I struggle to sit up but force myself through the pain. "I-I’m okay. I am doing okay..."

The police officer looks at me before he opens his notebook. "We’re sorry to bother you when you just woke up but we need you to answer some questions for us..."

I don’t say anything. Fear runs down my spine.

"We’ve examined your home." the other officer says.

I remained silent.

"It didn’t appear like there was any forced entry. Do you know who broke in and assaulted you Mr. Reed?" he asks.

Of course I knew who it was. Angelo Bianco. But even mentioning the Bianco family was ordering myself a body bag. Forget about my organs harvested. I’d be dead before the words even died on my lips.

The younger officer continues. "The furniture was destroyed."

I nod. I did that before they even arrived. It took me a second but I realized they thought someone broke in and assaulted me.

They didn’t suspect me of anything. Thank God.

"Looks like whoever broke in wasn’t looking for valuables." the older officer says.

They didn’t break in... They weren’t looking for valuables they were looking for my life.

"We believe you may have interrupted a burglary." the younger officer says.

I almost laughed. Sure let’s call it that.

"Can you tell us anything you can remember? Like any identifying features or what happened?" The older officer asks.

"I... don’t remember much." I lie. "I got home and saw the living room in shambles and they just attacked me before I could react."

The officer scribbled down something before looking at me again. "Did you recognize any of the attackers?" he asks.

I shook my head no.

"You didn’t see faces?" he asks.

"No."

"Did anyone threaten you recently?" he asks.

Oh no, they weren’t threatening me. They promised to sell my organs if I don’t pay...

"No." I say again.

Both officers look at me as if they’re trying to study me.

I wasn’t sure if they believed me. But I didn’t care. They didn’t give a fuck that I was trying to find Koah and wouldn’t help me.

The older officer closes his notebook and places it in his shirt pocket.

"If you remember anything, give us a call." he says handing me his card.

I nod. "Of course. If I remember any detail that might help I’ll call right away..." I promise.

"Oh by the way it’s my understanding that your girlfriend has been missing for the last couple of weeks?" The younger officer says.

I look at him in surprise. I nod unsure of where this is going. "Yes I tried filing a police report but her lawyer wouldn’t let me..." I say.

He looks at me then Melissa. "And this is?" he asks.

"Oh Melissa is a member of the church I attend. She came by to look for my missing girlfriend..."

Melissa makes a sound beside me but doesn’t say anything.

The officers nod before saying goodbye and leaving.

Once the door closes behind them. I let out a sigh of relief.

Melissa whines beside me. "Why did you lie to them. I’m the mother of your baby..."

I sigh. "Right now Koah is missing. If anything happens to her. They’ll think we’re behind it..." I tell her.

"You worry too much." she crosses her arms.

"And you don’t worry enough... If the church finds out, I’ll lose everything I’ve worked so hard for..." I remind her.

She frowns. "I don’t care about any of that. You nearly died Austin..." She sobs again.

This was why she wasn’t my girlfriend. Everything made Melissa cry. She was too soft.

I smile taking her hand in mine. "But I didn’t Mel don’t worry..."

She leans into me and I look out the window. I had less than a week. I had five days. I needed five million dollars. Pronto.

Melissa sits up, gently holding my arm.

"I love you so much Austin..." she sighs.

"I know." I knew she loved me. She wouldn’t have agreed to be my mistress and have my child if she didn’t. She knew from the beginning I was going to marry Koah and she’d get a house and a car from being my mistress. She’ll have my children but never be anything more than that.

"My salon has been doing really well. So I won’t be able to visit tomorrow." she makes an off handed comment.

I looked back at her. "Has it?"

She smiled proudly. "Thanks to all the church ladies recommending me to their friends. We were able to start looking to open a second location..." she tells me. "I’m just waiting to hear back from my realtor."

A second location?

My smile widened. I have her a kiss on her head. "I’m so proud of you Mel..."

She pulled away from me, her blushing face looks back at me.

Melissa loved it when I complimented her. She was only twenty, she started doing people’s nails in her parents garage before she got her own place and hired people at eighteen.

Melissa Frank has been with me since she was eighteen. I used to be her youth pastor. Before I heard our church pastor is set to retire in two months. I so I planned to marry Koah, get control of her assets, pay off my debt and become the pastor of our church.

Melissa was wealthy like Koah, but she had a successful nail salon. And maybe...

She had money... something I desperately needed.

I knew it wasn’t five million but it would save me an organ donation. It would buy me time to find Koah and bring her home.

Once I’m out of here, I need to get to Melissa’s apartment and get on her laptop. she’d have all that saved on her computer. By the time she realizes the money’s gone, it will be too late.

Then I’ll give her money back once Koah’s back and save her from bankruptcy.

My mind was already working. I promise to build a future with her and our baby. Melissa trusted me and she loved me. Hell she was carrying my baby. My child will later inherit Koah’s family company. I’d convince Melissa to let Koah and I adopt our son and then my son will be the heir to the Harbor fortune.

Melissa would listen to me, just like Koah once had.

The thought made me smile. My entire future would be great.

Melissa squeezed my hand. "What are you smiling about?" she asks.

My smile brightens. "Our future."

Her eyes lit up. "You really mean that?" she asks.

I nod. "Of course, I would be lost or even hurt without you Mel..." I wasn’t lying.

Without her I’d be dead.

She leaned down and kissed my cheek. "I knew you loved me. If Koah doesn’t’ come back I’ll be your wife." she says.

My smile slips, but I force it back when she looks at me. I intertwine our fingers bringing her hand to my mouth kissing her hand.

"You’ll make a beautiful bride..." Another lie. Koah would be found. I wouldn’t let her get away from me that easily.

"Austin..." Melissa calls me.

I look at her. "Why don’t you stay at my place until they clean up your house? You can say you’re staying in the spare bedroom if anyone asks..." she says.

My smile widens. "That’s a brilliant idea..."