Chapter 35

Aria

When my eyes opened,It was blurry. Why was my head hurting?. I tried to move but couldn't. I started to panic, I tried to calm myself down and think clearly. I was at home,then Jason came. Then he left then…. Oh god. Where was I?. I started looking around,it was a concrete room with just one light about. I tried to move but couldn't. I heard someone chuckling behind me.

” Who are you and what do you want from me?”.

He didn't answer.

“ What the hell do you want from me?”.

“ Are you Aria Garcia?”. This was her doing,this had to be Catherine's doing or Tyler Benson.

“ Yes ”.I said through gritted teeth.

“ Are you Married ?”.

“ Yes ”.

“ And Who are you married to?”. He asked

I wasn't going to answer that.

“ I Said who are you married to?”.

I stayed quiet. I heard him. He grabbed the back of my neck, I felt his breath on my neck as he whispered in my ears.

“ Very well. Let's see if your husband will still want you when we're done with you “.

I felt the Sting at the back of my neck, I started feeling drowsy.


Holly

I rushed back to the cafe and told everyone what happened.

“ I'm calling Marcus and the others, “ Mya said.

“ What ?. I spoke to her a few hours ago this morning “. Josh said, looking at me.

Within the hour everyone stopped working and we were searching for her throughout Payson. Grace and I were in town. Mya and her husband were downtown. Josh and his crew took their pick ups and we're driving around. When we passed the conference center ,we passed the senator and his wife. Jason was with them.

We asked around,but no one saw or heard anything. By five that afternoon I was extremely worried. Chief Matthew put out a missing persons report and it was on the News. Jesus Aria, where are you?. Are you safe?. Ryan found me at home nine that evening pacing up and down.

“ Anything?”. I asked,he shook his head no. I sank into the chair.

“ Where is she ?”.

“ I don't know. Nathan,Max and Pete and the rest of the guys are following the creek trying to pick up a lead”.

“ Caleb?” I asked him.

“ He's losing it and it's not good. If he gets to that point , where he no longer gives a shit, he's going to do something drastic , possibly commit murder “.

The hours dragged on slowly,by six Am , I hadn't slept a wink. Neither did Ryan. Nathan kept calling and updating him.
We checked in with Chief Matthews around nine and still nothing. The hours just kept dragging on. Jason showed up at the cafe and left after we confirmed there was no news. By five that afternoon, there still wasn't an update and everyone was on edge.

Jason

I was sitting in the restaurant with my parents for dinner. My mind was on Aria. I'm sure Cross was about to lose his shit. From what I understand Max and Nathan are both ex- Special forces as Pete and if they can't find a trace of her Then something else was at play here.

“ Something on your mind Jason?”. My mother asked, looking at me.

“ He never loved you. He never knew you existed ”, I Said looking her in the eyes.

“ What is this about Son?”.

“ About my mother, your wife. Ordering me around andhaving me fucking with people's lives. Michael Cross never knew you existed all he saw was Amanda Russo”.

“ That's a lie”. She said putting down her cutlery.

“ And why do you say it's a lie?”.

“ I'm your mother Don't you ever question me. I know the truth “.

I pulled the phone out and put it on the table. I pressed play and let her listen. I recorded my conversation with them. I kept looking at her .

“ Where did you get that?”.

“ Where else? I paid Amanda Russo,well Amanda and Michael Cross a visit. I will say this now, I am done running errands for you and causing drama to people who have and want nothing to do with you “.

I looked at my father.

“ I don't know what she's holding over your head but this shit ends now. You May be a senator but I'm also a businessman. A billionaire to be exact and if you force my hand I will not hesitate to remove myself from this family. Tell her the truth “.

“ Jason Campbell, You Shut up This Instant”.

“ That's enough Diane. Cass didn't know “

“ Cass ? So you call her Cass ?.”

“ Shut up. I fell in love with her. She was different,she was brilliant and happy. There was something about her that instantly Drew me to her. I basically forced her to accept the relationship because she didn't want to be with a married man. After a few months of pestering her she agreed. I never told her who my wife was. You were about four or five months old I think Jason”.

“ you'll pay for this , Aaron Campbell “. My mother said, standing up and walking out of the restaurant. I looked at my father.

“ She came to me, you know. Cass , She Told me She was pregnant. I was going to leave your mother and take you with me. Back then your mother was on the delirious side ”.
Wait, something wasn't adding up.

“ Wait, you knew she was pregnant?”.

“ Yes “

“ You wanted her to have the child?”.

“ Yes. And she Did have the child”. He said, looking at me. Wait . Did he know about her?. I looked at him.

“ What do you mean?”.

“ After she told me she was pregnant, we were supposed to meet but she didn't turn up. She just disappeared. Your mother and I came here to Payson for a retreat and I saw her, but she had another name. Angela Garcia. When she saw me she ran from me and I don't know Why. I tried everything possible to get to talk to her but she wouldn't relent. I don't know what happened.”

“ Around that time your mother found out and was raising all hell , so I stayed away. It was maybe fourteen years later , I ran into her accidentally in Phoenix. I didn't give her a chance. I cornered her and asked her but she wouldn't say anything. Aria Garcia,is her name. She should be about twenty five or twenty six now. She is smart, beautiful and kind. I check on her Once a year so your mother wouldn't suspect Anything. She's your half sister “.

“ Cass Passed away last year. I was sorry when I heard “.

“ I know about her. She's married to Cross. However we have a big fucking problem. She was kidnapped from her friend's house yesterday and we can't find her”.

He looked at me and for the first time ever I saw fear in his eyes.

“ What do you mean Kidnapped?”.

I explained everything that has been happening to her , Why Catherine dragged me all the way to Payson and our meeting and everything in-between.

“ Then Who has her and Why the hell are you here and not looking for her?”.

“ Pete and the rest of my guys along with the guys Cross sent down are looking for her,so are her friends and the police. I couldn't risk you or Mom seeing me going around looking for a random missing woman “.

“ And Cross?”.

“ He's going bat shit crazy because he can't come here and look for her himself. He's probably on the tipping point to commit murder if he doesn't hear anything in another hour “.

“ There's only one person other than me Who knows about her. Henry Davidson “.

I sat up immediately.
“ Catherine Davidson's Father?”.

“ Yes. I'm going to Make some calls. Jason Make sure your mother never Finds out about her”. He said walking out of the restaurant.