Theo

"I need to report a missing person." I say, my hands shaking against the phone.

"All ri-"

"For my girlfriend."

"Okay sir, can you tell me what time and date you last saw her?"

"Yeah, yeah, I can do that. It was today, around noon. We were getting dressed in our bedroom."

"Why are you looking at me like that, Muffin?"

"You're pretty." I reply, pressing a kiss against her forehead before standing up from the bed.

"You're pretty too, sugar." She says, following me into the kitchen.

I lean on the counter and stare at her with a smile as she fixes her sandals strap. Once she is done, she grabs her bag off of the counter and begins walking to the front door.

"Come on, Muffin! You know I don't like being late!"

"Yet you're always late." I respond, reaching her at the door.

She giggles as I unlock the door and open it for her. "When in Rome!"

I frown, shutting the door and following her to my car. "Lily, I don't think you used that phrase the right w-"

"Hush!" she shouts, opening the passenger's seat.

I run a hand over my face, "I took her to an interview she had, and she told me her friend, uh Diana, I think is her name would bring her back since I had a meeting. She said she would be back before two. It's six."

"Sir, I'm s-"

"Look, this isn't like her all right? I'm not fucking crazy. Lily would call me, message me or something, she wouldn't just disappear."

"I'm afraid there's n-"

"I know my girlfriend. She calls everyone before she goes to bed, she calls me about tiny things, I'm not fucking crazy, okay!" I shout, gripping the phone and trying to calm down.

"I never called you crazy, sir. Please calm d-"

Mr. Hernandez walks into the kitchen and I toss him the phone. He puts it to his ear, anger evident all over his face. "My daughter is missing, dammit! Why isn't someone doing anything about it?"

"Sir, I'm afraid there's nothing we can do. If your daughter hasn't been missing for at least seventy-two hours, we can not start a search. I'm-" I hear her say and turn away as Mr. Hernadez ends the call.

My head hurting, panic rising and rage flowing through my body, I pick up the first item I see, a mug, and throw it. It bounces off of the wall and shatters to the ground.

Mr. Hernadez quickly stands in front of me. "Theo, you need to calm down!"

"Calm down? Fucking calm down? My girlfriend is out there with some fucker and I'm doing nothing about it! The fuck should I calm down for?"

"Th-"

"Just because they said there was nothing they could do doesn't mean there's nothing I can do. Even if I have to search this whole fucking state, I'm going to find her. You can sit your ass here or you can help. Your choice." I mumble, striding to my office.

I go to the safe and grab two guns, a handgun and pistol before closing it. I walk to the front door and see Mr. Hernandez waiting for me. I nod to him and open the door. After locking it, we get inside of my car. The whole way to Dante's place, I drive faster than I should. My hands grip the wheel so tightly, my knuckles redden. By the time we reach his place, there isn't a part of my body that's not flowing with anger.

Diana answers the door with a frown. "Hi?"

"Did you pick up Lily at any time today?"

"No, why?"

"Did she call you?"

"No, is something w-"

"She's missing. So, we can chit chat for another ten minutes or we can start finding her."

Her mouth goes agape and she swallows. After hesitating for another second, she opens the door wider and we step inside. Dante appears in the kitchen.

"What the f-"

"Lily is missing." Diana interrupts him and goes into their living room. "Val, Lily's missing!"

Diana and Valentina enter the kitchen as Dante runs his hand over his face.

Valentina pauses and stares at me with a puzzled expression, "Who the hell are you?"

"Lily's boyfriend. You passed out on my couch with a bottle of Hennessy. Ring a fuckin' bell?"

A smile appears on her face and she points at me. "Now I remember! You're the fucker that made my Lilybug a freak!" She nudges my shoulder and smirks. "Atta boy!"

Diana hits her arm. "Val! Lily is missing!"

Her smile falls. "Shit. I'm s-"

"When was the last time you saw her, Theo?" Dante asks, leaning on the counter.

I shove my hands in my pants pockets. "Doesn't matter."

"Then where do you think she is?"

"Why the fuck do you think I'm here?"

No one replies, only looks away. I take a seat on a stool chair as Mr. Hernandez lifts his head. "What about her mom?"

"What? Why would her mom take her?" Diana asks.

"Lily's mom has been abusing Lily for almost three years now. It isn't until a few months ago that Lily was finally able to leave." He replies and their eyes widen.

"What?" Dante says, stepping closer. "Are you fucking serious right now?"

Diana looks at her hands and shakes her head, tears forming in her eyes. "My best friend was being abused and I didn't even know. How selfish am I?"

Valentina moves closer. "And the bitch is dead, right?"

I fucking wish.

"If I had it my way, I would have put ten rounds in her when I found out. But Lily didn't want that."

"For fuck's sakes Lily." Dante mumbles, running his hand over his face again.

I face Mr. Hernandez. "How well do you know Lily's mom?"

"I was married to her for twenty-six years. I think I know her pretty well."

"So she has her?"

"That I don't know. But it's our best guess."

I stand up and begin walking to the door, clenching on to the guns in my pockets. "Let's go then."

They follow behind and after deciding to use Diana's car because it was larger, we are on our way to her house. I give Diana the directions and sit in the back silently, trying hard not to let panic overtake my mind.

When we arrive at her house, Diana holds a hand out as we are about to knock. "I need you guys to promise to act accordingly." Her eyes flicker between Dante and I. "We need her alive. It's all about Lily, remember?"

After some hesitation, we nod and Diana knocks. I hear Lily's mom grumble something and shortly after, appear at the door. As soon as she opens it, Valentina grabs her by her hair and drags her into the living room.

"Val!" Diana shouts

"I didn't promise shit!" She shouts and is about to slap Lily's mom as she screams loudly, but Diana pulls her back.

She sits her up on the couch. Mr. Hernandez stands on the side of me as I take my pistol out and point it at her. She smiles at seeing him, despite the situation. "Fred, you're back! Oh honey, I've missed you!" She stands up to give him a hug, but he backs up.

"Sit your ass back down." He orders, and she sits back down with a frown.

Seeing they have her under control, I begin searching the place for Lily. The first place I go is Lily's old room. When I see she isn't there, my heart rate speeds up and the grip on my gun tightens. I check the next room, and the next, even the goddamn refrigerator. No sign of Lily whatsoever.

I stride back into the living room, "Where is she?"

Lily's mom smiles. "Who?"

"Don't play dumb. Where the fuck is Lily?"

"Lily? Doesn't ring a bell." She replies, folding her arms and Valentina tries to hit her again, but Diana holds her back.

"Your daughter, you crazy bitch!" Dante shouts and she only laughs.

Diana takes a knife out of her black boot clip. She presses the blade against her neck and leans closer. Lily's mom gulps and her facial expression turns into one of fear.

"Where. Is. She?" Asks Diana

She struggles to breathe as she talks. "Eight houses down. Wanted to give her a late birthday gift." She chokes out.

Diana takes the knife out of her hold as I start walking back to the door hurriedly. Valentina and Dante follow behind. Diana appears shortly after, yanking Lily's mom by the ear and makes her sit in the far back. Dante starts the car and I glance at every house as he drives. Once we get to the eighth, I get out hastily. Mr. Hernandez agrees to stay inside with Lily's mom as we all go inside of the house.

The door already slightly open, I open it further and we step inside. Beer bottles, plastic cups, molded clothing and garbage lay in the room with a ripped sofa and television. Valentina and Dante stay behind and search it as Diana and I go straight to what I assume is a basement.

I open the door slowly and as soon as I see a figure on a mattress laying in the middle, I rush to it. I smile softly and my whole body calms when I finally lay eyes on Lily. A tear falls as I pull her close to me. "Baby, it's me. It's Muffin, I'm here. We're going to get you out of here, all ri-"

"Theo, turn around!" Diana shouts and I turn around just as a man is about to hit me.

I punch his stomach, making him and the bottle of alcohol he is holding fall to the ground. I stand over him and hit his face. Blood falling out of his mouth, I hit him again. I get closer and something breaks in me. I hit him more, my fist connecting against his cheek, making his head bobble with each punch. Every time his head moves, adrenaline grows inside of me.

As I continued, I could practically feel my eyes reddening. Tears trying to escape as I hear people yelling in the background for me to stop. But I can't. Not until he's unconscious.

I keep going and I feel someone grab my arms as his eyes shut. "Sir, you are under arrest."

My knuckles swollen and heart racing, I stand up. I glance around and notice multiple officers in the room. One places handcuffs on Diana as she rolls her eyes.

"Ma'am, I need you to hold still."

"How about you hold still, cunt? My best friend was kidnapped and you're arresting us. Are you a fucking idiot?"

The police officers lead us out of the house, Valentina and Dante following cuffed behind us as they read the amendment to us. Diana and Valentina get in a separate police car as Dante and I.

The officer holding Dante makes him sit on the side of me. "Did you just touch my fucking dick?" Dante asks as he moves closer. He turns to me. "Theo."

I wipe the blood from my lip with my thumb. "Yeah?"

"Why the fuck are you smiling, man?"

I don't answer, instead my smile grows wider as an ambulance vehicle appears and the officer starts the car.

"Theo?"

She's safe.