Alexander Gonzales

Three days.

Three fucking days since Mia disappeared.

The days since I last slept.

I can't stop thinking about her. Where is she? What are they doing to her? Is she even alive? My mind tortures me with every possible scenario. Each one worst than the last.

It's all my fault. I told Cassandra to stay away from Mia. I should've known she wouldn't listen. I should've done more. Protected her, kept her close.

Now, I don't even know if I'll see her again.

Then there's Ezra. My brother in law, my friend...he's been silently offering me support, never once questioning my feelings for Mia. But even him cat make the pain stop.

I pacing back and forth in Ezra's office as Amelia gasps at her laptop. "I found something."

I spin around. "What."

"Austin. He's here in town. Security cameras picked him up near the old harbour. I bet he's hiding there." She says. Her voice sharp now. One thing about Amelia, she would do anything for those she love. And that fucking snake Austin, he's been hiding ever since Mia got taken away. He knows we're coming after him.

Ezra's already grabbing his keys, I don't even say a word as I follow him. Amelia closes her laptop and gets up too.

We all head to the car. Ezra waves some guards over as they too follow us.

As we drive I can't focus on anything other than getting my hands on Austin. I'm going to make him pay. I'll do whatever it takes to find Mia.

***

We wait in the cars. Waiting for Austin to get out of the house.
And then I see him. Slinking around like the rat he is, wearing a hoodie pulled over his head. He looks scared, like he knows something might happen to him.

Good.

"We wait until..." I don't let Ezra finish as I get out of the car and make my way to him. Austin doesn't even see me until I'm on him. Grabbing him by the front of his hoodie and slamming him against the side of a container.

"You son of a bitch." I snarl. My fist connects with his jaw before he can say anything. His head snaps back and he groans. I hit him again and blood splatters as his lip splits open.

"Where is she?!" I demand, grabbing him by the throat and slamming him against the container again. "Tell me where the fuck she is!"

Austin coughs, gasping for air. His eyes are wide with terror. "I...I don't know anything..."

I hit him again.

"Alex we need him alive." Ezra's calm voice comes from behind me.

"Tell me where she is or I swear to God,"

"Alright...alright, she's...she's with Cassandra, it's outside of town, hidden in the woods. It's her fathers estate. That's all I know..." He says panicked.

I glance at Ezra and he gives me a nod. I drop him and he falls to the ground. Gasping.

Amelia comes up and crouches down to Austin's level. "You led them to her. When this is over, I'm going to make sure you pay for what you've done." She says tilting her head. Giving him a wicked smile.

"Hey brother? I think you missed a spot." She says pointing at his head. She takes his head in her hands and slams it against her knee. Austin passes out immediately.

She stands back up and dusts her hands off. As if she's touched dirt.
That's my sister.

She straightens up then turns to us. "Let's go." She says then turns to the guards. "Take him with you."

I guess she's learned to be such a badass from Ezra.

***

The house is surrounded by tall trees, casting long shadows over us. I tighten my grip on the gun at my side, my pulse pounding in my ears. We've got our team. My and Ezra's men are armed and ready for war.

We move silently, our boots crunching against the dead leaves beneath our feet.

We'l need to get through a dozen of guards before we ven even think about entering the building.

We rush forward everyone at once.
Bullets start flying immediately. The sharp cracks of gunfire echoing through the trees.

Amelia takes down one with a clean shot to the leg, while Ezra disarms another with brutal efficiency. We reach the entrance and I make my way inside. Ezra's guards are already inside, shooting at anything that's in the way.

I scan the rooms as I move. Looking for any sign of Mia. My heart races with every step. What if I find her...dead. No. No I can't think like this.

Finally as I turn a corner, I hear it. A faint whimper.

I freeze, the sound cutting through the noise of the battle. It's coming from one of the rooms down a hall. My blood runs cold as I sprint toward it. Ignoring everything else.

I kick open the door without hesitation, my gun raised.

And there she is.

Mia is on the ground, her hands and legs tied, her body bruised. Her face is pale, her lips cracked, and her right hand is swollen, her fingers...broken. The sight of her like this rips me apart inside.

"Fuck." The word slips out, but I'm already moving toward her.

Her head lifts slightly, her eyes barley open. "Alex..." she whispers, her voice weak.

I'm beside her in seconds, pulling out a knife, cutting the ropes.
"I've got you. I'm here." I whisper my voice trembling as I free her. She's so fragile, so hurt.

Once the ropes are off I gently lift her into my arms. Cradling her against my chest. She's so light, like she could break if I'm not careful. I can feel her shaking, her breath coming in shallow gasps as she tries to hold on.

As I turn to leave the room, Mia's arms wrap around my neck, clinging to me like I'm the only thing keeping her alive. I don't blame her. I'm barley keeping it together myself. The feel of her trembling in my arms makes my chest ache. I have to be strong, for her.

Her face presses into my neck, her tears wetting my collar as she sobs quietly. I want to kill them all for what they've done to her. And I will, every last one of them. But right now, the only thing that matters is getting her out of here.

I hold Mia tighter, shielding her with my body as we make our way out of the building.

She's found!! Aren't we happy?!