Stuck between two bad boys

The moment Mom asked if I saw James, my chest heaved. “No,” I replied and twitched my lips. I didn’t want to keep talking about him because of the emotions I felt whenever I thought of him.

“Emily.”

We turned and it was Xavier. I ran to him immediately and threw my hands around him. He hugged me back, even tighter. I couldn’t believe I missed Xavier this much, it was hurting.

“I’m so sorry,” he said as he hugged me. No one else was going to understand, not even Mom. “It’s not your fault,” she told him.

“The police found someone involved.”

My heart raced faster, I felt bad for James. He was going to die and I didn’t want him to die in jail.

“Hi, excuse me.” The doctor walked into us and turned to Mom. “There’s been no form of abuse, she’s fine.”

“She’s fine?”

“Yes, she is,” The doctor confirmed and gave a friendly smile.

Mom gave a nod and appreciated him. She stood up from the chair and looked at me. “I need to go and feed Devin, no one is coming for him.”

I gave a nod, I understood her act of kindness and it was great to see she didn’t abandon him when he had no one. She walked out of the room with the doctor and I clenched my fist. I was left alone with Xavier.

Xavier exhaled and I turned to him. “I don’t want to talk to you even though I’m grateful you saved me.”

He didn’t say anything but gave a nod. He seemed to understand that I needed some space and I appreciated that.

I wanted to see Devin too so I followed Mom to the room. I opened the door and walked inside the room. My eyes fell on Devin, he looked so different and it caused tears to well in my eyes.

They weren’t completely tears of sadness but I was sad he was in a bad condition and I was happy to see him again.

The mixed emotions cause me to walk over to his bed and hugged him. “Don’t do that!” Mom warned. She was mom yelling at me not to suffocate him but I was only happy to see him again. I was so scared I’d never see him again.

I smiled hard till the door squealed. I turned to the door and I saw Xavier. When he saw what had just happened, he walked away from the door frame.

The cops called for us and I walked with mom. I saw the boys who kidnapped me. I kept looking at them till my vision ended on the girl that Devin raped. What if they told on James and he was sent to jail?

“Miss Emily,” The detective called and I turned to him. I gave a nod and followed his lead. He walked into a room with a chair and desk. He slumped to the first chair and I sat opposite him.

“I need to ask you some questions and I need you to reply to me honestly.”

I gave a nod in understanding, fear rushed through me.

“Getting in the car, being fed, and waking up. Is that all you remember?”

I nodded.

“Did they hurt you?”

“No.” I was being honest. “They didn’t hurt me. I overheard them saying they wanted to win a trend of kidnapping a pretty girl and letting her out after a while.”

“Devin and Xavier said they were kidnapped by a different person.”© 2024 Nôv/el/Dram/a.Org.

My throat itched as I heard their name.

“Do you remember anything about being sold to a man? Did you hear any conversation like that?”

I raised my brows, pretending to think and he shoved three photographs in my front.

“Look at these men, do they look familiar?”

I stared at the picture of James, his man, and someone I have never seen.

“I don’t know them,” I explained. I however pointed to James. “He’s my father and I need to see him.”

“The kids said the same thing so I guess we have the same story.”

A surge of relief flooded through me as I stood up and returned to Mom. We returned home and I was still feeling somewhat nervous.

I walked to the front of the house and met James. He was standing in front of his car and I took reluctant steps toward him. The moment I got closer to him, I hugged him.

He held me against himself tightly and brushed my hair. “I know what you’re doing and I understand,” I whispered to his ear.

I pulled away from his gig after some seconds and just looked at him. He smiled at me and I knew he was getting in his feelings.

“I love you as a Dad.” It was the first time I said those words to him and meant it. I could see the shock in his eyes and the happiness that lay in them. “That doesn’t mean I’ll go wherever you want though.”

He gave a nod as if he was expecting a condition. I saw him smile sincerely and it was honestly a beautiful sight.

“I’ll come to visit you,” I added. “I’ll be there on your sick bed too- I just need you to hold on a little longer till I graduate from college and possibly bring home a man.”

He laughed till tears welled in his eyes. “I’m sorry, it should be the eye problem.”

Mom and Dad walked closer but Xavier didn’t. “They gave the kids a restricted arrest,” Dad explained to James.

Pointing to Xavier, he continued explaining. “They have an alarm clock on their wrist.”

“I got the 10k$ and I’m really grateful.”

James only smiled and looked at me. “Emily saved me first.” He smiled harder, “She gave me a reason to live and not everything lasts long.”

I followed his line of vision and saw how he looked at Mom. He looked sorry and sincere. Like he wanted to make up for the lost time and all. I couldn’t believe a day like this would come when we’d all be standing together in understanding and happiness.

“Want to join us for dinner?” I suggested with a wide smile on my face.

He threw a look at me and I smiled. I mean, it wouldn’t hurt to have a family dinner to celebrate whatever we were becoming.

They all wore expressions like they were thinking and I decided to add an important part to the invitation. “Devin will be joining the dinner.”

“Would be nice but I don’t think a boy with an anklet alarm can join us.”