Chapter Twenty-Five

"Someone explain to me where the hell my best friend is, now," Lena growls out angrily.

"He's been abducted," Greyson says calmly.

"How does one of the strongest men on the planet get abducted?!" She snaps frustrated.

"By one of the most powerful to ever be on this team," Greyson says simply, and Lena looks at me.

"My mom," I say quietly.

"Well, we need to find him!" Lena says, her voice cracking. I pull her down to next to me and her body collapses and she puts her head in her hands.

"I know Lena, and we will, but there is no way to track them unless Aviva has some sort of molecular tracker we don't know about," Macie says with a hopeful glint in her eye.

"I don't, but Lyle seems to have an idea..." I mumble.

"Would you be willing to put aside your past to work on that project with him? He's not going to be able to do it without your help Aviva," Greyson says calmly.

"I'll help him," I say quietly.

"Aviva," Lena says surprised.

"He's my best friend to Lena, I love him like a brother, and I am not about to let that half-human psychopath take him away from us," I growl out.

"I am going to need your help as well, there are about twenty project proposals that need to be gone through and Alexander is supposed to have three crucial project development meetings this week," Lena says pained.

"I'll take care of it," I say firmly.

"I have not informed the police of his disappearance. I figured that would be a call we should make as a team," Greyson says.

"Our stocks will drop drastically if the public finds out that he's missing. In addition, someone is bound to put two and two together that Feedback is MIA and Alexander is missing," Lena says seriously.

"So, it's up to us to find him," I say bleakly.

"Missing person cases aren't really our forte," Macie says uncomfortably.

"They are now," Greyson says firmly.

"I need Lyle's number," I say with a long sigh.

"Here," Lena says giving me her phone.

I send him a text asking if I could come by. He is hesitant to agree but I tell him that there is some news I need to give him in person and he gives me his address and tells me the front door will be unlocked and my name will be left with the front desk. Does he already know that Alexander is missing? Or can he just feel the urgency in my messages?

"I think I am going to head out," I say.

"By yourself?" Lena asks me alarmed.

"I will be okay Lena, don't worry," I say kissing the top of her head before leaving.

Walking inside I notice that the building is older but very well kept. Looking around at the lobby, it is heavily furnished but it is very tasteful. I'm surprised Lyle doesn't live in a flashy condo or penthouse. This doesn't really seem his style. I marvel at how quiet everything is on my way up and when I step off the elevator, it is silent. This is definitely why is he here. Knocking on the door before I walk in, I see Lyle on the couch with paper in his hand.

"Where's my brother?" He asks rapidly. The worry in his voice is evident.

"We don't know yet, but we do know who took him," I say.

"It was her, wasn't it," he says choked up.

"Yes," I say looking at the ground.

"Aviva, you can hate me all you want. But I need your help with this project, I have the plans for the molecular tracker done. But I can't flesh them out the way you do nor can I build it by myself," Lyle pleads surprising me.

"Just tell me where you need me to be," I say seriously and shock courses through his body.

"Really?"

"Lyle, I don't have many friends. Alexander is my best friend, I would do anything for him right now," I say honestly.

"I still have some space and supplies in Caspian; I am sure Lena is going to need some help tomorrow. But stop by whenever you can," he says.

"I will," I say before heading back to the tower.

When I arrive back, I find Lena passed out on my bed. She kicked off her shoes and tossed her blazer onto my chair. She didn't even change into something remotely bed ready, she is still in her blouse and pantsuit. Shaking my head, I can't even imagine how emotionally drained she is from today. We were grilled in today's meeting; I held my own, but I know how it looked not having Alexander there.

Walking into the bathroom, I change quietly and get ready for bed. Turning the light off in the bathroom, a strange sensation courses through me. Energy buzzes within me and tears of frustration pool in my eyes. Leaning over the sink, I grip it hard trying to keep myself upright. Pain emanates from my chest and everything washes over me all at once. I kept pushing everything away, I needed to be productive today, I had to keep it together for Lena. But now there is no distraction, there is nowhere else to run.

A sob rips through my lips and the sound is awful and doesn't even sound human. Gripping the counter harder, it cracks under my hands as tears stream down my cheeks. This is all my fault! I didn't stop her quickly enough! Now my best friend is missing, and my girlfriend is breaking inside. A second sob slips up and I clench my teeth trying to be quiet.

"Aviva?" Lena's soft voice calls out and I can feel the shadows dancing around my feet.

"I'll be out in a second," I try to call out but my voice cracks.

The door is thrown open and Lena quickly pulls me out of the bathroom and onto the bed. She pulls me into her arms and tears pour down my face as I cry. I try to breathe but the pain is so harsh and the frustration pounds through my veins. I should have stopped her! How could I have let this happen?

"Stop blaming yourself Aviva, we are all equally to blame," Lena says softly, but I can hear the tears in her voice as well.

"I didn't mean to wake you," I say weakly.

"I woke up when the water went on in the bathroom, I can barely get into a light sleep right about now," she mumbles.

"I'm sorry," I whisper.

"You have nothing to be sorry for Aviva. I am thankful for your help today and your compromise with Lyle. I am thankful that you will help me keep the business afloat for now. Don't apologize, okay? Just try to get some rest," she says softly, her voice returning to its smooth tone.

"Okay," I say.

She changes quickly into some of my clothes and we both crawl under the covers and she pulls me close. She pulls her hair back to keep it out of my face, and I am thankful. Her arms start to relax around me and the emotional exhaustion from everything slowly sets in and I find myself starting to drift further into being unconscious and for that, I am thankful.

Days drag by horrendously slow as the team tries to track down Alexander by any means we have. Lyle and I have finally finished working out the plans for the machine he thought up, but we still have to build the entire thing and my hopes are dwindling. Checking my phone after a few hours of working, I see there is a missed call from my dad.

"Hi Aviva," his chipper voice says.

"Hey dad," I say trying to add inflection to my voice.

"What's wrong?" He asks me firmly.

"It's a long story," I say.

"How about you come over for dinner and we talk about it, there are also a few things I want to talk to you about," he says.

"Will Genève be joining us?" I ask tiredly.

"She doesn't have too," he says.

"I don't mind, just warn her," I say.

"What am I warning her about?" My dad asks me worried.

"She looks like death," Lyle says bluntly, and I smack his shoulder.

"I heard that Alexander," my dad says sadly.

"Sorry dad, it's just been rough," I say not wanting to correct him.

"Well, we can talk about everything over dinner, okay?" He says.

"Okay, I love you, Dad," I say sincerely. I just really needed to tell him that right about now. I miss his hugs and talking to him every day.

"I love you to Avi, don't forget that I am always here for you, okay?" He asks me softly. I haven't, I need to start calling him more frequently from now on.

"I haven't forgotten," I say with a faint smile.

"See you soon," he says before hanging up.

Lyle is going to stay a little longer to continue to work and I would come back after dinner to continue. Walking out of Caspian, it is merely a shell of a building now. Lyle has disbanded the company after finding most of his employee's new jobs. Walking out of the building, the glory has faded, and I know that this is the end of a major chapter in his life. I know how dearly he regrets what happens, it's obvious in his behavior, but yet he hasn't apologized. Pondering Lyle's strange behavior, one thing is clear, he loves his brother even if they fight frequently.

After a while I dissolve my form and land in the apartment, startling Genève horribly. Apologizing profusely, she puts the knife down on the counter before and pulls me into a big hug. I can tell from her hug that my dad gave her a warning about how I am feeling, and I can't help but relax slightly in her embrace, even with her fiery locks tickling my face.

"We can talk about it whenever you are ready," she says.

"Thank you," I say.

"Thank you, Aviva," Genève says sincerely.

"What for?" I ask confused.

"Accepting me into your family, I love your father with all of my heart, and it means the world that you stopover for dinner and we go out to lunch some weekends. I'm sure it was hard to get used to your father dating," Genève says but I cut her off.

"No, it wasn't. I know we didn't start off on the best foot. But accepting you into my life was easy because I could tell how dearly my father cared about you. I don't think I've ever seen that twinkle in his eye if I am being honest. That is something I would never take away from him," I say honestly, and she hugs me again.

"Speaking of him, he should be home already," Genève says confused.

"The subway was slightly backed up I think," I say speculating.

"Probably," She says with a shrug.

We finish prepping dinner and leave it on the stove with a lid on it. Genève tries calling my dad, but he doesn't answer. That's peculiar, but it's not unlike him to forget to charge his phone from time to time. He isn't the best with keeping up with his technology. I can see the anxiety starting to build in her, this is very unlike him, but I am used to him coming home at random times.

"Why don't you try calling him," she suggests, and I pull out my phone. As I am dialing, the screen lights up with an unknown number. Something in my stomach sinks and I can't breathe.

"Hello?" I ask hoarsely.

"Is this Miss Aviva Arlington?" A strong voice asks me.

"This is she," I say barely hearing my own voice.

"My name is Officer Johnson, I am calling in regard to your father, Liam Arlington," his voice says. I can barely hear him over the ringing in my ears.

"What happened to him?" I ask hoarsely.

"We would like you to come down to the station at your nearest-" he starts but I don't let him finish.

"What happened to my father?!" I ask frustrated. I barely process the next thing he says.

"He was shot on the steps of the courthouse by a man who he worked a case against. I am sorry for your loss Miss Arlington," he says seriously.

"My loss?" I ask and my body goes into shock.

"He was taken to the hospital, but he didn't make it Miss Arlington. His personal belongings will be returned to you upon your convenience," he says. I stay silent.

"Miss Arlington?" I make a noise in response.

"We do have the man in custody, and the evidence is against him is damning. We have multiple eyewitnesses, gunshot residue on his hands, and his prints on the bullet," the officer says, and I hang up.

My phone drops out of my hand and I feel Genève hugging me, sobbing her eyes out. I try to move to console her, to hug her back. But I can't move, the ringing in my ears is getting louder and there are dots dancing in front of my eyes. I keep waiting for the pain to hit me, smash into me, smack me across the face, anything to make it real. But nothing comes. I sit there trying to breathe, but it doesn't feel like any oxygen is entering my lungs. The sensation of drowning consumes me, and I can't see. Something shoves my head between my legs.

I'm sorry for your loss. My loss? He was taken to the hospital. The hospital. Hospital. He didn't make it Miss Arlington. He didn't make it. He didn't make it. My loss? He's gone? How is he gone? I was just on the phone with him an hour ago? How is that possible? We have the man in custody. Eye witness, gunshot residue, prints. I'm sorry for your loss. I'm sorry but he's gone. I'm sorry.

"She's in shock,"

"What happened?"

"Her father was murdered,"

"Murdered?"

"Murdered,"