Bella stood in my embrace, unable to pull away. The weight of everything that had happened, the danger, the fear, it all seemed to lift in that moment. But as comforting as it was to be in her mother's arms, the reality of their situation was like a dark cloud overhead.
After a long moment, Detective Harper cleared his throat, her voice breaking through the silence. "Bella, your mother and I have been talking. For your safety, it's better if you stay here for now, with Sam and Eliza. The less people know where you are, the safer you'll be."
Bella's heart sank. She had hoped that after all of this, she'd be able to go home, to finally feel normal again. But the fear in her mother's eyes told her the truth they couldn't risk it.
I pulled back slightly, my eyes brimming with unshed tears. "We're just trying to keep you safe, sweetie. This isn't how I wanted it to be. But it's the only way."
"I understand," Bella whispered, her voice thick with emotion. "I just… I don't want to be alone again. I don't want to keep running."
"You won't be alone," I reassured her. "Sam and Eliza will take good care of you. And I'll visit you every chance I get."
Tears welled up in Bella's eyes as she nodded. "Promise me, Mom. Promise you'll come and visit."
"I promise," I said, pulling Bella back into a tight hug. "I will come as often as I can. We'll get through this. Together."
We held onto each other for a few more seconds, both of us sobbing quietly. The couple who had been helping Bella, Sam and Eliza, stood off to the side, their expressions soft with understanding. Eliza stepped forward, her voice warm and sincere.
"We're here for you, Bella. Whatever you need, we'll be right here."
Bella managed a small smile, wiping her tears. She was so grateful for their kindness, but the pain of separation from her mother was hard to bear. It felt like being torn in two.
Finally, I pulled back, wiping my eyes and looking down at Bella. "I have to go now, sweetheart. But I'll be back. I'll get you out of here when it's safe."
"Okay, Mom," Bella whispered, her voice shaky.
I kissed her forehead, my touch gentle. "I love you, Bella. Stay strong. You're not alone."
With one last lingering look, I turned to Detective Harper. "We need to make sure we get to the bottom of this. I'll do whatever it takes."
Detective Harper nodded, looking at Bella one last time before turning to leave. "We'll keep in touch. Stay safe."
Then I walked to Sam and Eliza and hugged both of them shedding tears. "Thank you for keeping my baby safe, I'm eternally grateful."
"Oh don't mention dear," Eliza said wiping off my tears, "I should thank you for all you do for women out there, you are an inspiration, a shining light."
"Time to go said detective Harper." As we walked toward the car, Bella couldn't help but let tear run down her cheeks. She watched us go, her heart aching. Her world had been turned upside down, and now she was left with so many questions.
"Come on," Eliza said softly, placing a hand on Bella's shoulder. "Let's get you settled. You can rest here. You need to take care of yourself, okay?"
Bella nodded, her heart still heavy with the weight of everything that had happened. But she didn't have the energy to argue. She let Eliza guide her back inside, her mind racing with thoughts of her mother, the danger they were all in, and the man she hadn't heard from in days her father— Gabriel.
Detective Harper and I drove away from the house, the weight of our conversation settling between us. The drive was silent at first, but then I spoke, my voice low and strained.
"I don't know what to think, Harper. I'm terrified for Bella. And I'm terrified of Vincent."
"I understand," Harper replied, her eyes on the road. "We'll keep her safe. We've got a plan."
I took a deep breath. "And Gabriel? Have you heard anything?"
Detective Harper's face became serious. "Not yet. But I'm worried."
"I know. I've been trying to reach him, but…" I trailed off, unable to finish my sentence. The truth was, I didn't know his where about. He left without saying a word and I hope he's okay.
As if on cue, Harper's phone rang. She glanced at the screen, her eyes searching when she saw the name. "I've got an update. They found something."
She pulled over to the side of the road, reaching for the phone. My gaze was sharp, sensing the shift in her demeanor.
"What is it?" I asked urgently.
Harper didn't answer right away. She opened the image on her phone, and as she held it up for me to see, my breath caught in my throat.
It was a surveillance image. Gabriel was meeting with Vincent.
My heart sank.
"He's meeting with Vincent?" I whispered, my voice barely audible. "What does this mean?"
Harper shook her head, her voice tight. "It's hard to say. But this doesn't look good."
I closed my eyes, the pain of it all overwhelming. "But he promised me..."
"I know," Harper said quietly. "We'll find out what's going on. But right now, we have to focus on Bella. She's the priority."
I nodded, though the fear in my eyes remained. "I'll never forgive myself if he's working with them. If he's the one who led Vincent to her…"
"We don't know that for sure," Harper said, her tone firm. "But we'll find out."
Harper nodded, determination in her eyes. "We will."
As we drove off into the night, a new weight hung over both of us. Gabriel's betrayal or whatever was going on was a question we couldn't avoid. But for now, we had to focus on protecting Bella, because the storm was far from over.