"Baby? What baby?"
He asked.
"Nicole is pregnant, I know she hadn't told you yet, and she would want to tell you herself but you have to know that my daughter is pregnant with your child and you have to get them back soon, this is not good for the baby,"
She replied, he didn't know what to say, he didn't know Nicole was pregnant, she didn't say a word to him, he thought, God, he thought the doctor said she won't be able to get pregnant again, dies that mean. Oh God, he needed to get her back. Aron collected the phone from him and spoke to Nicole's parents while he sat there still in shock.
The police, his own team, and even the twins' parents agreed that it would be better if they involved security to avoid any foul play, he reluctantly agreed.
Leonard didn't call back, instead, he texted a location where they can meet for the exchange and it was game on.
Preparation for the meet up was super easy, it was the easy part of the whole thing, he wanted to go alone, wanted to just give the money to him without involving the police as Leonard had requested but Leonard wasn't just any kidnaper, he was a fugitive and needed to be caught, what more the police were already involved so there was no way he could bypass them, he just hopes he wasn't making a mistake.
"I hope we are not making a mistake by not following his instructions,"
He said voicing out his worries to Aron who sat close to him in the car.
"No, we are not, making a mistake will be us going without security, this man is a criminal that escaped jail, we can't trust his words and expect him not to do something shady, so this is the right way to go,"
Aron replied, Rafael decided he liked the guy, he had been blinded by jealousy and now that it was clear that Aron wasn't after his woman, he felt he could be friends with him even though he was almost ten years his senior.
"You know, I never knew you and I could get along this much, hated you since I saw you kissing my woman,"
He said looking at Aron who looked at him with confusion written on his face.
"Kissing? Who? Nicole? When? Where? How?"
"Don't deny it, I am not holding it against you, I saw you guys that day at your studio,"
"Wait, you were stalking her?"
"No, I wasn't, I didn't even know you at that time, it was just coincidence,"
He explained.
"But I didn't kiss her though,"
"You didn't? Really?"
"Yup, yes, I liked her but she didn't feel the same and I am not someone to hold on to a one-sided love that won't yield any results in the end so I gave up, Nicole and I shared friendly hugs and nothing more,"
He explained, Rafael smiled, he caught himself in time, this wasn't the time to be happy that Nicole didn't kiss Aron, he has to get his woman first, she and her sister, and his baby too, each time the thought of him being a father Cross his mind, he felt his heart leap, he would do anything to protect his family, he didn't blame Nicole for not telling him, he knew the giving time, she would have told him so he couldn't fault her, he was just happy that they get a second chance at being parents and that their night together, even though he still didn't have full memory, brought them another life, he just had to get them back and his whole world will be complete.
They got to the location where Leonard had sent and Rafael put a call across to him, it was about eight pm already, Rafael already knew why Leonard wanted to meet at night, he couldn't leave his hiding in the daytime as his posters were everywhere in the state.
"Don't do anything on your own Rafael, remember that?"
"Yes, Lance,"
Rafael replied, both Lance and the police chief have been giving him lectures through the earpiece they are shared as if he will do anything to endanger his woman and her sister.
"It's ringing,"
Rafael said and the other end went quiet.
"I am here now,"
He said.
"Okay, that's good, I hope you didn't do anything stupid?"
"I didn't, just tell me where to drop the money and where to get my family,"
He said he was too impatient for Leonard's talk.
"Okay, there is a tank close to the big green building on your right, drop the money there and wait for my instructions,"
"You think I am stupid? I am not dropping anything until I see them,"
"Fine, go get the girls,"
He heard him say to someone else, wow, he had an accomplice, what did he expect? Rafael waited for about ten minutes before speaking again.
"Hello? Until when am I going to wait here? I don't have all night?"
He said but the phone was silent.
"Hello?"
"Hello? Leonard?"
He called but there was no response from the other side.
"You bastard,"
"Leonard, where the fuck did you go to leaving your phone?"
"Shut the fuck up bastard, I told you not to play stupid, I told you, but you still got the police involved? Fuck you,"
He barked out, Rafael was speechless for a moment, how did he know that? No one was out yet so how did he know?
"How do you know that?"
He asked.
"Foolish, stupid, it's your fault if things turn sour and I do something to the girl, fucking told you not to get the police here, you thought I wouldn't find out? How about you think of how I was able to get out, don't you think I have people that would tell me things?"
At this point Rafael was in full panic mode, he knew it, he should have come alone, then this won't have happened.
"Leonard do anything stupid, I will get you your money,"
He pleaded.
"Of course, you have to get me the money, this time double if what I asked for, don't fucking waste my time and tell the police to back off or the girls will be hurt,"
He said and ended the call.
"We go in,"
The police chief said and Rafael opened his mouth in disbelief for a moment.
"Are you fucking kidding me? Didn't you hear what he just said? Do you want my family to get hurt?"
He yelled.
"Calm down, we got this, the one driving, get ready to move, the women aren't here so we are going to follow behind, now,"
He ordered and Aron started the car, Rafael didn't like how all this was playing out, this wasn't the plan, the plan was to get the girls before following Leonard, he tried to get his point across but no one was listening to him, he saw a car going fast in the distance and the police chief yelled for the car to be followed, he didn't like how this was going but he didn't have a choice either, it was either this or they won't get the girls today and he already promised Nicole that he will get them out, he didn't want to disappoint her, he said a little prayer to the heavens that whatever happens his woman and their baby will be fine...