No one had heard from her. I even became desperate enough to show up on her mother’s doorstep. I wondered how she could have slipped away. Keiran, the person, I trusted the most with her safety had been guarding her. After many unsuccessful attempts to contact him, I realized my missing person list had been updated to two.
I had just been convinced we needed to get the police involved when a call came through from Keiran.
I couldn’t answer fast enough.
“Where the fuck are you?”
“Grady Hospital.”
“Fuck… Willow?”
“She’s fine. Just a little banged up, but she’ll survive. Just get here.”
“I’m on my way.” I hung up and notified everyone who mattered to get to Grady Hospital. Before long, the waiting area was crowded. My parents, Willow’s parents, Keenan, Sheldon, and Lake were all in attendance. However, the only people they were letting back were immediate family.
Everyone was causing an uproar, but it didn’t matter. Not even two minutes later, Keiran, and Willow came strolling down the hallway side-by-side, looking pretty banged up but alive.
“Oh, my God. What the hell happened to you,” Willow’s mother exclaimed.
“I’d like to know the same,” her father stepped forward as well. I gritted my teeth against the reminder that I had the key to Willow’s location in my grasp for months now.
“Dad?” she asked, sounding every bit as confused as she looked. “What are you doing here?” Her eyes flitted in my direction before she nervously cast them away again. “How did you find me?”
“Young lady, you were due back over a week ago. I was worried.”
“Wait a minute. This is your father,” Lake asked. It sparked everyone to start asking questions as tension rose higher than before. I stood off to the side, holding on by a thread as her parents interrogated her.
I needed answers so I looked to Keiran, but he had his hands full with Lake, who was back to crying and babbling in his chest.
“Son, I’m glad your friend is okay, but I think it’s time to go,” my father stated quietly.
“If you think I’m about to leave her, you’re crazy.”
“As you can see she’s in good hands.”
“No.”
“Son, think about the image of this family. God knows what crimes happened tonight.”
“I’m not leaving,” I repeated while pinching the bridge of my nose.
“It’s time you consider this family rather than just yourself.” His voice had risen, attracting the attention of everyone else.
“Dad,” Sheldon called.
“Be quiet, Sheldon. It’s bad enough you had a child with one of them. Your interference is not needed.”
“Did he just tell my lady to ‘be quiet’?” Keenan snarled.
“Do you see what I mean? You do not need to mix with the likes of these people. Your sister is beyond saving, but I will not have my heir chasing some two-bit girl from the wrong side of the tracks.”
“Have you lost your mind?” Willow’s mother shrieked.
My father had effectively gotten the situation out of hand. Willow stood nearby with tears glistening in her eyes. It was clear she heard every word that was spoken.
“Chambers!” Simon’s voiced boomed from across the hall, shocking us all. He had been quiet through all of it until now. “If you interfere with my daughter’s happiness like you did with mine, I’ll kill you.”
Willow’s mom made a strange sound that didn’t escape Willow’s notice. “What’s he talking about, Dad?”
“Richard, I don’t think this is the right time,” Willow’s mom cut in.
“Mom?” Willow spoke up for the first time. “Since when do you know the Chambers?”
She must have sensed Willow wasn’t about to let it go, so she took a deep breath and sat in one of the plastic chairs as if no longer able to stand.
“Your father stopped me from marrying your mother,” Simon offered. “He didn’t think she was good enough because her blood wasn’t blue. When he couldn’t convince me to break it off with her, he told my parents and they forced me to marry someone else. I never even knew Natalie was pregnant.”