The next morning, the forensic reports arrived and Officer Stewart approached the FBI for help. Grandpa informed them about Desmond Steele and they summoned his PI, Adam Carson, to update them about his findings. Soon a team left for Bedford, South Africa to match Steele’s fingerprints with the ones on the forensic report.
The whole family came to know about Steele’s reality, much to grandpa Ben’s discomfort. Desmond Steele was the prime suspect and he couldn’t keep his identity a secret anymore.
“I just hope they can nab the criminal. Why didn’t you inform us earlier, grandpa? We could have rescued Seb right away,” said Christian, pacing the room. They were all waiting for an update from the special team who had gone to Bedford to rescue Sebastian. What if he wasn’t there? Where could he be?
“I wasn’t sure of his involvement.”
“I just hope they arrest the man and rescue Seb,” said Lillian, glaring at Christian to ask him to stop his probing. The guilty look on her grandpa’s face broke her heart. He wasn’t at fault. The real criminal was the one who abducted Seb.
The entire day went by with no news of Sebastian. Lillian tucked the kids to bed and waited up with the rest of them. No one could sleep without knowing if the cops were successful in their mission.
It was almost 11 o’clock in the night when grandpa Ben received a phone call from the officer in charge of the operation.
“I’m sorry to inform you Mr. St. James that Desmond Steele has escaped Bedford before we could nab him. We have raided the entire town but there’s no sign of Sebastian here. This will take more time.”
So, the manhunt continued while they waited for an update. Life had gone to a standstill for them. Caleb and Lillian extended their leaves while Christian postponed all his work.
Grandpa Ben hardly spoke to them recently. He preferred staying in his room. No one bothered him much apart from Lillian, who tried to comfort him.
Skylar trudged to her room to sleep after tucking the children in. She saw Christian pick up his phone to leave.
“Aren’t you sleeping now?” she asked him hesitating a little.
“I’ll sleep in grandpa’s room for a few days. He needs me.” He walked out after the brief interaction leaving her gaping after him. The whole night, she twisted and turned on the bed, missing Christian immensely. In the last few months, she had grown used to him.
The next morning, Skylar busied herself with the children and the household chores. With Christian hardly interacting with her, she couldn’t stop the ache in her heart. She missed their careless flirty banter, his passionate kisses, and his endless chasing, but it seemed they were gone forever.
“Why don’t you smile nowadays, aunt Skye?” asked Vivienne with wide eyes as Skylar served them their breakfast. Skylar could hear the others in the living room, but her heart was heavy today. After the brief interaction last night, Christian had disappeared since morning. She hadn’t seen him around. Where was he? It made her even more heartbroken than ever before.
In the last few months, she had grown used to him being constantly at her side. She had grown used to waking up to him. Now suddenly the huge differences between them made her feel lonely. She missed Christian deeply. She lost her smile, her vivacity, her glow. The whole day she just prayed that Sebastian was rescued soon and they could return to their normal lives.
“I’m a little worried, Vivi. Once your uncle Sebastian returns, I’ll cheer up.”
“Yes, mommy told me about the evil man who captured uncle Seb. Aunt Erica was crying for him in the morning,” said Blade.
“Silly, she cries all the time because she loves uncle Seb,” pointed out Vivienne.
“Obviously, they love one another. That’s why they were getting married. Don’t you know? You get married when you love one another,” groaned Blade.
“Aunt Skye, do you love uncle Chris? You’re also marrying him,” asked Vivienne innocently. Her question brought Skylar out of her thoughts and she pondered over her question.
“Of course she does. Uncle Chris is the bestest! He’s a superhero!” said Blade.
Skylar walked away in a state of daze. Did she love Christian? Surely she wouldn’t have been so heartbroken if she just had a crush on him! Would she have missed him so much? Skylar went to her room and sat by the large bay window, drowned in her own thoughts. She just wished Sebastian was found soon and they could go back to their normal lives. Here with Christian not acknowledging her presence, she felt claustrophobic. She could understand he was disturbed, but that didn’t mean he would stop interacting with her!
She watched Christian outside, talking to Caleb as they walked down to his car. Where were they going now with an overnighter each? Were they leaving the city? Why couldn’t Christian involve her, the way Lillian involved Caleb? She was a part of the family too, right? A deep sigh escaped her at seeing them drive away.
She went outside to inquire but found them all excitedly conversing with one another.
“I just hope they rescue Seb this time,” said her granny.
“What happened? Where did Christian and Caleb go?” she asked Lillian.
“Oh, they left for Port Elizabeth, 89 miles away from Bedford. We just received an update that Desmond Steele is hiding there. The cops are sure he has Sebastian in his custody.”
“They’ve taken Chris’s jet to bring Seb back,” informed Grandpa Ben.
“Oh, I hope he doesn’t escape this tone,” said Skylar. There was nothing they could do but wait. Erica sat silently with a grave expression on her face. She had wanted to accompany them, but they didn’t agree.
For the next twenty hours, they waited eagerly for an update. “Christian messaged to inform us they have landed in Port Elizabeth. Now they’ll head over to the SAPS office in Gqeberha. The FBI officers are coordinating with them to track Desmond’s whereabouts.”
It was impossible for them to while away the time as they waited for an update from Christian and Caleb. Both of them seemed to have forgotten about keeping them informed.
“Lillian, message Caleb and find out what’s going on,” asked granny at last, unable to wait any longer. Lillian messaged him but there was no reply.
It was almost dinnertime, yet there was no news about Sebastian. “I’ll tuck the twins to bed,” said Lillian, walking away towards the nursery. Skylar, too, went along to help her.
Erica hadn’t budged from the couch in the living room, waiting for an update about the love of her life.
“Why can’t he call?” asked Lillian in frustration. Skylar handled the kids and Lillian walked out to call her husband. This time, he accepted the call.
“Where are you? What happened? Did the cops find Seb? Did they arrest Steele?” she demanded worriedly.
“We’re waiting at the SAPS headquarters in Port Elizabeth for an update. The police raided Desmond’s hideout tonight. They still haven’t returned. I’ll call you back the moment they update us.”
There was nothing else to do but wait for Caleb’s call. After two hours, Caleb called back as promised. Lillian immediately placed his call on speaker mode for all to hear.
“What happened? Have they returned?”
“Yes, they have rescued Sebastian from the basement of a warehouse in suburban Port Elizabeth. He is injured. We’re with him at the hospital nearby. Don’t worry, we’ll get him treated and bring him safely home.” A gasp of horror escaped Erica’s lips.
“Is he unconscious? How serious is he?” she asked, speaking for the first time in weeks.
“A few days of hospital stay will fix him up. Don’t worry,” reassured Caleb.
“What about Steele? Have they arrested him?” asked grandpa Ben.
“No, he’s absconding! The police have issued an arrest warrant in his name. There’s a state-wide manhunt launched to nab him. I don’t think he can go far.”
“This isn’t good, Caleb. What if he attacks us again?” asked Lillian, as fear gripped her heart.
“Let’s hope they arrest him soon.”
Skylar listened to their conversation intently. She wanted to ask him about Christian. Where was Christian? Was he normal now that his brother was found?
“I wish I could be with him at the hospital,” said Erica after they disconnected the call.
“It’s okay, Erica. The good news is that he’s been rescued. I’m sure he’ll recover soon and come home to us. We’ll get you two married,” said granny. Grandpa Phil turned to look at a pensive Skylar and smiled at her.
“Then we will get Skye and Christian married!” he announced, making her heart skip a beat.
“Yes, I can’t wait to plan their weddings,” said Lillian, with an excited gleam in her eyes.
They all looked relieved as they waited for an update on Sebastian’s health. In their excitement, they almost forgot about the danger lurking around them.
Christian called grandpa Ben later to inform him that Sebastian’s condition was improving. It was the good news they had been waiting to hear.
“He will be discharged tomorrow. So we can head home right away.”
Everyone cheered his announcement and waited eagerly for them to return. However, Erica and Skylar were the ones who couldn’t wait a second longer. It was understandable for Erica since she loved Sebastian, but what about Skylar? Why couldn’t she contain her racing heart? Why couldn’t she wait to see Christian?