chapter 6: you're safe with me

As they arrived at Jeffer's location, Hazel's heart pounded in anticipation. Aaron's grip on her hand tightened, offering reassurance. They stepped out of the car, and Hazel's eyes scanned the surroundings, her senses on high alert.

"Stay close," Aaron whispered, his voice low and steady.

Hazel nodded, her eyes locked on the building ahead. Jeffer's address was an old warehouse on the outskirts of town, abandoned and decrepit.

"You sure this is the place?" Hazel asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Aaron nodded. "My sources confirmed it."

They approached the entrance, and Aaron pushed open the creaky door. The dimly lit interior enveloped them, the air thick with dust and decay. The place looked like no one had been there in ages and this gave Hazel every more reason to doubt the authenticity of Aaron's informants.

And also, she felt heartbroken that her daughter would have to be in such a place.

" What's her name?" Aaron asked quietly.

" Heather!” I responded,my voice barely sounding above a whisper.

“ Heather!" Aaron repeated, his voice echoing off the walls.

A faint noise came from the depths of the warehouse. Hazel's heart skipped a beat.

“ Heather!" She called too, her voice trembling.

" Heather, if you're in here, can you respond? Mummy's here to get you!” she said.

" Stay close, Hazel." Aaron whispered, leading her deeper into the warehouse.

“ Keep calling her!" He added.

“ Heather, please say something! Anything!" She was trying her best to stay strong as they walked on in the darkness.

And then they heard it, the shuffling of feet and sniffing.

“ Heather!" Hazel called out, her voice sounding like a desperate yelp.

" Mummy!”

It was the unmistakable voice of her daughter.

They turned a corner with an increased speed, Aaron leading the way in the direction of the sound. Hazel's eyes landed on a figure huddled in the shadows.

Heather!

Hazel didn't think at all before dashing to her daughter.

“ Hazel, be careful! “ Aaron cautioned but Hazel was far from listening to him.

" Heather! My baby!"

She held her daughter in her arms and it felt like a heavy burden had been lifted from her shoulders.

“ Mommy!" Heather cried.

Hearing her daughter's voice filled her heart with joy that suddenly felt too heavy to carry.

Heather suddenly began to cry uncontrollably. She clung to her mother desperately, her eyes shut tight as if scared to let go. Hazel's heart ached.

Her poor baby!

“ Mommy's here now. I'm here, please don't cry. Mommy is here.” she cooed, trying to hold back tears of her own as she snuggled her daughter to herself.

Aaron stood quietly watching the display of mother and daughter. A knot twisted in his chest and at the same time, something clicked in his head.

There could be possible threats around.

“ Hazel, you stay here with her. I'll check the surroundings for anyone. Scream my name if anything happens, okay?“ he said and waited for a response before dashing out.

Hazel remained in the kneeling position cradling her daughter in her arms and repeatedly whispering the words,

“ It's okay. Mommy's here."

Aaron, meanwhile, did a search on the entire warehouse. He made sure no corner was left unseen. When he was satisfied, he made to return to Hazel and Heather. However, he stopped right in his tracks as his eyes fell on a white piece of paper wedged roughly between two wooden panels. Instinctively, he walked towards it and pulled it out.

Scribbled in a scattered handwriting were the words:

This ain't over!

As soon as he read the words, his eyes quickly scanned the area. He broke the woods off the window area, letting light flood the room. Looking outside, he saw nothing, no one.

For a minute, he just stood there, waiting to see if anything or anyone would show up but nothing happened. With a sigh, he put the note into his pocket and took one last around.

He couldn't shake off the feeling that someone was watching.

Hurriedly, he went back to Hazel. She was still huddled up with Heather. His heart skipped as he heard her cry.

Kneeling beside her, he said, “ You're safe now!"

Hazel shuddered, but Aaron's reassuring grip anchored her.

“ Come on, let's get out of here!"

He helped her up, standing back and watching as Hazel carried their child in her arms. A mix of emotions crossed his face – joy, love, and a hint of sadness.

As they left the warehouse, Aaron's thoughts drifted. He thought about what had transpired between him and Hazel before they set out to find Heather. He couldn't believe they had actually gotten married.

Everything was happening so fast. One minute, he was suddenly thinking about her and the next minute, his phone lit up with her name. And now he suddenly had a daughter and they were married. If someone had told him things would turn out this way, he'd have been highly skeptical.

But here he was.

He looked at Hazel and Heather through the rearview mirror and a heave left his lips. He didn't know what this new phase would mean for him, or her but he knew one thing.

He was ready to take it on.

He cared about Hazel.

And Heather!

And he had to make sure they knew that.

Back at Aaron's penthouse, Hazel made sure Heather was settled in a warm and comfortable bed. Even after she fell asleep, Hazel didn't leave her daughter's side.

Aaron walked into the room some hours later, he closed the door quietly so as not to wake the sleeping child.

"Thank you," Hazel said, her voice barely above a whisper.

Aaron turned to her, his expression softening. "For what?"

"For finding her. For saving us."

Aaron's eyes locked onto hers, and for a moment, they just stared at each other.

"You don't have to thank me, Hazel," he said finally. "I did it for me too. "

Hazel's gaze dropped, her voice barely audible. "I know."

“ Hazel!" He called softly, gaining her attention.

"You're safe with me," he whispered. "You both are.”

Hazel's eyes lifted, meeting his. Gratitude shone in them, but something more – a spark of attraction, a glimmer of hope.

"Thank you," she repeated, her voice filled with emotion.

For what felt like forever, they stared into each other's eyes, silence settling like mist in the room. Then Aaron tore his eyes away, clearing his throat and breaking the silence.

Hazel swallowed, trying to lose the lump in her throat. She took her eyes from him and turned back to her daughter, caressing her hair lightly.

“ So what now?" She mumbled under her breath, the thought that had been hunting her all this while.

Aaron ran his hand through his hair, pulling a chair as quietly as he could, he flopped down into it, his legs stretched. He placed his elbows unto his knees and leaned into it.

The posture of an investigator! Hazel thought to herself.

“ I have questions, Hazel." Aaron stated.

She was right!

“ I know you do." She managed to say.

It seemed her response was not what he had expected because for a while, he paused and just stared at her.

" Well, those questions needs answers.” he said again.

Hazel bit her lips.

" I know that too.”

" Good! So I'll go straight on and ask them,” Aaron locked his eyes on her as she turned to him.

" Why the hell was our daughter abducted?”