My heart was in my throat.
I couldn’t breathe.
I couldn’t fucking breathe.
What if they had been taken?
Chapter 25
—Ashton—
“Sir, please relax. This happens all the time, and we always find the kids. Come on.”
I followed her to the gates where we told the cops what had happened, showing them a picture of Haiden and Haven on my phone. In an instant, the fair was shut down. No one could leave or come in, although that security measure didn’t grant me peace.
Where were they?
“Are you their father?” one of the cops asked.
“No.”
“Does their mother—”
“Fuck, I need to call her.” I shook my head. “I’m sorry, I’m just … fucked.”
“I understand.” He gripped onto my shoulder. “It’s best that we get the mother here. She can answer more questions if this becomes a missing kids—”
“If? You think they’re missing? Do you think they were kidnapped? Taken?”
“Sir, I don’t know, but I can tell you we’re going to do everything we can to find them.”
I couldn’t believe this was happening.
How could this be happening?
I reached for my phone in my pocket.
How do I tell Sage I lost her children?
I hit the call button, knowing there was no coming back from this.
It would break us.
I would break us.
“Ashton—”
“I’m so fucking sorry, Sage.”
“What’s going on?”
Feeling like the biggest piece of shit known to man, I said the words that were every mother’s worst nightmare, “I can’t find Haiden and Haven.”
“You what?!”
“I swear I didn’t—”
“I’m on my way!” She hung up, and I instantly felt worse.
I sat on the bench waiting for her.
Waiting for the police to tell me something.
Waiting for Haiden and Haven to show up.
Once Sage arrived, she shot out of her car as if she was a bullet. In three long strides, she was standing in front of me. Her face was red and blotchy because she’d been crying.
Profusely.
Making me feel much, much worse if that was even possible.
“Did they find them?” she practically bellowed. “Did they find my babies?”
“I’m so fucking sorry.”
“Ashton! How could you lose them?! I told you! They need to be watched at all times! How could you let this happen?! I knew this was a bad idea! I just knew it!”
“Sage, Haiden took Haven to the bathroom—”
“You let him take her to the bathroom? Alone?”
“He said you let him when you’re at the grocery store.”
“Bullshit! I never let them out of my sight! Why are you lying? My boy would never tell you that!”
“Sweetness, I’m not lying. That’s what he told me.”
“Don’t call me sweetness!”
“Sage, I’m sorry, but that’s what he told me.”
“My kids are gone, Ashton! You lost my babies!”
“Sage, I’m—”
“Save your apologies! They mean nothing to me! Go find my kids!”
“Baby, if I knew where they were, don’t you think I’d be there right now?”
“Ma’am.”
She snapped around, facing the officer.
“We found them. They were by the Ferris Wheel.”
“The Ferris Wheel?” I retorted. “How did they get there? That’s on the other end of where we were at.”
“Mama!” Haiden hollered, running into her arms with Haven right behind him.
“Babies!” She immediately fell to her knees, and they wrapped their arms around her neck.
“We were so scared, Mom. I’ve never been so scared.” Haiden’s voice trembled.
“Guys, I’m so sorry. Why didn’t you meet me where we agreed?”
From the moment that Haiden lifted his eyes to meet mine, I knew the truth.
He. Played. Me.
It wasn’t until he opened his mouth that I comprehended what he was trying to pull.
Haiden cunningly grinned, narrowing his gaze, and I swear it was like staring into the eyes of a boy who'd just checkmated me.
“Ashton, what are you talking about? We didn’t agree to meet anywhere. You lost us, and we were so scared. Right, Haven?”
Her head was bowed, and she wouldn’t raise her eyes to me.
Was she ashamed? Regretful?
I honestly thought she liked me.
What a fucking fool I was…
Now it all made sense—they were both in on it. She was the diversion he needed to pull all of his stunts, pretending the entire time that she wanted me around.
In her life.
Her mother’s.
One big happy family.
For fuck sake, I’m an idiot.
“It’s okay, baby.” She hugged them tighter. “Mom is here, and I won’t let anything happen to you.”
“Ashton, why did you disappear on us? We looked for you everywhere.”
The little brat even cried a tear. It was an Academy Award performance, and I couldn’t hold back any longer.
Needing to get it all out, I spit the truth, “Sage, he’s lying. I never left them.”
“No, Mom! He did! He did! Why are you lying, Ashton?”
“Haiden, why don’t you tell your mother everything you’ve done to me in the last three months?”
He glared at me. “I haven’t done anything but try to get to know you. I thought you liked us. I knew it! I knew you just wanted my mom all to yourself, and you’re trying to get rid of me! Is that why you left us, Ashton? Because you wanted us to get taken?”