8 Chapter 8

I looked to the right and saw Cason with a wide smile. "What are you doing here?" I asked. "It's a bar isn't it? You are doing pretty well for a sick person." I bit my lip and looked to the side where Raiden was playing with Cal.

"I needed a day off. Plus they can't fire me because they don't even pay me." He took the drink from the bartender and passed one to me. There was no way I was putting anothing thing in my mouth that was touched by Cason. He got closer to me so I backed up. I felt Cal's small hand then tug on my shirt and looked to the side.

"Mer can we go outside?" "Ya lets go." I wanted to leave as much as he did.

"And who might this be?" Cason asked. His blue eyes glowed with mischief and I felt a tugging on my gut. "My brother." His eyes lit up. "Biological?" "Uh ya. I should really be going."

I turned around and took Cal by the elbow to drag him out. Raiden met us outside and we went straight to our stuff. "Want to go into the ocean?" He asked. "I'm not feeling too great." "Ok let me get the stuff." It took 5 minutes to pack everything and pat off our sandy clothes. We got into the rental and I stopped the car at Raiden's house.

"I had fun." He said smiling. "Ya me too. Thanks for coming." "Comeon. I couldn't reject an invite from a girl like you." He bent over and kissed me on the cheek which sent butterflies through my stomach. "We need to do this again." He said and left the car. Cal was biting back a laugh and I just scolded him.

"You know Mer he is nice." Cal said. I rolled my eyes and stretched a hand to the back seat to ruffle his sandy hair. We went to the hotel room and it was dark when i finished showering. I knew I needed answers.

"Cal I promise i'll be back in an hour." "Promise?" "Yes. Pinky promise. Call me if you need anything." I closed his door and went to my mother's room. She was staring out the window murmuring something. She didn't even look back at me. I shut the door loud enough for her to hear and left my room. Just a few floors up. Thats where his room was. I pulled my hoodie tighter around me and gripped the knife in my pocket. Just in case. 11:09 was written on my phone so I had to make this meeting quick.

The elevator beeped and I knocked on the door of the room. A woman answered carrying a baby. "Hi!" She said cheerfully. "Umm Hi. Wrong door." I gave a weak smile and she shut the door. But that was the room I woke up in. I remembered the picture frame and the grey couch. I went to the one next door and an old man answered with a hot dog half in his mouth. Then i realized this wasn't that guy's room. He must have just been using it when they were away. Or he moved out after.

This was ridiculous. I was being ridiculous. Looking for a stranger. I went back down to my floor and my heart dropped when i saw the door cracked open.

"Cal?" I asked, pushing through. The place was untouched but I could hear my mother sobbing in the other room. I ran to the door and saw her on the floor.

"Where is Cal?" I yelled.

"T-T..." She couldn't finish.

I ran to his room which was empty. I took my mother by the shoulders and shook her. "Where is he!" I yelled in her face. "They took him!" She sobbed. "Who!" "The man! The Draxin bastards." Draxin. That's what the man said. I sprinted out of the room down the emergency stairs and out of the hotel. There was absolutely nobody in sight.

"Cal!" I screamed looking frantically. I only left for 10 minutes. The tears flooded my eyes but I kept running away from the hotel yelling his name. Strong hands grasped my shoulders and I screamed.

"Shhhh! Mercury your going to wake the whole neighborhood." The man said. I slammed my hand on his chest. "Where is he!" I yelled.

"Where is who?" "Cal!" His face darkened. "He's not in your room?" I couldn't stop the waterfall of tears falling to the ground. My legs gave out and he caught me by the arm.

"Who took him?" He asked. "I-I..." No words formed. I was shaking. Cal was my life. The only reason i kept fighting. He took both my shoulders.

"Mercury listen to me. I need to know every person that knows about him. Knows he is your biological brother." I ran through the names but then realized the only person it could be.

"Cason. He-He asked if he was my biological brother at the bar." I sobbed. Cason has Cal. Stole him. Kidnapped my little brother. The man stood up. Then one second later he vanished like he did before. I ran back to my room and called the police. I sent them all of his information and gave them his picture. Then I told them that Cason was the one who took him so they looked through their files. They said there wasn't a Cason living in this part of Cali.

Nothing on him.

No files.

I told them to look harder and went back to my room. I took my mother in my arms like i have done so many times. But this time was different. This time it's Cal. He did nothing wrong.

Tears spilled and i realized its my fault. I left the room. He is gone because of me. I called Raiden and told him what happened.

"He-He's just gone?" "Someone kidnapped him." "Ok i'm coming over. What is your address?" He showed up 3 minutes later and came into our room. "Where could they have brought him?" "I don't know." He came closer and wiped one of my tears.

"Everything is going to be ok Mer." He took my hand. "I don't know what i would do without him. Raiden he's my life."

I sat down on my bed and Raiden's warm muscular arms wrapped around me. It felt like I knew him forever at that moment.

"Do you know where he lives? Cason?" He asked head on top of mine. "No." "Do you know anything about him?" "H-He drugged me. That day you bought the coffee. He-He was going to kidnap me I think. But then realized today... that kidnapping Cal was easier. But why? Why us? We did nothing wrong." I took in his ocean scent and put my head closer to his chest. If he is hurt.... That will break me forever.

"I promise we will get him back." He said. I just nodded and couldn't stop shaking. But I promise I won't stop looking for him until I die.