Mr. Hollywood (Celebrity #1) (36 page)

Nothing.

It was as if Dustin existed one minute and the next he
didn
’
t.

Oh my gosh!
A new thought dawned on me. What
if this was someone trying to get to Zane, like a crazed fan, or a stalker?
Heaven knew he had plenty of people obsessed with him. Was my son off somewhere
with a demented psycho, being chopped up into little pieces?

A desperate cry escaped me at that thought. I
’
d tried all day not to let them get
the better of me, but I was quickly reaching hysterical status. Anything could
be happening to him out in this crime-ridden city. He must be so terrified.

Enough.

I put my shoes on. I didn
’
t care what anyone else said. This
was
my child
,
and I wasn
’
t going to sit here on my butt and
wait another minute while he was out there. Putting my shoes on, I walked
determinedly toward the sliding door.

A soft knock interrupted my escape.
“
Aubrey? Are you awake?
”
my mom
’
s voice came through the door and I
ran to answer it, flinging it open.

“
Did
you find him?
”
I asked, hopeful. She and my
dad had been out searching almost the entire time he
’
d been gone.

Sorrow filled her eyes.
“
I
’
m sorry, no. We went everywhere we
could think of and to all the places he likes on the list you gave us. There
was no sign of him anywhere. Your dad brought me home and now he
’
s continuing on foot. He hasn
’
t said much, but I don
’
t think he
’
ll be able to rest until he
’
s found. He loves that kid like he
’
s his own.
”

“
Maybe
I can go walking with him. I can
’
t sit here anymore, Mom. Will you
hold the fort down here so I can go looking?
”

“
Whatever
you need, honey. Just tell me where you want me.
”

“
Thanks,
Mom.
”

Penelope appeared in the hallway behind her.
“
Hang on, Z. Let me ask her real
quick.
”
She moved the phone to her chest.
“
I
’
ve
got Z on the phone. He asked if anyone has been back by to check his penthouse
since you left? He said he gave both you and Dustin your own keys to the place,
and apparently they were talking when he was on set with him about how to use
the Metro to get around town. I don
’
t know if he would
’
ve remembered what he was told, but
it might be worth a shot to check again.
”

I didn
’
t have to be told twice. Pushing
past them, I made my way into the living room, searching the crowd of people.
“
Is Ben Lackey still here? Ben!
”
I shouted, not caring that everyone
was staring at me like I
’
d lost my mind.

Ben appeared from the kitchen area, holding a plate
with some food that neighbors had brought over.
“
I
’
m here.
”

“
I
need to get to the penthouse as fast as possible, please.
”

He set the plate down.
“
Let
’
s go.
”
Taking
me by the arm, he ushered me to the door. Several bodyguards stepped in front
of us, opening the door. Immediately we were swarmed with reporters.

The guards pushed forward, clearing a path for us as
we made our way to the car.

“
Ms.
Hart! Sandy Gibb, Nightwatch News. Are there any updates about your missing
son?
”
A female voice shouted.

More microphones were shoved in my face as cameras
continued to flash, blinding me.

“
Hollywood
Grapevine, here. Will you sue the school for losing your son?
”

Pausing, I stared into the bright lights, anger
consuming me.
“
If I sue anyone, it will be the
reporters who showed up at my son
’
s school. When will you people get
a grip and learn to quit hounding others and making their lives miserable? He
’
s a child. The reporters scared
him. Why do you all feel the need to talk to him anyway? He
’
s not a celebrity. He
’
s a little boy
—
a normal little boy, not some
plaything for you all to corrupt! He has no idea how to handle this kind of
behavior.
”
I glanced around, even though
I couldn
’
t see anything, the clicking sounds
overwhelming me.
“
Now get out of my way, immediately!
I have more important things to do than answer your questions. Talking to you
isn
’
t going to help me find my son.
”

Surprisingly, my words must
’
ve reached some people, because the
press of bodies loosened, allowing me to reach the car easier. Ben ushered me
inside, and the four burly bodyguards climbed into the back.

Except for the soft playing radio, the car was silent,
all of us staring out the windows as we drove, searching for any sign of Dustin.
My leg bounced nervously, and it seemed as if whole days had passed before we
reached the penthouse.

The second the car pulled into the garage and began to
slow, I jumped out and raced to the private elevator. Hitting the button to go
up, I didn
’
t even wait for anyone else to join
me. I stared up at the ceiling, as if that would make it rise faster.

The doors opened and I ran inside, searching the dark
house frantically.
“
Dustin?
”
I shouted, checking the living room
and kitchen and finding nothing.
“
Dustin!
”

Frantically, I ran to the room he slept in, but it was
dark and empty, too. A strangled cry escaped me as hope came crashing down
around me.

“
Mom?
”
A tiny voice spoke in the darkness,
and a light flipped on, revealing him standing there rubbing his eyes.
“
Where
’
ve
you been?
”

Running to him, I fell to my knees scooping him into
my arms as I sobbed hysterically.
“
You
’
re
here! Oh, thank you, God! Thank you!
”
I buried my face into his
shoulder, tears flooding onto his shirt, but I didn
’
t care. My baby was safe! He was
alive!

“
What
’
s wrong, Mom?
”
he asked, hugging me as I continued
to release the floodgates, my loud gut wrenching sobs echoing through the
penthouse. Unable to answer him, I simply squeezed him tighter, as if doing so
would make him permanently attached to me so he could never be taken from me
again.

“
Mom?
”
he asked, fear in his voice and I
tried to calm down so I could speak to him.

“
Haven
’
t you been watching any TV? The
school called and said you were missing. The entire city has been out looking
for you. The whole nation knows about it. We couldn
’
t find you.
”

“
You
told me if the reporters bothered me to come home. I tried to, but there were a
bunch of reporters around our house, too. Since we
’
ve been staying here, this is where
I came. Daddy even drew me a map to his house one day.
”
He grinned widely.
“
You
’
d
be so proud of me, Mom. I rode the Metro all by myself! When I got here and you
weren
’
t home, I played Dad
’
s Xbox in his bedroom. I guess I
fell asleep after a while.
”

I laughed, relief pouring though me. Thank goodness no
one had messed with him while he was on public transportation.
“
You
’
re
growing up too fast.
”
Hugging him back to me, I
didn
’
t want to ever let him out of my
arms, and I definitely didn
’
t want to take him back to that circus
at our house.
“
Let me call Grandma so she can tell
everyone that I found you. Then we
’
re going to video chat with your
daddy. He
’
s so worried and he
’
s stuck over there in Paris, unable
to get here.
”

“
I
’
m sorry, Mom. I didn
’
t mean to scare you.
”

“
It
’
s okay, sweetheart. As long as you
’
re safe, that
’
s all that matters to me. Nothing
is more important to me. I love you so much!
”

Smiling, he hugged me one more time.
“
I love you, too.
”

Gripping him so tightly I worried I was hurting him, I
sobbed again, my heart and mind trying to divest themselves of the hours of
anguish I
’
d been through. Eventually, the
fear faded and I was simply crying tears of joy.

In a matter of moments, my day had gone to the worst
in my life, to the best ever.

“
Thank
you, God,
”
I whispered again.

“FOUND! Missing Son of Z McCartney Found in His Residence After Day
Long Search, Sheriff Says!”

~
Nightwatch News
~

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Z

Relief flooded through me, as the video call
connected, revealing the face of my beautiful Aubrey, along with our son.
Emotion choked me, and I battled to get the words out.

“
I
love you, Dustin,
”
I whispered, not caring that
I was standing in the middle of a team of airport personnel who were trying to
help me get back home.
“
I
’
m
so happy you
’
re okay. You really scared your mom
and me, you know that, right?
”

His head drooped a little and I immediately regretted
my words. I didn
’
t want to shame him. What I wanted
was to hug, hold, and kiss his sweet face. Just in the short time since I
’
d heard the news, I
’
d known terror the likes I
’
d never felt before in my life. No
matter how brave I
’
d tried to be for Aubrey, I was a
complete mess inside.

“
Sorry.
I didn
’
t mean to.
”

“
I
know. You aren
’
t in trouble. Your old dad is just
really relieved to see you. I love you.
”

“
I
love you, too.
”
My heart swelled. It was the
first time he
’
d ever spoken those words to me.

“
If
you ever need to leave school, you call your mom first and ask her. Don
’
t ever go anywhere without telling
her.
”

He nodded.
“
Okay.
”

“
Let
Momma talk to Daddy for a minute, Dustin,
”
Aubrey said.
“
Go get ready for bed.
”

“
But
I
’
m hungry,
”
he whined, sounding exactly like a
little boy who had no idea of the trauma he
’
d
just caused everyone.

“
Get
ready for bed and I
’
ll make you a sandwich.
”

“
Okay.
”
Waving at the screen, he vacated
the room and Aubrey
’
s face was my sole focus.

“
You
look like hell,
”
I said, knowing she
’
d been through the wringer.

She nodded.
“
I feel like I
’
ve been in Hell most of the day, so
it
’
s fitting, I guess.
”

“
I
can
’
t even imagine what you
’
ve been through, babe. I
’
m so sorry I wasn
’
t there for you.
”
I simply wanted to wrap my arms
around her and hug her. I hated that I wasn
’
t
there.

“
If
you
’
d have been here, we
’
d have known he knew how to get to
the penthouse and I would
’
ve had someone stay. I just assumed
he
’
d go straight to my house.
”

“
Babe.
Maybe we shouldn
’
t wait. Maybe you guys should come
live with me permanently, instead of waiting until Dustin is out for the
summer. I know you don
’
t like commuting from my house with
him since traffic is always so bad during that time of day. I just wonder if it
would better for him to be put in a school closer to my place. I know you don
’
t want to pull him out of school so
close to the end of the year, though.
”

“
Yeah,
about that. This has caused me to do a lot of soul searching.
”

This didn
’
t sound good.
“
About what?
”
Trepidation began creeping over me.

 
“
Zane, I
’
m leaving.
”

Fear as bad as a few minutes ago gripped my heart
again.
“
What do you mean?
”

“
I
mean our son could
’
ve been really hurt today, all because
people who want to get the scoop on you are trying to use him to do it. He was
terrified, Zane. He ran away from school! I don
’
t
want him living with that kind of fear. It
’
s not normal, and it
’
s a lot scarier to a little kid. So
I
’
m going to take him away from here
for a while. I don
’
t want him around this circus
anymore.
”

“
What
are you saying? Really?
”
Panic welled inside me.

She pursed her lips together as tears welled in her
eyes and dripped over the rims. Wiping at them with the back of her hands, she
blew out a large breath.
“
I guess I
’
m saying I love you, but I can
’
t be with you. Dustin has to come
first.
”

“
Aubrey.
”
Clenching my teeth, I glanced
around, wondering when everyone had slipped out of the room, giving me privacy.
I sank into the nearest chair.
“
Don
’
t
do this
—
not when we just found each other
again.
”

“
I
.
 
.
 
. I don
’
t want to, but I
’
m putting my foot down. I won
’
t let him be subjected to this
again. I can
’
t. I need to know my child is safe.
”

“
Our
child,
”
I corrected.
“
And I want that too. Please don
’
t do anything rash. Think about
this for a few days and give your emotions a chance to cool down some.
Everything is too crazy right now.
”

“
It
’
s always crazy. It
’
s the nature of your profession.
”
She sounded frustrated.

“
Then
at least wait for me to get home. We can talk and decide what to do together.
Now that I know he
’
s all right, I
’
ll finish up the filming this week
and come home. Otherwise, I
’
ll just have to come right back, if
I come home now.
”

“
No,
stay there and finish your work. The studio is already hounding you for making
them fall behind. I don
’
t want you to be accused of breach
of contract.
”

I hated this helpless feeling. I didn
’
t want to be here. I wanted to be
there, with my family.
“
As soon as I get home, we
’
ll figure out a plan that works for
all of us.
”
I was anxiously trying to
calm her down.

She shook her head.
“
I
’
m leaving, Zane, end of story. I
’
m taking Dustin away to someplace
safe. I
’
ll let you know where we are as
soon as I talk to my parents and figure out a plan. They
’
re on their way over here right
now, as well as the police, so I can
’
t stay on the line too much longer.
”

I was losing her, I could feel it
—
as if she were slipping right
through my fingers and I was desperately grasping for anything that might stop
her.
“
Aubrey, I love you both so much and
want you both in my life. I want to see you and Dustin every day, not for some
sporadic visitation. I love you.
”
I didn
’
t know what else to say to make her
change her mind.

Sighing heavily, she ran a hand through her tangled
hair.
“
I know you do. And we both love
you. It
’
s just .
 
.
 
. not good enough. I
’
m sorry.
”
She turned and glanced away for a
moment, before looking at me.
“
Someone is trying to come up. I
need to go.
”

“
I
love you,
”
I said again, lamely.
“
Call me again as soon as you get a
chance.
”

“
I
will.
”
More tears fell from her eyes.
“
Goodbye, Zane.
”
Her words were so final sounding.

The screen went black and in that moment, I felt like
I
’
d lost everything that had ever
mattered in my life. Pain like none I
’
d ever experienced burst through my
chest, overwhelming me.

Hanging my head, I cried like I never had before.

Stepping out of the rental vehicle, I stared up at the
farmhouse in front of me, one I hadn
’
t seen in many, many years. This
was the Wellington
’
s house, Aubrey
’
s aunt and uncle. Aubrey, her
parents, and Dustin were all in this house, where they
’
d come to stay after the incident
in LA.

Aubrey said Dustin seemed to be fitting in at his new
school in the week he
’
d been attending, and was making
lots of friends. I was happy he was finding peace here, but that had left a lot
on the table for Aubrey and I to discuss. We needed to talk, and I hoped she
’
d be receptive to what I had to
say.

She wasn
’
t expecting me tonight. I was
supposed to fly straight to Hollywood and attend another award show where I was
up for Best Actor. I
’
d been to way too many award shows
to care at this point. Already aware that I was the winner, I
’
d recorded an acceptance speech via
video from Paris and it would be played live at the awards. Then I
’
d changed my plane ticket to
Montana. I wasn
’
t waiting one more minute to see my
family.