I sat on the floor, staring off and shaking.

"Rhea!" I heard from a distance. Hands were placed on my shoulders as I was shaken.

I blinked, looking up at Ryder. "Ryder?" I whispered. "When did you get here?"

I looked at my phone next to me.

"You just rang me." I whispered. "Where's Rowan?"

"Rhea, I rang you thirty minutes ago. The police are here, they are looking for him. There is an amber alert out for him."

I got to my feet, holding on to the wall. "No. I want my son. Now!" I screamed, making some of the officers look at me. "Where is he?"

One of the officers came to me and Ryder, closing his notebook. "We have men out looking around the area. There are extra staff on, checking out his day care, work places, people that know him." He said softly.

I felt Ryder's arms around me as white hot rage coarse through me. "Please, bring him home." I begged.

The officers left my house, after asking their questions, taking any evidence with them. I turned to Ryder. "I have to find him."

"He will be found." Ryder assured me. I heard my phone ring and I ignored it. "Stay at my place. You'll feel safer there."

I shook my head. "No. I need to be here, just in case." I hugged in to Ryder's chest. "Ryder, please. Find him." I looked into his blue eyes as tears ran down my cheeks. "Find our son."

I sobbed in to his chest for several minutes, not letting him go.

"Is there anyone that would want to harm you or me?" Ryder asked and one name floated in to my head.

"Vincent."

Ryder stilled. "Are you sure?"

"I don't know. It's something he said, the last time I saw him." I sat down on the couch. "Please, Ryder. Find Rowan!"

Ryder clenched his jaw and nodded.

My phone rang again as Ryder picked it up. "Unknown number."

"I don't want to talk. I want my son." I cried out.

"Stay here. Don't go anywhere. I'll talk to Vincent, see if he is still in Adelaide." Ryder said before kneeling down to me. He placed his hands on mine and looked at me. "I'll find him." He promised as I nodded.

Ryder left, closing the door behind him as my phone rang again. Angrily, I stood and picked it up. The screen said unknown number.

Frowning, I wanted to throw it, but instead I took a deep breathe and answered.

"Hello?" I said in a unconvincing calm voice.

"Rhea." Came the deep throaty voice. "If you want to see your son again, meet me in an hour, by the entry of the water tower bush walk. Don't involve the police or Ryder." The phone went dead as my heart thumped heavily in my chest.

Like a programmed robot, I picked up my car keys and went to my car. I know where it was. I haven't been there before, but I know the place. It's local.

I got in my car and reversed out, driving to my destination. There was still daylight and it was only a fifteen minute drive there. I sat in the car, waiting for the next forty five minutes.

The anxiety was killing me and I needed a drink. Water or even sugar based soda. Something for my dry throat.

My heart was racing and I was petrified. My poor baby boy. Someone has him and he is alone.

I jumped when my phone rang and fumbled for it. Unknown number.

"Yes?"

"Get out off the car and head up the trail." Came the gruff voice. "When the trail forks, take a left."

The phone went dead. Taking deep breathes, I got out off the car and closed the door, locking it. I did as I was told as I slipped my phone and car keys in to my hand, walking on the dirt in my wedges.

The ground was uneven and rocks and twigs were every where. I finally got to the fork in the path and checked my phone. I had to go left. I understood why I'm so deep in here now. I have no phone coverage.

I quickened my pace, just wanting my son. I took my shoes off, walking in my little socks.

"Anyone here?" I cried out as I ventured further. I heard movement behind me and spun, staying in one spot. "Hello?"

I tried to look for the movement, but the shrubbery was thick, the trees so close together, and anything could have made the noise.

I took another step forward, not sure on what to do now. I had no further instructions.

I heard a noise again and then pain. I groaned as my hand flew to the pain, feeling something in my leg.

Looking down, I frowned. A dart? I ripped it out and looked at it. My left leg, the one that got hit, started getting numb, like I had pins and needles as I half fell.

I tried walking, dragging my leg, but my eyes got heavy and I collapsed, blackness surrounding me.

****

Flashback

Ryder stayed in the distance as he watched Rhea enter the building. He had found her.

It was a surprise to him to see she was still in the city. He thought she would have left, moved elsewhere, even New York with Gabriel.

A lot of things didn't add up to him though. He now knew that he was wrong and she didn't have an affair but from the reports he got, some didn't make sense.

How come she was in a three bedroom house? It was only her, unless Gabriel was back. He didn't check up on that. He assumed she was still in New York.

Ryder knew that Rhea worked for Soul, but what position was hers? He had her home address, her work address, both phone numbers and her mobile.

He wasn't the best on doing background checks himself, he usually hires someone else to do them, but he didn't want anyone to know he was looking for her.

Ryder stayed in the car a bit longer, trying to figure out how to win his wife back. He shredded the photo evidence years ago, with the divorce papers he never sent.

He couldn't show up out off the blue at her work. He will have to do it while she was in her house.

Everyday for a week now, he watched her walk in to the building before going to work himself. The passenger seat of his car had a few copies of Soul magazine and he hoped they held a little key to what she does in the magazine.

Ryder found himself enjoying himself on the advice column, hoping that was his Rhea, but the pen name was only R.

Maybe he should write to the column, to get a hint or two.

Ryder didn't like the waiting game, but he knew he would have to be patient. He was even desperate enough to take her away, but he knew she will cry kidnap.

He will do anything to have her back in his life. It's been nearly four years, after Rhea walked away after she thought they got divorced. It was that sight, how upset she was, her silently crying but loudly protesting, her back to him, that he believed her.

He wanted to jump up and take her in his arms, but he knew he had damaged her beyond his repair. Ryder knew that Rhea would have to heal without him around.

It was that day, he swore he will find her again and he did. Ryder was elated that he did. But he knew his wife. He knew Rhea wouldn't be happy to see him.

She looked the same, but also different. Her black hair was much longer, letting it grow out. She use to always have it at shoulder length, but now it was half way down her back. Some days she wore it up, or have it straight, and sometimes it was in soft curls.

Ryder enjoyed watching Rhea every morning. Her walking in to the building with a long skirt and singlet on, or a pant suit, sometimes in denim jeans and loose shirts. Her style in clothes haven't changed much, but now, a bit more professional, yet still her.

Ryder decided that he will write a letter or two, to R. See how that leads.

****

"Rhea, honey. This is Miss Sam. She is from Social Services." Aunty Mary told me as I stood next to her.

"Hi." I said shyly. I was in a weird building with Aunty Mary and Uncle Rupert. They were sitting at a table with this Miss Sam and another couple.

"We just want to know how Rhea is coming along?" Miss Sam asked.

"She is doing great. We just finished with a psychologist for the day. Thank you for helping with that." Aunty Mary said. I stayed close to her, holding her hand.

Miss Sam turned to the other man and woman. "This is Rhea. She is four years old, seeing a psychologist twice a week." The pretty young lady smiled at me and I felt my face redden.

"She is suffering from PTSD."

"You poor thing." The other lady said as she looked at me. "Such a young age too."

"I don't mean to be rude, but what are we doing here?" Uncle Rupert asked.

"Just a check up." Miss Sam smiled. "We want to know how little miss Rhea is coming along."

"We've had Rhea in our care for six months now. I know what this is." Aunty Mary said. She had her cross voice on. "She isn't leaving. We've got her adjusted to routine."

"I just want to make sure you can handle raising a child with PTSD." Miss Sam remarked.

"We will be more than happy to have her." The other lady told us. "I have an eleven year old and a six year old at home."

"No." Uncle Rupert told them. "Rhea needs a stable environment. She has one already."

"She can have brothers." The woman said.

I looked up at Aunty Mary.

"She has a cousin." Aunty Mary sniffed. The both stood up, Aunty Mary tightening her grip on my hand. "She is staying with us. You told me months ago Sam, that the best solution was to keep her in the family. Her mother was my sister by blood. You said family will be better then going in the system."

"We love Rhea, not only as our niece, but as a daughter too." Uncle Rupert told them.

I hugged into my aunts leg and looked up at her, tears in my eyes. "Am I going? Was I naughty?"

Aunty Mary dropped down to me and hugged me. "No darling. You're not going. You have been so good. Not bad, not naughty. So good."

"Just think about it." Miss Sam said gently. "This lady wants to adopt a girl, but if you want to keep having Rhea in your care, that's fine."

I groaned as I moved my head. I was uncomfortable. I felt so groggy. My left leg still felt like it had pins and needles as I blinked several times, adjusting to the darkness.

I was laying on dirty concrete. It was so dark where I was. Suddenly I heard a familiar voice, a bit distant.

"Hey. I found him. I found Rowan. Pick up, Rhea. Rowan is safe. I'm with him. Rhea, pick up."

I frowned. "Ryder?" My senses started coming back, the fog in my brain lifting. "Rowan!"

"Rhea! Pick up the phone! Where are you? Please pick up!"

Is that my voice mail?

"What's going on?" I yelled out as I sat up. I felt dizzy and I tried to ignore it. "Where am I?"

"Somewhere where no one will find you." Came the voice. It was so close. I jumped as I looked in the direction. The voice echoed as I tried to stand up, but that's when I realised my legs were tied.

"Who are you?" I asked as I felt the rope. Why would my legs be tied, but not my hands? I tried to undo it, but I found it impossible as I couldn't see and the rope led away from my legs. I'm tied to something else.

"Why did you have to go back to him?" The voice echoed. It sounded familiar. "Have a child with him!"

I gasped as the voice echoed in my ears, making my headache worse.

I tried backing up but I only got so far before I hit a wall. I couldn't see three feet in front of me.

"I just want my son!" I cried.

"Your son is fine. I just needed Ryder out off the way to get to you."

I frowned. "You used my son?"

"I simply made Ryder choose between him or you." The voice said in a softer tone.

"The photos didn't work!" I said to him. "The paternity test was faked."

"You don't know that."

"I do!" I sobbed. "I had a test done myself. That's why you trashed my home, isn't it? Seeing if I had one done?"

I didn't get an answer. I felt the tug of the rope and I was dragged towards the person, but I still couldn't see him.

Then he was behind me, pulling my arms back and tying them. I must have woke before they got this far.

"You couldn't leave well enough alone, could you?" Came the whisper in my ear. "You had to reappear."

I shivered as my eyes widened, but before I could say anything else, my mouth was gagged.

"No one will find you here. You're in the middle of nowhere. If I couldn't have you then, I'll have you now, but first, I have to get Ryder off my trial."

Vincent's face came into my view, so close to me as he tied something around my eyes, making me shut them and I no longer could see.

I tried to fight him, but it was useless as I thrashed. I had no useful body parts available. My legs and arms were bound, I couldn't scream for help.

"Stay still." He told me, now a bit further away from me. I heard the click of a gun and I stilled.

"Now, this is what you're going to do. If you don't, this gun will have a target. And I'll make you watch."