Case File 104

Case File Name:
Too Far Gone.

♤Chapter One Hundred-Four♤

"I'm thinking she just turned her phone off," Roman said as we sat in the car he drove quickly but smoothly down the long empty road, "There's a high possibility that she's still there."

Tazmin let out a deep sigh, "How far out are we?" she asked as I remained silently tucked into her side.

I felt too stuck in my head to actually form words right now.

"Five minutes," Roman said, briefly glancing over to his GPS before focusing on the dark road ahead.

"Hopefully I can talk Gia down—kidnapping a baby is fucking insane," Dorian said as he sat in the front seat with Roman.

I still couldn't believe that he agreed to admit what he had done so long ago, but I think it's only because Roman didn't threaten him with an attempted murder charge.

But at least we have one more person to help talk Gia out of this was better than one.

"Mil," Tazmin whispered, leaning down closer to my ear.

I forced a hum of acknowledgment, not bothering to say anything right now.

"We're going to get him—I got this for us," Tazmin said, pressing a soft kiss to my temple.

I nodded once, "I know," I forced out, burying my face in her chest, "I just... I want you to be safe too," I whispered, knowing Gia is capable of anything at this point.

"I will baby," Tazmin didn't hesitate to reassure me.

I nodded again, but this time I remained silent, relaxing in my wife's arms as she held me so protectively.

"I love you," I whispered so softly under the quiet air between us.

"I love you too Milena," Tazmin whispered back, pressing a soft kiss to the top of my head.

I nuzzled even deeper into her warm body, counting down the last few moments until we would finally be at the lake house.

My stomach tied in the worst knots when the car smoothly halted—causing me to lift my head from Tazmin's chest.

"We're still a distance out—but the field agents will get you wired up Taz," Roman said as he cut the car off.

Tazmin immediately nodded, glancing over to me and giving me a brief kiss.

"Only a few minutes and he'll be ours again," she whispered to me, kissing my lips again.

I nodded wordlessly, "Get T back please," I forced out, blinking a few times when my eyes burned with tears.

Tazmin placed a soft kiss on my forehead, "I got him, Mil," she assured me before she slowly leaned away from me and opened the car door.

And as she slid out of the backseat and Dorian slid out of the passenger side—both Roman and I got out of the car, walking over to the black van.

There were numerous screens and servers hooked up in the back of the FBI van where a couple of agents sat.

And as my wife and Dorian got hooked up to a wire, Roman made sure we could all hear them properly considering there were numerous vans of agents listening in.

"Approaching the house," Tazmin's voice echoed throughout the van from the speakers.

"The lights are off," Dorian added.

"No there's a lamp on," Tazmin added in a soft whisper, and I could hear their footsteps transfer from grass to a hard surface.

Most likely a front porch.

I drew in a deep breath, hearing one of them fumble with something—probably the front door.

Which sounded locked.

"I got it," I heard Dorian say before hearing the door knob jiggle some more.

Until something clicked.

A lock.

They remained silent as they walked into the house, their footsteps heard on the wire recording their audio.

Until they suddenly halted, causing me to hold my breath—anticipating what would come next.

"I assumed you would find me."

Her familiar voice was colder than ever—entirely unhinged from what I recalled of Gia after almost two years.

"You have my son, Gia," I heard Tazmin say, her voice nothing but calm when I knew she wanted to yell at her, "I would search the ends of the fucking earth to find you."

I heard her softly hum, sending unsettled chills down my spine.

"He's very handsome," Gia said, her voice in nothing but a whisper.

And I could hear something rocking against the floors—most likely a rocking chair.

Is she holding Tahir right now?

"He's also my son—you can't just kidnap him from the hospital," Tazmin's voice echoed from the speakers.

"Why not? You killed my daughter," Gia said, her voice so calm that it made me flinch from feeling so beyond unsettled.

"I didn't kill your daughter or my niece," I heard Tazmin say, her voice firm with her, "Evie was already presumed dead before the car accident."

Silence.

That's all that could be heard.

Until I heard the rustling of papers.

"Here's the official reports that you were too upset to look at," I heard Tazmin say, "I only lied to give you someone to blame besides yourself Gia—everything I've done has been for you."

A deep silence grew yet again.

Until I heard sudden footsteps.

"If anyone is to blame it's me," I heard Dorian suddenly say, most likely revealing his presence to Gia.

"Dorian?" I heard Gia say, her voice much more down to earth, less unsettling than before.

"Gia," I heard Tazmin warn, hearing more footsteps, "Be fucking careful with him."

I drew in a deeper breath, realizing she was talking about Tahir.

"I'm just putting him in his bassinet—I know how to take care of her," Gia said, and almost immediately my brows furrowed at the pronoun she used.

Also at the fact that she had a bassinet.

Has she been planning this for a while?

"Him," Tazmin corrected her sister.

"He's their son Gi," I heard Dorian say, his voice calmer than I had ever heard it before, "Everything that happened with our daughter is on me—I'm the one who crashed into you guys."

Silence echoed yet again.

"Why would you do that?" Gia suddenly asked, her tone holding a level of hurt and disbelief.

But I could also hear the weakness in her voice—how hurt was etched into every word she just said.

"I-I just wasn't ready for that and—"

"You're the reason she's dead?" I heard Gia cut Dorian short along with more footsteps echoing against the floors.

"Gia, she was technically already dead before—"

"But why does she have to be dead at all!" Gia cut Tazmin short, her voice so loud and filled with hurt.

And this time a longer silence came.

It was so long that I slowly stood up from my chair.

Even if Roman motioned me to sit back down.

Cries rang out around us.

But it wasn't Tahir.

It was Gia.

The most painful—gut-wrenching sobs echoed all around us.

And as soon as I could hear Tahir's cries and wails, I began tearing up myself—wanting nothing more than to comfort him.

"Don't-don't come near me," I heard Gia say between cries.

"Gia—stop what are you doing?" Tazmin said, her voice filled with nothing but concern.

I heard footsteps.

And a door open I think?

"Just go worry about Tahir," I heard Gia say, her voice so broken and unstable as she sniffled a few times, "I'm too far gone at this point."

I heard more rapid footsteps, "Gia stop," I heard Dorian say among Tahir's loud drawn-out cries, "Don't—you can't kill yourself."

I let out a deep breath I didn't realize I was holding, hearing Tazmin whispering and calming Tahir down.

And as his cries slowly faded off, I felt the most pressing weight lift off of me—suddenly walking over to the door of the van.

This time, Roman motioned me to go.

And I swear I didn't waste any time—nearly running as fast as I could given my state.

But luckily I approached the wrap-around driveway and the picturesque lake house.

I could see the dimness from inside, immediately running past the front door and into the house down the hallway.

Tazmin stood at the back door—cradling our son in her arms as Dorian said things I couldn't make out by the dock outside.

But I seriously could care less about anyone other than my son right now—and clearly Tazmin feels the same way.

"Mil," Tazmin whispered as soon as I approached her, holding my arms out for him.

And she didn't hesitate to meet me halfway, carefully transferring Tahir over to my arms.

I lifted him up, holding his small body to my chest as his head rested on my shoulder.

"Thank god you're okay," I whispered as Tazmin ran her arms around my waist, hugging us both close to her.

Relief warmed me from head to toe, listening to Tahir's soft breathing in my ear as I rocked back and forth a few times, hoping to keep him asleep in such a tense environment.

"Get him out of here Mil," Tazmin suddenly whispered to me, glancing over to the docks where Gia and Dorian were going back and forth over what happened so long ago.

But Gia's voice sounded so weak and so full of hurt.

I nodded a few times, backing away as Tazmin walked outside to the docks.

With the back door wide open, I could suddenly hear their voices flow through the house, even as I walked toward the front door. 

"We can forgive you—you'll go get the help you need Gia and—"

"But how can I forgive myself?" I heard Gia cut her short, which made harsh knots tie in my stomach, "I've done everything for Evie—I hated my own sister, obsessed over ruining so many lives, and I stole my nephew and... she's gone Tazmin—she's always been gone," she forced out, her painful cries echoing so loudly.

I drew in a deep breath, holding Tahir so protectively in my arms as I halted by the open front door.

It's like I wanted to leave, but I also wanted to be nearby for Tazmin. 

"She's gone... she's gone," I heard Gia mumble a few times to herself as her crying grew louder, "I should be with her—"

"Gia no!" I heard Dorian's deep voice call out.

I squeezed my eyes shut as soon as I heard the loud splash of water.

Tahir started crying again.

I shushed him gently, rocking back and forth as I softly patted his back—soothing his crying away.

Until I heard another splash in the water.

"Gia!" I heard Tazmin yell, but it was so unlike her and more of a pleading scream.

All I could hear was more splashing. 

The splashing went on for so many moments—until it was silent.

For way too long. 

So much so that I couldn't help but back away from the front door and head toward the back doors. 

I spotted Tazmin in the distance immediately, her blonde hair sticking to the sides of her face as she swam with her sister's unresponsive body in her arms. 

Gia drowned herself underwater. 

I watched Dorian—who was already crouched down and ready to help Tazmin once she got to the dock.

Tears weighed down my eyes, watching as Tazmin started doing CPR, taking turns pressing down on Gia's chest with Dorian.

Agents flooded in past me, causing me to wordlessly step out of the way, rocking Tahir in my arms as I tried to stay nearby for my wife.

"I'm sorry I didn't tell you the truth," I could hear her voice over so much of the chaos, "I'm sorry Gia just wake up."

I briefly closed my eyes for a few moments, gently patting Tahir's back.

But as soon as I saw her face emerge among the crowd of agents—and the brokenness her expression held, I carefully set Tahir in the bassinet nearby.

And held my arms open for her as she approached me with heavy eyes.

Her body was cold and wet against mine, contrasting the warm tears that fell from her eyes and dampened on my neck.

"It's not your fault," I assured her, knowing that's what she was thinking about at this moment.

And for once Tazmin didn't say anything.

She only cried harder, holding me so tightly to her body as I tried my best to calm her back down.

"It's okay baby," I whispered, pressing continuous soft kisses to her head, "I got you now."

I scrunched my eyes shut, hearing her soft sobs and sniffles—openly processing the fact that she just lost her sister.

Aside from what Gia just did to Tahir, she and Tazmin still grew up together.

There was love there before all of this spiraled and...

She just wanted her baby girl.

I let out a deep sigh, blinking away my tears as I continued running my hands up and down Tazmin's back that her wet sweatshirt clung to.

"Time of death, eleven fifty-seven," I heard one of the agents say, which made more tears burn in my eyes.

It also made Tazmin's crying grow more uncontrollable. 

I swear had never even witnessed her like this and I'm unsure of how to help her.

So I imagined what I would've wanted in a similar situation.

One with my parents.

I grabbed a nearby throw blanket from the couch, gently wrapping it around her shivering body.

"Let's go home," I whispered softly to her, "I'll run you a bath and hold you once you get out."

Tazmin immediately nodded a few times in a row even if her eyes burned with more tears.

I let out a weak sigh, hating the sight of her so upset, "Tonight and tomorrow will be the hardest, but I promise I'll be here for it all baby," I whispered to her, gently running the back of my hand across her cheek to catch the stray tears.

Tazmin didn't speak a word, not even when Roman offered his condolences.

Or even during the two-hour car ride back to Miami.

We had to take the car seat out of Gia's SUV that she had gotten for Tahir and put it in Roman's Escalade to ensure our son would be good for the car ride back.

And surprisingly enough, Tahir slept peacefully.

Until we got back to our house and he was suddenly hungry.

Which was luckily after I had run Tazmin a bath, giving her a moment to herself as I sat on the bed by Tahir's bassinet breastfeeding him.

It took a few tries to get him to latch on, but soon he was good to go—and I got to sit there with him for a moment, feeling beyond thankful that he was safe and sound.

Even if another loss came tonight.

Elena and Pierre got word while we were on the way back to Miami.

But Tazmin hasn't answered any of their calls, and I told her it's okay not to right now.

She's already so emotionally and physically exhausted... she needs some time to process and be with her thoughts.

We'll handle all of this in the morning after my wife has gotten sleep and eaten properly.

I slowly stood up from the bed, noticing Tahir had fallen asleep in my arms.

I swear he's the calmest baby ever. 

"I love you, T," I whispered softly, gently kissing his soft forehead before lowering him down into his bassinet.

I paused for a moment, watching his tiny scrunched up body stretch out like he was about to cry.

Until he suddenly relaxed, his small chest rising and falling with each breath.

A weak smile grew on my lips, really processing the fact that he's okay.

But while we saved our child another lost theirs.

I let out a deep sigh as I backed away from his bassinet, walking over to the bathroom door that I gently knocked on before slowly opening it.

Tazmin stood by the sink, setting her toothbrush down as I approached her.

The glossiness in her puffy eyes still hadn't faded, and her face was flushed with so much emotion.

"Hi baby," I whispered softly to her, running my arms around her waist and gently pulling her into a hug, "How was your bath?"

Tazmin remained silent for a moment.

Until she nodded once, "Good... it was good," she forced out, hesitantly relaxing her head on my shoulder, "Is um... Tahir okay?"

I immediately nodded, "He's more than okay—he just ate and now he's fast asleep," I assured her, keeping my voice lowered and soft.

Tazmin let out a deep sigh, "I'm not sure if I can sleep tonight," she admitted, slowly pulling back from our hug.

"That's okay," I assured her, gently tucking her damp hair out of her face, "How about I make you some sleepy-time tea and we'll lay in bed together?"

Tazmin immediately nodded, blinking away her tears as she let out another deep sigh.

"I'll go make that now baby," I whispered, gently grabbing her hand and leading her into our room.

Where she stopped by Tahir's bassinet, staring down at him for a moment. 

Meanwhile, I headed into the kitchen to make her some of the sleepy-time tea that we always had on hand.

It really only took a few minutes to get hot water from the Keurig and let the tea steep for a moment.

By the time I made it back into our bedroom, Tazmin was laying in the bed.

Only with Tahir sleeping peacefully on her chest.

The sight alone made a warmth strike my body, processing the sight of them together.

"I got your tea," I whispered, entering our bedroom and walking over toward the bed.

"Thank you baby," she said, her voice softer than a whisper as I slid into bed beside her.

It was silent between us, listening to Tahir's soft breaths as he slept.

My legs tangled with Tazmin's, leaning into her side with my arms wrapped around her.

"I love you," I whispered to her.

Tazmin lowered her mug to the side, swallowing her sip of the warm tea, "I love you too Milena," she said, gently squeezing my hand that she held so close to her chest.