The Water Girl 2

By Crystal Steadman

River and Rocks journey came to an abrupt end when Rivers daddy kidnapped her. Do they find each other again and move on, or does Rock have to go through his college years without River?

Rock is back to his old ways. Back to being a player on and off the field. Does him possibly becoming a father slow him down in his tracks or has his ways became to much even for Rock Martinez?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Crystal Steadman
• Release date: Oct 29, 2023
• ISBN: 9798223880332

Crystal Steadman

Crystal Steadman is an American Author. She started writing books at the age of 15, but she didn't publish her first book until she was well into her 30's. Crystal writes romance novels, but she is starting to dip her toes in other genres.

Book preview

The Water Girl Two

Jager University

Chapter One

Rock

H ey Jessica, did you see River come back from the restaurant? The mall is about to close, so surely the meeting is over?

No, and she left her phone because I texted her earlier to see how long she was going to be and it went off on the table. Jessica tells me, so I go over to the phone and pick it up off the table. I look at it and I see she had been messaging Jim recently. Why wouldn’t she tell me about something like that? I open the messages up and fuck, this isn’t good. Jessica, watch Abe for a minute, please.

What’s going on, Rock? Jessica asks in a panicking.

Hey Jess, I need you to focus for me really fast? Now are you okay? I ask her. Yes. She responds. Okay, well now I need you to listen and not freak out. I think Jim took River, so I need you to call mom and Sharon to get down here, then call 911. I’m going to go to the restaurant to make sure she’s not really still there. Can you do that for me, Jessica?

Yes, I’m on it. She tells me and I run off to the restaurant River works and it looks like a normal workday for them. I ask the hostess if she’s seen River, but she says River left after telling her she was meeting someone here.

What did the person River was meeting look like? I asked the hostess.

Old like in his 40s.

Thank you. That helps me a lot. Do you know which way River and this gentleman went?

Yea, River went out the back through the employee’s entrance. The server tells me. Thank you so much. This is a big help. Once I’m done talking to the server, I head out the back door the girl told me about. But of course, by this time, there is nobody there. Fuck Riv, why would you do this?

I make my way back into the restaurant and by the time I make it out toward the mall area, my mom, Ms. Sharon, and the police all have arrived. Detective Butterhead and Milkovich are leading the pack. I walk up to my mom. He took her mom. Why would she meet him for one but to leave her phone and to leave with him? That’s just not like her mom?

River is a smart girl. I think she might have left her phone for you to find just in case something happened to her. Then we would know where to look.

Sharon, does Jim have any other properties anywhere in the city? The cops ask Ms. Darby. And it takes everything I have not to laugh at her when she looks at them and says how am I to know that. I haven’t been in his life for over 13 years."

Right, sorry, the detective tells her. Then he turns to my mom. Jim was always so quiet about stuff like that, but if he took River, then he wants something. It wouldn’t surprise me if he didn’t call either me or Sharon demanding something. Mom tells the detective, then I realize. He’s using her as leverage. You let him go and he gives River up. I blurt out.

You know you’re pretty smart to be a kid. You sure you want to be a football player and not a cop? Detective Butterhead asks me. Yea, I’m sure I’ll leave the Sherlock Holmes stuff to you guys.

The uniformed cops are trying hard to keep a professional face, but I can see the tears from holding the laughter back.

Always got something smart to say, don’t ya, kid? Detective Milyukov says.

I just shrug my shoulders, besides now’s not the time to be assholes to each other. We have to find my girl. Okay, what do you guys suggest we do? I ask them.

We go back to the house and if you’re right, we wait for his phone call.

No need, he just texted me. Mom tells them.

What does it say ma’am? Detective Butterhead asks mom. So she reads off the message.

Jim- If you and that cunt wife of mine ever want to see River again, you both will get out of my house and let me have my life back. You will also tell the fucking cops it was all a misunderstanding and I will leave your son alone and I won’t try to get him arrested anymore, and you and Sharon will get this cunt of a daughter of mine back in one piece or do nothing I have asked and I put a bullet in this ungrateful little bitch’s head. She already has a pretty good gash from the butt of the gun, so try me and see what happens. You have an hour to decide what you want to do. Times a ticking bitch.

My god, what happened to Jim to turn him into the monster he is right now? Mom questions. You Sharon says. And I don’t mean that to make it sound like it’s your fault because it’s not, but you have always been the one that got away. After you got married, then your husband passed away. He acted like he was helping you get over your husband, and may have thought he won you back.. But again, something took you away from him. In his eye by River and me. You choose someone else over him again, so now you’re the enemy. When Sharon puts it like that, it makes sense.

Do you think he would really hurt his own daughter? The detective asks.

Yes. Sharon and I say at the same time.

Okay, so here’s what we are going to do, then. You are going to text him and tell him you all will be out by tonight. Just grab clothes to make it legit. When he comes back to the house, we will grab him up. And he will go to jail and you will get River back, hopefully with no more injuries. Detective Butterhead tells us. Mom texts Jim that we’ll be out of the house tonight and he can come home with River if he wants. She also told him she talked to the cops so they won’t bother him anymore..

Are you sure this is going to work with that asshole?" Mom spits out.

Yes, ma’am, I do. Men like Jim Darby are all about power. He’s right. If Jim thinks we are giving him the power back, he’s going to jump all over it. But why is he being so stupid about this? He’s the one acting like he’s been on drugs all these years. Not Sharon. We make our way home. I can’t help but feel like I’m at fault here. I should have paid more attention to River when she told me about going to the restaurant. If I had looked into her eyes or listened carefully to her words, I might have noticed something that showed she was stressed out.

Rock, get whatever you’re thinking out of your head, son. This is not on you and you can’t help her by running off half cocked. Mom tells me. Damn, I hate when she can read me.

Let’s just get to the house and do what the officers told us to do. So we can get River back where she belongs. Ms. Sharons says.

We make our way to the house, and we all run upstairs to grab clothes. We make it look like we are moved out. When we get over to our house, I walk into the kitchen and watch out the window. Because the back of our house faces the front of the Darby’s house.

I see the cops go in and set up like they said they were going to do. Then around 11:30 pm Jim pulls in and gets out, but I don’t see River in that vehicle. What the fuck?

Mom! I yell.

Yea, Rock, what is it?

River isn’t in the vehicle with Jim.

Are you sure Rock? Sharon asks, coming into the kitchen after mom.

Yea, I’m sure Jim just walked into the house and I never saw River get out of the car, so unless he made her stay In the car we have a problem because he has her stashed somewhere. Fucking bastard!

I’m pacing the floor by this time. They just brought Jim out of the house in handcuffs. Jessica lets us know and I run out of the house and straight over there. Where the fuck is she, Jim? I yell at him.

Did you really think I would bring her, not knowing if this was a trap or not? And look, I was right. It was a trap Rock, so now you will get the little bitch when I’m let out of jail and, by the way, I’m the only one that knows where she is.

The officers’ hall Jim down to the police station and we follow them. I will not leave that station until I know where River is and that she’s okay.

Detective Butterhead and Milyukov walk through the doors just then and straight to the interrogation room.

Hey mom, are Jim’s parents still alive?

Yes, they are. Why are you asking Rock?

Because if he’s going to trust anyone with his finances and new purchases, it will be his family. I told my mom. Rock, how did you get to be so smart, my sweet boy? Mom says, coming over and kissing me on the cheek. And I smile at her.

Mom calls Jim’s parents. Hello Mrs. Darby, It’s so good to hear from you. Mom’s saying over the phone. I was calling to ask you if Jim purchased any property recently? Oh, he did? Well, to be honest, Mrs. Darby, I’m a little worried about Jim. He’s been on edge these last couple months and I was thinking I might throw him a party at one of his other property’s that’s away from home and his stress. Mom listens to whatever Mrs. Darby Is saying for a few minutes, then she thanks her and hangs up.

I got an address. Mom tells me. Where I ask her?

Arlington Heights. Mom says. Fuck, that’s an hour’s drive. We better get going then, mom.

Sharon, you stay here and see what the officers come up with just encase our lead doesn’t pan out. Mom tells her and she shakes her head in agreement.

Mom and I ran out to the car and headed towards the Heights. So, did she give you an address to a place in the Heights? I ask mom. Yes, it’s a place out In the middle of nowhere from what the google maps are showing.

It takes a little over an hour and a half and a tank of gas to get there and once we are there... I wonder if this is the right place because I don’t see Jim buying anything like this dump. Mom, are you sure this is the right place?

This is the address Mrs. Darby gave me, Mom says, then she walks toward the house. She goes to open the door, but