  &quot; Joey, come on. Please stop crying. You've got to be strong for your godmother&quot; I called gently to my son who was crying silently on his bed as I stood in his doorway.
  &quot; But mom, I'm missing Nora and Nadia so much. I don't know what's going on with them. And who the fuck is Deborah? I so hate her&quot; He screamed at me as he turned to watch me from the doorway trying to dab at his now teary eyes.
  I strolled to pull him close as I let him sobbed on my shoulder, ignoring him using the swear word. Any other day, I would have scolded him but today, I decided to let him be since he was hurting so badly.
  &quot; It's okay son, momma understands. I promise we'll find them soon but please you've got to be strong for them. You know Nora and Nadia wouldn't like to see you like this&quot; I told him pointing to his now lean body since he has been wasting his meals these past

  I paced around my office in anticipation, ever since our last call with Lillian, we couldn't get in touch with her. She had refused to answer any of our calls and had sent it to her voicemail.
  &quot; Any luck with her yet?&quot; I turned to ask Danny who was trying her phone again. I could see the worry etch his brows as sweat streamed down his face. I couldn't help being annoyed with myself that I had caused everything. I regretted ever bringing him and Lillian into this mess. Hell, I regretted ever risking my wife and children's life. If only I never met Deborah then none of this would have happened.
  &quot; Not yet. She just won't pick up even after leaving her a dozen messages. She's just so stubborn especially when it comes to Nina&quot; Danny exclaimed running his hands through his hair in frustration as he paced to and fro the office. I couldn't help feeling sad for him when 

  A Month Later
  I sat in front of the television in the sitting room but I wasn't really seeing anything. I couldn't stop thinking about my kids ever since we found out that Deborah took them. I couldn't help being worried about them. Is Deborah taking care of them? Have they eaten? 
  A lot of things are going through my mind but there's no one to talk to. Michael had been busy these days, especially after he found out that Deborah had tricked him. 
  He couldn't stop blaming himself for not being vigilant and I couldn't add to his self-loathing by telling him about the calls I've been receiving and that from Deborah.
  I could still remember her last call which was a few weeks ago after we came back from the hospital.
  I had looked at the strange number scared because I knew it was from Deborah even before I picked it up. 
  <em>Her cold voice had called to me from the other side of

&quot; Joey, come on. Please stop crying. You've got to be strong for your godmother&quot; I called gently to my son who was crying silently on his bed as I stood in his doorway.
  &quot; But mom, I'm missing Nora and Nadia so much. I don't know what's going on with them. And who the fuck is Deborah? I so hate her&quot; He screamed at me as he turned to watch me from the doorway trying to dab at his now teary eyes.
  I strolled to pull him close as I let him sobbed on my shoulder, ignoring him using the swear word. Any other day, I would have scolded him but today, I decided to let him be since he was hurting so badly.
  &quot; It's okay son, momma understands. I promise we'll find them soon but please you've got to be strong for them. You know Nora and Nadia wouldn't like to see you like this&quot; I told him pointing to his now lean body since he has been wasting his meals these past few weeks.
  &quot; I'm sorry, mom&quot; He apologized to me as he turned to force a smile on his

99. Lillian