Old Lady by Evelyn Glass

with the police, and he wasn’t too enthusiastic about Nick’s plans for the club, but he did look determined to recover Gabby. Nick put a hand on Matt’s shoulder and squeezed. “Thank you.”
     
    “You don’t need to worry, man! If the police call you with a lead, let us know. We will do everything possible. If there is need, we will go there ourselves to find her,” said Matt in a voice that indicated that he was sincere and honest.
     
    Nick leaned against the wall, feeling weak. “Thanks, man.”
     
    “You don’t need to worry, Nick, we are all with you and with Gabby also. She is going to come out of it unscathed,” said Ronald.
     
    Nick certainly hoped so but right now this discussion was making him depressed. The more they tried to find avenues to seek her, the more he was convinced that it was going to be a far more daunting task that it seemed. It wasn’t going to be easy to figure out where she was. If only they knew the location of where that man took her, they would be able to do so much to help her. Right now, he was helpless.
     
    Nick hated the feeling of helplessness more than anything else.
     
    “I’m going home. If there is any development, I will call you,” he told them as he marched out of the door. Getting on his bike, he rode off. Although his intention had been to go home, Nick suddenly realized that if he did so, he would become distressed beyond his ability to handle it. Rather than go to his home, he instead rode to the harbor. It was one of Gabby’s most favorite places. She used to love coming here, not only to meet people but also to stare at the crashing waves and ships that swayed on the sea.
     
    He missed her already.
     
    Over the past few months, he got so used to her presence in his life that Nick couldn’t imagine a life without her. It was difficult for him to even spend this much time without her. What would happen if he didn’t find her in the coming days and weeks? A lifetime without Gabby was a terrible prospect.
     
    He loved her. Nick had always known that, but now he realized thus survival depended on her reappearance. He only had one purpose in life and that was to find her and bring her back into this life that they carved out for themselves. He needed her. Her friends needed her. This was her home, and she deserved to come back.  
     
    As he looked out and tried to figure out a way to find her, a hand squeezed his shoulder. He turned around to see Miles. “I heard what happened.” Nick didn’t quite know what to say. Miles wasn’t from the club, but thanks to Gabby’s winning personality, they had all become friends. “Is there anything I can do?”
     
    Nick turned back towards the ocean. “I’m just waiting from a word from the police. Perhaps, they might have stopped the van somewhere or sighted them on a road. If only we knew where he took her, we can go and rescue her.”
     
    “We’ll find her,” said Miles with a confidence that Nick didn’t quite feel. “We will.”
     
    Nick sighed and stared at the distant horizon. He felt as if Gabby was calling him for help, and he wasn’t around to hear her call. What must be happening to her right now? What was she going through? Did the man feed her? Did he tie her? Was he hitting her? Anger coiled in his body, but all he could do was flex his muscles in chagrin at the thought. She’d told him some tales of her pimp’s vicious behavior when she lived with him. Joseph was a man who was prone to bursts of anger, and Gabby did something that riled him up really good. He hated the idea of losing control over one of his girls. She defied him, challenged his authority, and made him look like a fool.
     
    It was the extent of his obsession that he found her despite all the odds stacked against him. Once he discovered her location, he must have followed her for weeks to figure out her routine. The only thing that probably kept her safe all these months was the fact that Nick stuck to her during all