You More Than Anything In The World

Gavin called Arissa, only to find that her phone was switched off. He glanced at those around him and said, “Mommy's phone has been switched off.”

“Try calling your father, then,” Victor suggested, smiling at the child expectantly.

Gavin called Benjamin, who picked up after the first ring.

“What is it?” Benjamin asked as soon as he picked up, though his voice was barely above a whisper.

Finding this odd, Gavin asked curiously, “Daddy, why are you being so quiet? Is Mommy there?”

Benjamin did not want to wake Arissa, so he took the call outside the hospital room. “Your mother's sleeping. Why are you looking for her?” he asked in his normal voice after he had closed the door behind him.

“Old Mr. Watts would like us to stay over for the night, is that okay?” Gavin asked. He could not seek permission from Arissa now, so he would have to settle for Benjamin's approval instead.

Benjamin stood in the corridor as he considered this. He had no objection to his children sleeping over at Victor's place. “Do all of you want to stay over at the Watts residence?”

Gavin beamed. “Yeah. Besides, even if we go back home, you and Mommy won't be there. We figured we'd stay here instead. Everyone else is okay with it, and this way, you and Mommy won't have to worry about us.”

Benjamin quirked a brow. “I'm assuming none of you have a spare change of clothes. Edwin's probably at Yaleview now. Give him a call and have him send your clothes over.”

“Got it, Daddy. Take good care of Mommy at the hospital. We'll visit her tomorrow!” Gavin said, sounding much older than his actual age. “I'll take good care of the other kids, too.”

“Don't make trouble while you're at the Watts residence, all right? Be good and don't stay up past your bedtime,” Benjamin reminded.

Following that, Benjamin hung up and gave Edwin a call, telling him to send the kids' clothes over. He also told Edwin to stay over at the Watts residence to keep an eye on the kids. Having done all this, he headed back into the room.

Arissa was sound asleep. In the quietude of the room, Benjamin went through paperwork while waiting for Shaun to return.

The moment Shaun arrived at the hospital, he made a beeline for Arissa's room without changing clothes. “Boss, did you need something?” he asked as soon as he reached the door.

Benjamin put up a hand as though in greeting, then rose to go out of the room. He closed the door behind him and said to Shaun, “Thanks for coming back. I need you to watch Arissa for me while I straighten out some matters at the police station.”

Shaun understood what Benjamin was going to do. Nodding, he replied, “Leave this to me.”

Benjamin checked the time. The sooner he wrapped things up at the police station, the sooner he could come back. With that in mind, he hurried off to the police station with Ethen in tow.

It did not take long for the dozen or so kidnappers from the other day to be brought out of the detention center. Thinking that their boss had bailed them out, the men left the center happily.

However, the grins were wiped off their faces when they saw Benjamin and Ethen waiting for them outside.

“What do you guys want now?” one of the men asked, filled with dread.

They were in a much more dangerous position now than they had been back at the police station.

“Mr. Graham would like you to clarify a couple of things,” Ethen said curtly, cracking his knuckles as if to warn the men to stay in line.