The nurse jumped when he banged his fist on the desk, his voice loud and angry.
"I don't understand," she answered. Her lips trembled with fear when she looked into his eyes, eyes that were dark and held danger.
"Ten minutes ago someone came into my wife's room, telling her she was taking our son for his checkup. The weird thing is he already had one."
The nurse reached for some files, her hands shaking she opened the one on their baby and read the notes, shaking her head.
"There's no record of it, he wasn't scheduled for another checkup. Let me check with the others, I'm sure it's just a mix-up."
He looked down at Paige when he felt her hand squeezing his. She had this haunted look in her eyes and he knew she was close to breaking down.
"It's going to be alright."
Even though he said these words to assure her, he himself was not so sure.
The nurse came back with one of the doctors.
"Mr. Maestri, I'm sorry, we can't locate your son. I'm sure he's here and will have the whole hospital searched."
Letting go of Paige he grabbed the doctor by his collar, his face so close to his.
"What the hell do you mean you can't find my son?"
"I have alerted the police and a code has been sent out. Our security is searching everywhere, I'm sure it's just a misunderstanding," the doctor said, shaking in his shoes.
"Gabriel," Paige cried out.
Letting the doctor go he turned to her, she was in shock so he wrapped his arms around her. "We'll find him, I promise."
When he felt her shaking and was about to collapse he held her up and she started crying. Her sobs were loud and heart-wrenching.
"My baby, oh my God my baby," she screamed.
He scooped her up in his arms, turned to the doctor.
"I'm taking my wife back to her room. Lock down the hospital, check the security cameras and send the police in. You better pray that my son is found or I will destroy this hospital and everyone involved." He turned and carrying a hysterical Paige walked away.
His own heart was breaking, fear hitting every part of his being. But he had to stay strong for her. Setting her down in a chair he got on his knees in front of her, taking her hands in his.
Paige started hiccuping from crying so hard, she couldn't believe this was happening. Once she realized her baby was missing and hearing that no one could find him her world came crashing down around her. The room was spinning.
It felt like being in a car accident where you were rolling and tumbling and there was no way of stopping it. Where your mind was in a fog and you were watching the event taking place from outside your body. She couldn't hear Gabriel talking or feel his touch. Her eyes rolled back, her body went limp and then there was darkness.
He saw her eyes rolling back, caught her as she slumped over and carried her over to the bed and laid her down.
"Wake up angel," he said, tapping her face.
He buzzed for the nurse when she wasn't responding. He had never been this scared. First, his son was missing and now the love of his life laid lifeless.
The doctor followed the nurse in and moving Gabriel aside examined her.
"Mrs. Maestri, open your eyes and look at me." He looked at Gabriel. "It's just the shock, she's starting to come around."
He breathes a sigh of relief when he saw her eyes flutter open and going to her took her hand in his.
"Don't ever scare me like this again," he said, kissing her lips tenderly.
She sat up, ignoring the request for her to stay laying down.
"Where is our baby?" she asked, looking at him with tears in her eyes. Her hands grabbing Gabriel's collar.
"Why haven't they found him and where are the police?"
He held her head in a firm grip, looked into the depth of her eyes.
"Listen to me, angel. We will find our son and whoever took him will pay dearly." He pulled her into his arms and held her head against his chest, letting her cry.
They both looked up and over when the door opened and Mitch walked in, followed by the police.
Mitch was shocked to see the sight of them, Gabriel was pale, his eyes sunken. Paige was sobbing as she clung to him, her face red, eyes filled with pain and his heart went out to her and his boss.
Going over he stood in front of them.
"I just heard what happened, the police have the place surrounded, a bulletin has gone out telling about the abduction so every cop in the city is on the lookout. They need to ask you both some questions. Mrs. Maestri, will you talk to the police?"
Still clinging to Gabriel she turned her head to face Mitch.
"Yes," she said, feeling a hand stroking her hair.
"Mrs. Maestri, can you tell me what happened when your husband left the room?" The older of the two officers asked.
She was grateful that he kept his arms around her, her voice hitching in her throat she tried her best to tell them everything.
"A nurse came in just as Gabriel left, while I was getting dressed. She said she had to weigh and check my baby since the other nurse hadn't recorded the information from before. It sounded reasonable so I handed Lorenzo over to her and went into the bathroom and washed up."
"Can you describe this woman?"
"Well, she wore a nurse uniform. She was tall, slender with short red hair."
"Is there anything else about her that you remember?"
"She wore these dark-rimmed glasses."
"Did she give you her name?"
"No." She buried her face in Gabriel's chest, sobbing. "Why would she take my baby? I shouldn't have let her take him, this is all my fault."
Gabriel stroked her face.
"This is not your fault, don't blame yourself." He looked at the two officers. "You have to find our son."
"We're going to do everything we can. Now, can you think of anyone who might have a grudge against you, one who would want to take your son?"
Gabriel glanced over at Mitch, then back at the officer. "I have an idea who might have done this. Sergio, my father."
"Sergio Maestri. Was he not recently charged with the kidnapping of your wife and illegal activity in his club that burned down?"
Getting a nod from Gabriel he continued. "Do you honestly think he might be involved? After all, you have a restraining order against him, he's not allowed to come anywhere near you and your wife."
"That wouldn't stop him, my father is a cruel bastard."
"But why take your son?"
"Because he hates me and wants to teach me a lesson. My father is a very sick and perverted man who enjoys making people suffer. It gives him great pleasure to cause people pain."
The officer nodded.
"I'll make some calls and have the authorities go to his home with a search warrant. It will take a couple of hours so just sit tight. Any signs of an infant being there we'll find it."
"What about the surveillance tapes, anything on it yet?" Gabriel asked.
"We have a team of men working on it as we speak."
Just then a younger office walked in carrying a bag and handed it to the officer doing the questioning.
"This was found in the trash bin in the underground parking lot." He pulled out a red wig and glasses.
"Mrs. Maestri, do you recognize these?"
Lifting her head from Gabriel's chest stared at the items.
"Yes, that's what she was wearing. A disguise, now we'll never find her will we?"
"We'll find her and when we do we'll find your baby." He stood up. "I need to go and check on the progress of this case. I'll be back soon."
When the three of them were alone she got up, leaving the warm embrace of Gabriel's arms and went over to the bassinet.
Picking up the blue blanket that was given to them as a gift held it up to her nose. Fresh tears flowed and she sank to the floor on her knees.
"I can smell him on this blanket. Oh God, I want my baby."
Gabriel rushed over, getting on his knees pulled her into his arms, cradling her.
Tears ran down his face. Not knowing where his son was and seeing his angel in so much pain was ripping his heart into pieces. Lifting her up carried her over to the bed, laying her down as she was close to collapsing again.
Mitch felt helpless as he watched on, wishing there was something he could do.
"Boss, can I get you both anything?"
"Yeah, some coffee and juice for Paige."
"OK, I'll be right back."
Gabriel poured her a glass of water. "Here, sit up and drink this."
Sitting up she takes the water and drinks it, then looks at him.
"You blame me for letting our baby be kidnapped, don't you? It's OK, I blame myself too."
He was shocked, not for one second did he think it was her fault.
Taking her face in his hands he stared into her eyes.
"My God no. You must not think that. I don't blame you. Maybe I'm the one to be blamed. I should not have left you alone. Baby, no one could have known this was going to happen. I promise you we'll get him back. Tell me you trust me, that you believe me."
"I do," she said. Throwing her arms around his neck sobbed. She felt the warmth of his arms when he pulled her tight against him. Yes, she believed him, he would find Lorenzo.
Mitch came back with the drinks and behind him was the officer carrying a laptop and he sat it down on the table.
"Mr. Maestri I just got word back from the swat team. They searched every inch of your fathers home and there was no sign of a baby having been there. He was also home and his wife said he hadn't left the house in over a week."
"They're lying and he must have my son somewhere else," Gabriel growled.
"That could be, we'll keep an eye on him. Now here are the tapes from the surveillance cameras I'd like for you to take a look at. There was only one where it looks a bit suspicious." He turned on the laptop and they all watched it.
"There," he points. "We didn't get her face, but she was carrying something which I think could be a baby in her arms and she was in a big hurry. A black van pulled up and she got into it. Do any of you recognize her at all?"
"Wait," Mitch spoke quickly. "Can you zoom in closer?"
The man zoomed closer, but because of the angle of the camera still couldn't get a close look at the woman.
"Without seeing her face I can't be sure but from the back, she looks like the woman I stopped to help the day Mrs. Maestri was kidnapped."
"Then she was and is still working for my father," Gabriel yelled, making everyone jump.
The office looked at Mitch. "Can you describe this woman for us?"
"Hell yeah, I'll never forget her face," Mitch told him.
After Mitch gave them a detailed description they left, saying they would be in touch and that they should go home.
"Mitch, are you packing it?" Gabriel asked.
"You bet," he answered.
"Give it to me."
Paige was sitting on the bed, cuddling the baby blanket and watched Gabriel put the gun behind his back, under the waistband of his pants.
"What are you doing?" she asked nervously.
Going over sits next to her, his arm going over her shoulder, his hand cupping her chin.
"I'm going to my father's place and get him to tell me where he has our baby. Mitch will take you home and watch over you," he said, giving her a kiss.
He gets up and goes over to Mitch. "Take her home and don't let her out of your sight."
"You sure you want to go on your own boss?"
"I can handle that bastard," Gabriel replied. He looks over at Paige and sees she is putting on her coat, baby blanket in hand. "What do you think you're doing?"
"I'm going with you."
Gabriel shakes his head. " Hell no"