Sweet Mischief’s Rollercoaster Romance

Mia didn't mince words. Right now, she had got as much worry on her plate as the Cedillo and Byrne families.

Jade was kin. She said there was no need to worry, comforting others as well as herself. But in truth, she was as on edge as anyone.

Mia walked into Leo's room, rousing her nephew who was idling away on his phone, "Jade's missing. Come help me find her."

"What's up with her?" Leo had still engrossed in his phone, utterly clueless about the gravity of the situation.

Mia landed a smack on the back of his head, "Jade, your aunt, real name Molly, has gone missing."

"What?" Leo was still ogling his phone, totally deaf to Mia's words.

Three minutes later, Leo had thrown on a jacket over his PJs, and together they hit the road to find Jade. On the road, Mia updated Leo on recent events.

"This is too crazy." Leo said, "I must be dreaming."

He pinched his leg to test the theory. Ouch! Nope, not a dream.

Mia had glued to her phone, zooming in and out of the city map, scrutinizing every alleyway, guessing where Jade might be based on her character. The police were tracking Jade's ID use too. But if Jade was trying to dodge her cop brother, she would find a way to stay hidden.

"Mia, are you saying Jade is my long-lost aunt I haven't seen for 15 years?" Leo was stunned.

"Yep." Mia answered.

Leo's face screwed up in embarrassment. He banged the steering wheel and said, "There's no way." He only had two good friends, but somehow he had become both their nephew! How could this be?

Mia said, "It's true. The hair we used for the DNA test with Jade was yours."

Leo yelled, "When did you swipe my hair?"

time to worry about that, we need to find Jade. If she's wandered into some dark alley and run into trouble, we're toast."

They reached a place, and Mia warned,

ready to delve into

come with you?"

If things go south, I'll have to save your

for words. She was right; he'd better not add to the

Mia was back, "Nothing there, let's move on to

on exploring. If trouble came, most people were no match for her, so he didn't need to

now did Mia realize how hard it

won't put herself in

but replied, "Still, I can't ignore any potentially risky places. What if Jade's there

it, and they headed off

surveillance footage of Jade heading

came to mind for Mia, one Jade often talked about.

remember something too. He floored it, changing direction

visit. Even though it was close to their home, the three of them had never been. This time, Jade might have gone alone. Following the navigation, Leo's car zipped along

her phone. She stood

Leo also yelled, "Jade!"

the fish in the lake, but there was no sign

the lakeshore. She called out as she walked,

were fixed on the ground, his phone lighting up the surrounding

was quiet, only their calls broke the silence. "Jade!

a phone in hand, they lit up the path ahead. Their shoes got muddy from the soft, wet soil by the lake. Mia

calls echoing in the air. After a while, they

their pace towards the sound. Finally, they