32. Chapter Thirty
CHAPTER THIRTY
BETSY
" A re you really going to follow me around?" Betsy asked.
"Why wouldn't I? That was what I was asked to do," Dane replied.
She sighed. Dane was an interesting character.
"I don't know because you don't need to. I'm okay."
Was she though? She was currently going out with Dane to get some cheese at the store across the street. Daddy was gone doing something and Dane had come over to make sure she was safe.
That hadn't gone over well when Daddy told her Dane was going to babysit her. She didn't need a babysitter.
"That's not what your Daddy said. He said to watch you like a hawk because you would try to get out of me following you," Dane informed her.
"Of course he did," she mumbled.
"What was that?"
"Nothing."
She was exhausted and just wanted food. More specifically cheese. It was her favorite food in the whole entire world and Daddy didn't have any in the fridge.
"Can you believe he didn't have any cheese?" She asked as they crossed the street.
Dane grabbed her arm, pulling her back.
"Watch it!" Someone yelled.
She looked over to see a bicycle fly past her.
"I could have gotten hit."
"But you didn't."
"But I could have," she whispered.
"But you didn't. I pulled you away before you could. No harm."
She shook her head.
"Next time, hold my arm as we walk across. You clearly aren't paying attention to your surroundings," Dane said as they started to walk across the street.
"There won't be a next time."
She really hoped there wouldn't be. He wasn't a great conversationalist and when she got nervous, she talked.
"Why do you need cheese anyways?" he asked.
"Because I need it. Daddy doesn't have any in the fridge and I want some to eat."
"What are you going to put it on?"
"I'm not going to put it on anything. I am just going to eat it."
"You are odd."
She giggled as they walked into the store. They walked back to the cold section of the store and started to browse the section of cheese.
"Have you ever just eaten cheese by itself?" Betsy asked.
She was looking for a specific kind of cheese. pepper jack cheese. The best kind of cheese there was ever made.
"No, why would I do that? It's not how it should be done," he sounded disgusted.
Betsy looked at him. "Who made the rule that it shouldn't be just eaten by itself? Is it a rule?"
Dane looked like he was thinking.
"No, there isn't a rule but you still shouldn't just eat cheese by itself."
"See, you said no rule so I can eat it by itself if I want to. Even if there was a rule, I would still eat it by itself. it's just so good."
Her gaze moved over the stacks of cheese. Where was the pepper jack? Why was it always so hard to find?
"What type--"
"Aha!" She yelled, not a care in the world. "I found it!"
Opening the fridge, Betsy grabbed four blocks of pepper jack cheese and held it triumphantly in front of her.
"See! I got the cheese!" She showed Dane.
"Why do you need four?"
"Because I want four. Daddy doesn't have any in the fridge and I need to have some in stock so I can eat it at any point."
Did he really not understand? Well, she figured he probably wouldn't since he didn't like cheese by itself.
"When we get back to the apartment, you are going to try some cheese by itself. Do you like pepper jack or do you like another kind?" She asked.
"Pepper jack is fine and I'm not trying it."
She pouted and walked off towards the cashier. "you have to try it! It's amazing."
Betsy stopped in her tracks as she saw a man standing in front of her. Alarm bells went off in her head as she took him in.
Dark clothes, gloves on, hood up, with a baseball cap.
It wasn't cold out.
Shit.
She took a step back right as he took a step forward.
"D-dane?" she whispered.
"What? Do you need something else?" He asked as he rounded the corner.
She hadn't realized how far away she was from Dane. Maybe she was just imagining things and there really wasn't anyone in front of her.
"Shit," Dane muttered. "Get behind me, Betsy."
Dane pulled out a gun as she took a step behind him. Trembles ran through her body as she peaked her head to the side.
The guy was still there, looking directly at her. She could barely make his eyes out, but she could feel them.
"Back slowly away," Dane commanded.
The guy cocked his head to the side and beckoned her forward.
Nope.
She definitely wasn't going to walk towards him. That was a big no.
"Back the fuck up!" Dane yelled. "Betsy, call your Daddy."
With shaky hands, she pulled her phone out of her pocket, but it slipped and fell on the ground. Tears pooled in her eyes as she bent down to grab it.
"Stupid hands," she whispered. "Just work. Please just work."
Betsy grabbed her phone and hit Daddy's contact name.
"Pick up. Please pick up."
"The person you are trying to reach..."
The tears ran down her face once she blinked. No. he had to pick up.
Betsy called him once again, hoping and praying he would pick up.
"Please," she begged.
Dane was still holding up his gun, pointed at the person in front of them.
"Back the fuck up before I shoot you," Dane barked. "I will not hesitate to shoot you."
"Oh, Betsy," the man called out. "Why don't you come with me, Betsy. We could have so much fun together."
Nausea bubbled inside of her.
“I think you’ll find that you are actually outnumbered,” the man sang out.
Betsy pressed down on Rogan’s number, praying he would pick up. Her breathing came out in short pants as she realized they were outnumbered. Several other men in masks were surrounding them.
What was going to happen to them? Were they going to die?
“Betsy, I need you to huddle in the corner and continue to call,” Dane calmly said.
She just wanted her Daddy. She just wanted to leave with Dane and never come back.
Betsy pushed herself into the corner and continued to call Rogan. She looked up right as several men took a step forward, making her whimper. There was no way out for them, none.
“Hello?” someone said.
She looked down at her phone, realizing it was Rogan.
“R-rogan,” she cried out.
“Shit. Betsy, what’s wrong? Where’s Dane?”
“People are s-surrounding us. Co-corner store in front of Daddy’s house.”
“Stay right here.”
If only she knew if she could stay right there or not. She didn’t know the future and definitely didn’t know if they were going to make it out alive.
“I’m coming with other men.”
“Daddy?” she whispered.
There was silence and tears slid down her face.
“I just want Daddy but he’s not picking up.”
“I’ll talk to him. Just stay on the phone.”
Betsy looked up right as Dane took a step closer to her. If only she knew how to shoot a gun, then she would be able to help Dane but she didn’t know anything.
“Give us the girl and you don’t have to get hurt,” the main man said.
“Wh-who are you?” Betsy called out.
She wanted to know who this man was. Maybe she could get it on the phone to where Rogan could hear.
“Your worst nightmare.”
Betsy closed her eyes and rocked herself back and forth. Rogan was going to get here on time. He was going to get here and take care of the men. He had to. She looked down to make sure he was still on the line, letting out a sigh of relief when he was.
She had to believe he was going to get here in time. She just had to.
“You can leave before Rogan and his men come. No harm has to be done to you,” Dane said.
“You can drop your weapon and let us take the girl. No harm will be done to you.”
“Over my dead body.”
Sobbing, she sank to the floor and hugged her knees.
“We’re almost there,” Rogan said through the phone.
“We can’t have that,” the man said.
Before she could understand anything, shots were fired. Screaming, she ducked her head and prayed nothing was going to hit her or Dane.
“Shit. Drive faster!” Rogan yelled over the phone.
The shooting stopped and she looked up. Three out of five of their men were down, bleeding out on the ground. Dane was holding his shoulder as he raised the gun with his hurt arm.
“I said to fucking leave,” Dane growled.
The main man tilted his head and looked at her. “I’m coming for you.”
Fear filled her as he pointed the gun to her.
“Your days are numbered,” he said. “I’ve got eyes and ears everywhere.”
Betsy heard tires screeching to a stop, and the two last men left. She stayed in her spot on the ground, not wanting to move.
Dane turned around, giving her a pained smile. “You okay?”
She didn’t know how to answer that. Was she okay? How was she supposed to answer that question after what just happened?
“Betsy?” Dane took a step forward.
Whimpering, she backed herself up into the corner even more. She knew Dane wasn’t a threat, but she was scared.
“You’re okay.”
Was she though? She had someone after her, threatening to kill her. They knew where she lived and information about her. How was she going to be okay with that?
“Where is she?” Someone yelled. “Where the fuck is she?”
Rogan.
Not her Daddy.
Tears pooled in her eyes. All she wanted was her Daddy, no one else. Had he left her? Did he not want her anymore?
“Shit. Where’s the blood coming from?” Rogan came into view.
Blood? What was he talking about?
“Look at me,” Rogan commanded. “You’re okay. Just look at me.”
But she wanted to know where the blood was coming from. Was it on her or on Dane? She knew where the blood was coming from on Dane. He had gotten shot.
Her eyes went wide.
Shit.
He had gotten shot.
All because of her.
All because she had done something to someone and they were now after her.
“No, look at me,” Rogan commanded. “Now.”
Her eyes found his and he gave her a smile. Wow. She had never seen him smile at anyone but Bonnie and Raynar. Granted, she didn’t know him very well.
“Good girl. I need you to stay focused on me while I check if anything is wrong,” he calmly said before turning to Dane. “Go get checked by Angelo while I talk to her.”
“I’m not supposed to leave her,” Dane stayed in his spot. “Kirk told me I was to guard her.”
“I’m here and nothing is going to happen. You are bleeding and need to get checked out.”
Dane looked over at her and she smiled.
“It’s okay,” she whispered. “You can go get checked out. Daddy won’t be mad at you for leaving to get checked out.”
Dane grumbled under his breath and looked at Rogan. “Watch her. And before we leave we need to get fucking pepper jack cheese and a lot of it.”
Her mouth fell open as she looked at Dane. She didn’t know if she would be able to eat pepper jack cheese now but the thought was cute.
“Can you look at me?” Rogan asked.
Her gaze found his form.
“Good girl. I’m going to slowly come over and check you out. Okay?”
She nodded.
Nothing hurt. She felt perfectly fine.
“Good. You’re Daddy is going to be so proud of you for being so brave.”
Rogan knelt down right in front of her and grabbed her arm.
“You’re doing amazing. Can you talk to me about what you guys were doing before?”
“Getting cheese,” she whispered.
“So that’s why Dane said we needed to get some cheese before we left.”
She nodded her head. Rogan had rolled up her sleeve and started to inspect her arm.
“What is your favorite kind?”
“Pepper jack or it was.”
“Why was?”
“I don’t know if I’m going to be able to eat it after this.”
Which was a crime in itself. Pepper jack cheese was life and knowing she may not be able to eat it again brought tears to her eyes.
“Oh, Betsy. You don’t need to cry. You’re okay.”
She could hear the panic in his voice. Just like when Daddy found her lying on the ground. She hadn’t heard it in real life, but she heard the video tape from the cameras.
“Daddy?” She asked.
“You’re Daddy is coming,” Rogan gently said.
Betsy looked down at her arm where Rogan was looking. Blood. What had happened? Did she get shot?
“Deep breaths and look back at me. I didn’t say you could look away from me.”
Her eyes found him again and she gave her a smile.
“Good girl. You’re okay. This is just a little blood from a scratch. Nothing else.”
Rogan got up from where he was sitting, helping her get up to her feet. Betsy was clutching her phone in one hand, not ready to let it go. What if Daddy called? She needed to have it close in case he did.
“Let’s go to Angelo and get you checked out.”
They slowly walked over to the front of the store. She kept her gaze up the whole time, not wanting to look at the dead bodies or the blood she might have stepped in.
“There she is,” Angelo said. “The prettiest girl.”
Dane was standing right next to him, his shirt off and a bandage around where he got shot.
“Are you okay?” she whispered, looking at Dane.
“Yes.”
She nodded and looked over at Angelo. She didn’t know what to do. Her mind was slowly shutting down and all she wanted was Daddy.
“I think all she has is a scratch on her arm. I don’t know from what though,” Rogan informed Angelo.
“I think it might be better for me to give her a full body check up just in case,” Angelo said.
She took a step back. There was no way he was going to do a full body checkup. Nope.
“Can you feel anything? Can you feel the scratch on your arm?” Angelo asked.
Betsy thought about it. Even as they walked and got her blood flowing, she still couldn’t feel the scratch. Maybe it didn’t hurt.
“No lies,” Angelo quickly added. “Your Daddy wouldn’t be happy with you lying. It’s one of your rules.”
Even more tears ran down her face as she thought of Daddy. Where was he? Why wasn’t he here?
“Let’s go to my house and I can check you over,” Angelo suggested. “That way we don’t have anyone looking.”
“Police?” she whispered. “I don’t–”
There had to be police coming to check it out. Shots were fired.
“No police.” Rogan took a step forward. “Let's go to Angelo’s house.”
“I’ll grab the pepper jack cheese and meet you guys there,” Dane called out.