59. Zander
CHAPTER 59
ZANDER
I drive like a demon and don’t slow until we pull into the wooded area on the outskirts of town. We have an army of people looking for Zoey, and I’m grateful to every one of them, but if Russell is where Coach Bergeron’s truck is, then we need to go for a quiet approach.
Coming to a stop on the side of the road, I peer into the greenery and think I spot a taillight.
“Do you see anything?” Sienna asks, her voice a shaking, wispy mess. Her eyes are so swollen and red-rimmed she looks like she’s had stage makeup applied.
I hate seeing her like this and lightly brush my finger down her cheek, trying to comfort her in even the smallest way.
My insides are raging. It’s taking maximum effort not to turn green and start smashing the shit out of everything around me, but I have to stay calm. For her. For Zoey.
So I nod and keep my tone soft and even. “I see the edge of a truck. I’m assuming it belongs to Coach Bergeron. Down that way”—I point into the wooded area—“there’s this abandoned greenhouse and a barn and stables and stuff. This is the edge of an old farm, and it’s been sold off in sections. I don’t know who owns this land, but students have been coming down here ever since I started at Nolan U. It’s a quiet place to share a drink or a smoke or… you know.”
Sienna whimpers, covering her mouth and sobbing into her hand.
I squeeze her shoulder, running my hand down her arm. “There’s a chance he’s got her in there.”
“I can’t breathe.” She pushes her hand against her chest. Her face is bunched in agony. This is fucking killing me.
“Hey.” Peeling her fingers away from her body, I thread them through mine and kiss her knuckles. “Sparks, we can do this. We can get her back.”
“Yeah.” Her head bobs, her breath shaky when she finally releases it.
“Come on. Let’s go.” Slipping out of the car, I close the door quietly and walk around the vehicle, grabbing Sienna’s wrist before she bolts across the road and gets hit by the car that’s speeding toward us.
The truck pulls to the side, slamming to a stop behind my SUV. Wily and Grady jump out, both looking ready to maim and slaughter for the sake of my family. I’m so fucking grateful right now.
“The police are on their way,” Grady informs me. “I tried to say no cops, but Coach B wouldn’t have it. He’s called anyway. We left while he was still on the phone.”
“Okay, well… we have to go and get her before they arrive.” Sienna points across the road .
“They’ll approach quietly. Coach B was explaining it as we left.”
“I don’t care. I’m not waiting for the cops.” Sienna shakes her head. “Let’s sneak up quietly and get her back before he disappears for good.” She ends in a squeak, stealing some of the power from her assertive commands.
I squeeze her wrist, then thread my fingers between hers again. “I think he might have her in that greenhouse or the stables maybe. Have you guys been here before?”
“Yeah.” Wily nods.
“Teah and I have come out here before.” Grady points into the bushes and quickly describes the layout.
“Okay.” I visualize what he’s saying. “Okay, Wily can you flank the left side, and if you don’t seem them in there, head toward the stables, do a systematic search from north to south?”
“Got it.”
“Grady, you start on the right and follow through to the barn. Sienna and I will check the car, then head to the front of the greenhouse. Hopefully one of us can catch him somewhere along the way. Be quiet. We don’t want to scare him off.”
“What if he’s not here?” Sienna blurts.
I squeeze her hand. “We’ll check this area and deal with that question once we know for sure.”
Her head starts to bob again, and I can feel her waves of panic washing over me.
It’s tempting to fall apart right alongside her, but like hell that douche is taking my baby girl without a fight. We’re getting Zoey back. There’s no other option.
Another vehicle pulls up just as we’re crossing the road… and four hockey players pile out of it .
“Where do you want us?” Ethan asks.
I point behind me and dish out a few more directions.
Casey pulls out his phone. “I’m gonna record this shit. Any evidence we can get to bury this fuck nugget, right?”
“Thanks, man.” I nod and spin to get on with it.
Wily pulls out his phone as well, unlocking it as we split up and quietly form a perimeter around the old greenhouse and surrounding buildings.
We pass Coach Bergeron’s truck, and I glance in the windows, making sure it’s empty before moving on. I spot Zoey’s diaper bag, and it fuels my anger. That fucker is not taking my daughter away from me!
Spotting the edge of the greenhouse, we slow our steps, creeping as carefully as we can through the undergrowth. I crouch low and catch my breath when I hear Russell’s voice.
“It’s okay, sweetie. Mommy’s calling back any second now, and then we’re going to go on an adventure together.”
“Like hell,” Sienna hisses, letting go of my hand and bolting into the greenhouse.
“Mommy!” Zoey’s sweet enthusiasm pierces me right in the center of my chest. I want to run in and grab her, but I force myself to use a little self-control and hang back, wondering if Sienna can talk Russell down and we won’t have to traumatize Zoey with a fight.
If she can get her close and make a run for it, then I’ll step in to stop Russell giving chase.
Crouching near the entrance, I steal a peek through the broken window and form a tight fist when Zoey tries to run to Sienna and Russell grabs her by the back of the jacket, pulling her to a stop .
“Stay with Daddy, sweetheart.”
“You’re not her daddy,” Sienna warns him. “Now, you let her go.”
“Mommy?” Sienna’s expression buckles, and she points to the plastic cups and saucers on the picnic blanket behind her. “Tea pawty!” She smiles, so obviously trying to break the tension.
Sienna’s shoulders shake, and I can sense her body convulsing as she crouches down to get eye level with Zoey. “That looks so fun.”
“Wanna pay?”
“I do.” Sienna nods. “But first I want you to come with me, and then we can play with Football and Wily. They’ll play with you.”
“Foobawl!” Zoey jumps on her toes, and it takes everything in me not to bolt through the door, punch Russell in the throat, and carry Zoey out of there.
But I won’t scare her like that, and I have no idea how Russell will react if I make an appearance. Even just my name is causing his face to mottle into an angry shade of red.
“Zoey, come here,” he snaps.
My little girl flinches, and she turns to look at her Uncle Rusty with a confused pout.
“We’re having fun.” He softens his voice. “You want to play with me , don’t you?”
She looks back at Sienna, her sweet little face the picture of uncertainty.
“I know it’s confusing, lil’ bug.” Sienna’s voice is wobbling with unshed tears. “But you really need to come with Mommy now. Uncle Rusty wasn’t supposed to take you on an adventure today. I was going to pick you up from Mrs. Ward’s house.” She’s doing an amazing job at keeping her tone light and fun. I can only imagine how much effort that’s taking. “So, you ask Uncle Rusty to let you go and you come with me, okay?”
Sienna holds out her arms just as Russell snatches Zoey back against his chest.
Zoey lets out a frightened wail, but it’s drowned out by Russell’s shouting. “I have every right to pick her up. She’s mine! I’ve practically been raising her ever since she was born! You’re just too blind to see reason!”
“Russell, don’t do this,” Sienna begs. “Please, just… don’t hurt her.”
“I’m not going to hurt her! I love her!”
“You’re scaring her.”
“She’s the best part of my life, and you’re trying to take her away from me. I thought when you moved to Nolan, we could finally be a family, but you’re being such a stubborn bitch about it!”
Sienna jolts back like he’s just slapped her, and I can’t fucking do this anymore.
Standing tall, I storm into the greenhouse with a growl and point my finger at Russell. “Let my daughter go. Right now!”
Russell sneers, his eyes wild as he clutches Zoey, who’s now squirming like a trapped animal. “I’ve been the closest thing she’s ever had to a father, and then this douche comes along and just takes over?” His voice pitches with incredulity. “That’s not right, Sienna!”
“Zander is her father, and he’s a good one. I’m sorry it hasn’t worked out the way you wanted, but I’ve never loved you like a wife. We were never going to get married and raise Zoey together. That wasn’t in the cards for me. ”
Russell’s expression buckles, his chest starting to heave.
Zoey whimpers, her bottom lip forming a deep pout just before her tears bubble out in a loud wail.
This is killing me, but I’m trying my best to stay calm. I don’t want to scare Zoey even more, so I hold up my hands and take a slow step toward them. “Look, man. I get that this situation sucks, and I’m sorry it’s turned out this way for you, but you need to let Zoey go. She wants her mom. Just let her go. Please. Let her go.”
“Shut up!” he bellows. “You shut the fuck up. You have no say here!”
Zoey covers her ears and cries even louder.
“You’re scaring her!” Sienna steps forward. “Please, just let me hold her.”
“No. She’s mine!”
Shit. This arrogant fuck just won’t see reason.
I’m just trying to calculate my next best move when I spot two blurry shadows moving past the back of the greenhouse. I dart my eyes back to Russell, making sure to distract him. “It’s obvious you’re not in a good headspace, but let me just say this… You took Zoey without Sienna’s permission. That’s kidnapping, man. The police are already on their way, and I’m not letting you disappear, so just make things easier for yourself and let Zoey go.”
Russell’s shaking his head, his jaw clenching as he tightens his hold on my daughter. Her wails increase to an earsplitting scream followed by a shattering of a glass.
Two bodies jump through the broken window, launching themselves at Russell and Zoey.
I run forward, worried for my little girl’s safety, as Wily snatches Russell’s arm and Ethan clamps his fingers around the back of his neck.
Zoey starts to slip from his grasp, and I lunge, catching her just before she hits the ground. Hauling her into my arms, I cradle the back of her head. She’s still crying, whimpering against my shoulder as I turn back to Sienna, who’s running toward us with arms outstretched.
I walk into her embrace, wrapping my free arm around her and forming a tight huddle with my girls.
“Shhh, it’s okay, baby girl.” I kiss Zoey’s chubby little cheek, then press my lips into Sienna’s golden hair.
Thank fuck they’re both okay.
“Get your fucking hands off me!” Russell is yelling up a storm, and I have to get Zoey out of here.
“Take her.” I pass her to Sienna, who holds her close, shielding her from the chaos behind my back as she runs outside.
As soon as the girls are gone, I spin back, stalking toward Russell with a growl. Fisting the front of his sweater, I walk him backward and slam him against the greenhouse wall. “You fucker!” I roar in his face.
Wily and Ethan stand on either side of me, their glares lethal as they snatch his flailing fists and pin them to his sides.
Russell’s eyes flash with a manic look. “Careful, you three. I’ll press assault charges. I’m paid staff at this school. You can’t treat me this way.”
“I don’t give a fuck what you are,” I seethe. “If you ever scare Zoey or Sienna like that again, I will end you. I don’t give a shit what it does to my career. You stay away from my family!”
I give him one more shove before walking through the plastic tea set. Tiny cups and saucers go flying just as the faint sound of police sirens fills the air.
“Paid staff. You think that fucking matters when you’ve just kidnapped his kid?” Ethan mocks him.
“You’re done, dude.” Wily’s hard voice is music to my ears.
It matches the sweet harmony of Grady shouting, “I got it! I recorded the whole thing.”
“Me too!” Asher shouts.
“Ha! Suck it, Fish Sticks!” Casey lets out a raucous laugh, and my lips start to twitch as I barrel outside and find Sienna and Zoey cuddled up on a tree stump—safe and together.