Chapter 30
CHAPTER THIRTY
Amber arrived back in Oklahoma City about ten o’clock that evening.
The trip had taken longer than she’d expected, but Donnie had been adamant that T-Rex obey the speed limits. She theorized that they didn’t want to get pulled over since she could easily scream and alert a cop that she was being held captive.
A drive that should have only taken about three and a half hours ended up taking over four. They’d even stopped for burgers but ate in the car, probably so she wouldn’t have a chance to get help inside the roadside fast-food joint. She’d declined any food, not being able to even think about eating at a time like this.
“I’ve got big plans for you,” Donnie said as he grabbed her elbow and roughly tore her from the car.
She cried out in terror, but around the crappy, dilapidated apartment complex, there wasn’t anyone who would come to her rescue.
Somehow, the complex looked even more depressing than she remembered. Trash blew around the outside of the L-shaped building. The black iron fence that surrounded the property was sagging in spots and outright missing panels in others. Empty beer cans, liquor bottles, and even a couple of syringes littered the busted-up concrete of the parking lot. There were a few streetlights around them, but two of them were out. Amber didn’t know if the bulbs just hadn’t been replaced or if they’d purposely been rendered useless to decrease the light.
People doing shady stuff don’t want to be spotted.
The place looked like a sad, lonely prison full of lost hope and broken dreams. Amber already longed for the green, rolling mountains of Big Cedar. And her friends.
Of course, Daddy, too.
Most of all, Daddy.
“I’ve already rented out your old place,” Donnie said. “So you’re staying with me.” He howled with laughter, as did T-Rex.
A group of men leaning against the wall outside the apartment’s office grinned as they saw Amber being dragged toward them.
“You got her,” one of them said. He was a big guy who thought he was strong. Indeed, he had some muscle, Amber noted, but it was under a layer of extra weight.
“Do we get a turn with her?” another man asked. He was skinnier and had a long neck and long, lanky arms and legs.
“Maybe tomorrow. Tonight, she’s all mine,” Donnie said.
Panic gripped Amber. She had to get away from these people. No matter what it took, no matter what she had to do, she couldn’t let them drag her into that office.
I should have screamed back in Big Cedar, she thought. So what if he shot me? That would be better than this!
“Hey, where’s that stupid bear you always carried around?” the third man asked. “Don’t you want to hug him to make you feel better?”
They all laughed at this.
“Yeah,” Donnie chimed in. “Where’s your bear? Or did you throw it away after I ripped it up?”
“Honey’s right here,” a voice called in the darkness.
Amber froze. Was that…
Could it be?
Before her brain could process what was happening, the three thugs pushed off the office wall and stepped into the parking lot. She saw them looking around, trying to peer into the darkness to see what was happening. What she saw next chilled her to the bone.
They all three pulled guns from their waistbands.
Only they didn’t hold onto them long.
Amber heard a swooshing sound before she saw the first arrow. The projectile hit the big guy’s hand, causing him to cry in pain and drop his gun.
Two more arrows came quickly on the first’s heels. Three seconds later, the other two men had dropped their guns, too and were holding their bloody hands.
That’s when Daddy appeared out of the deep darkness, holding a bow.
“What’s going on?” Donnie asked, almost screaming the words.
Amber had to smile. Now his voice was the one quivering. She could almost feel his fear.
Motion caught her eye and she turned her focus from her Daddy to the other forms emerging from the darkness and surrounding parking lot.
Joe. The town doctor. Those three firefighters. Sheriff Quinn.
She could only imagine what their hulking forms looked like to Donnie and his idiot lackeys. Apparently, they were quite intimidated because no one tried to reach for the fallen guns.
“You know, I’m pretty content staying up in the mountains,” Sawyer said as he stepped closer.
Amber noted Donnie stepping back a few paces. He’d let go of her arm moments earlier. Even he was probably smart enough to realize he was in a losing battle.
Sawyer continued, “I’ve got everything I need there. Hunting. Working the land and growing my trees and crops. I just want to be left alone. But every now and then, a dumbass like yourself comes around and makes me realize how much I enjoy kicking ass. So I should really thank you for this opportunity. But you took my babygirl, so I’m not going to show an ounce of mercy. In fact?—”
Sawyer’s movements were so quick and efficient that Amber didn’t even realize what was happening in great detail. A punch was thrown. A kick. Maybe more punches?
All she knew was that, in lightning speed, Donnie was on the ground, writhing in agony before his cries fell silent and his tongue hung from his open mouth.
“Is he?—”
“No, babygirl. Just knocked out cold,” Sawyer said as his powerful arms wrapped around her.
“Daddy!” she cried.
“Oh, babygirl. Daddy’s here.” He kissed the top of her head and swayed her.
Approaching sirens were heard and Donnie’s men instantly raised their hands and sank to their knees, as if they had practice with this sort of thing.
Amber didn’t care what happened to them. She was safe with Daddy now. That was all that mattered.
“You came for me,” she cried. “You all came for me!”
The crew from Big Cedar smiled and nodded.
“You’re one of us, honey,” Sheriff Quinn said. “We’re your family now.”
“That’s right,” Sawyer said. He grinned at his friend. “And maybe I don’t hate coming down form my mountain quite as much as I let on.”
They all laughed.
“You just don’t like coming to a big city like this,” Cane said. “Who would? Get me back to the mountains and pronto.”
They all agreed.
“And guess who else came,” Sawyer said. “Honey and Jazzie. Waiting in Quinn’s pickup over there.”
“Is Honey okay?” the Little asked.
“Good as new. Quinn drove and I patched her up on the road. That was good thinking, giving me that signal. You’re one smart Little girl.”
She giggled as she hugged Daddy again.
Police officers and first responders came onto the scene, filling the dingy parking lot with blue and red lights. Amber ran to her stuffies and hugged them tightly, too, before getting another hug from Daddy.
Somehow, just like that, life was perfect again.