31. King
Loch and I are finally on our way back to our table with the food after what felt like an hour waiting. I’m ready to inhale this food and go home, and hopefully everyone agrees with me. Sparrow has been out in the open too long, and I’m starting to feel like I could come out of my skin.
Walking past a group of people, Loch yells, “Uncle Ace!” Quickly turning my head, I find my brother in the middle of two women, clearly trying to bring one of them home. Looking around, I don’t see Sparrow in the group of people. Continuing on to the table, the only people there are River and Telle.
Dropping the food down, I hold eye contact with River until he gets up and we take a couple steps away from the table. “Where’s Sparrow?” I say lowly.
“I don’t know, I thought she was with you when we got back, and no one was here,” River mutters back so the kids don’t overhear.
I’m going to kill Ace. He was supposed to stay with Sparrow until I got back, my dad was already pulled away, pissing me off. Cam walks up before I can decide what to do.
“Where’s Skye?” He looks around before turning back to face me. “Where’s Sparrow?”
Think, I need to think.
I need to find Sparrow and get my family home before I lose my ever-loving mind. After that, I’m probably going to be a family member short. If anything happens to Sparrow, Ace better pray for mercy.
“Riv, get Dad over here right now. I want him to get the kids out of here.” I watch as my brother puts his phone to his ear, then turn to face Cam. “I don’t have a good feeling about this. How do you want to play this?”
I’ll give him one shot to play this by the book, but I won’t hesitate to take over. “The women wouldn’t take off. I’m calling this—” He pauses when his phone in his hand lights up. Cam looks down, and I watch the color drain from his face.
He takes off running without saying anything. Looking over at River, he nods, so I take off after Cam. He runs into the ladies’ restroom and comes to halt when Skye comes into view. She is sitting on the floor crying, surrounded by women.
Cam and I push our way through the wall of women, dropping to our knees. Cam pulls Skye into his arms, but I don’t have time for him to console her.
“Where’s Sparrow, Skye?” I practically shout. Cam shoots me a look over her shoulder, but I don’t have time to be gentle.
“I’m so sorry. She protected me, he knew I was in here. He has a gun; he made her throw her phone away and go with him. It’s all my fault.” She sobs into Cam’s chest.
Jumping up, I reach into the garbage and pull Sparrow’s phone out. Storming to the door, I hear Cam behind me, “Be smart, King.”
Stepping outside, I run into River and Ace. Charging Ace, I take him to the ground. Punching him in the ribs, I get a couple punches in before Cam pulls me off of him. “Not here. There’re too many fucking eyes.”
“You were supposed to stay with her, Ace,” I scream out. “But you had to go and do what you always do. Fuck up.”
Cam steps in the middle of us, Skye attached to his side. “Listen, I’m already checking to see if they have any cameras in the lot or at the gate. Your dad and the kids are at his truck. We need to go out there, calmly, and once they leave, we will figure out a plan.”
Holding Ace’s stare, I nod and follow Cam out into the parking lot. Along the way my eyes are scanning for any clues. My anger rises as I look in every vehicle I pass and don't find Sparrow. Reaching my dad’s truck, I take some deep breaths before talking to the kids. They are going to know something is wrong as soon as they see Sparrow isn’t with me.
“Daddy! We didn’t get to eat our food!” Loch shouts from her spot next to my dad. Telle is looking around and I can see his body straighten when he doesn’t see his mom.
“Where’s Mom?” Telle demands.
These kids are too smart and have been through too much to not see through a lie; I have to tell them the truth.
Kneeling down in front of them, I reach out to them and pull them closer to me. “Your mom isn’t here. But I swear, I’m going to get her back. I’m going to get her back, and she will never leave us again.”
Loch wipes a tear off my face that I didn’t know was there before whispering, “Did the bad man find Mommy?”
“You said you would keep her safe! You promised!” Telle screams as he grabs ahold of his sister’s hand.
Gripping the back of my neck, I say, “I know, son. I’m so sorry I couldn’t keep that promise. I need you to go with Papa Jack while I get your mom.”
Not giving Telle anytime to push me away, I wrap my arms around both of them. “I love you guys so much. I’m so sorry.”
The look of defeat on Loch and Telle’s face as I help them get into my dad’s truck sends a thousand knives to my chest. I failed to keep my family safe today, and there’s no one else to blame but me. I should have never entrusted Sparrow’s safety to anyone else. Once I get my bird back, I need to seriously think if staying at the school is the best option for us. I don’t know when I’m going to forgive Ace for today.
Getting into my truck Cam tells me to follow him to his house. Nodding my head, I start my truck. Looking at the passenger seat, I envision Sparrow there with a smile on her face. She tells me that this is her new favorite day as she lays her head on my shoulder. Blinking, reality comes back into focus, and instead of Sparrow, it’s River in the passenger seat.
Following Cam out of the parking lot, I gun it once we are on the country road. Cam has his lights on, so that means I can also drive like a madman. I need to shut my brain off because what it’s envisioning, isn’t good.
“We’ll get her back,” River hesitantly says. When I don’t bother answering, he continues, “Ace…he’s kicking himself in the ass for not staying with Sparrow.” Rolling my eyes, I turn down Cam’s driveway, sending the truck sideways.
“If Ace has any brains at all, he will not talk to me until Sparrow is back with me. Where she belongs. And after that, I still don’t know when I’ll be ready to talk to him.”
“King—”
I cut him off because there is nothing he could say that would make this okay. “No, River. There is nothing he can do to make this right. If I don’t get her back, I’ll have to survive for the kids, but I’ll be dead inside.”
There is no me without Sparrow.
We are gathered around Cam’s desk as he logs into the sheriff's office database. The fairgrounds didn’t have cameras in the lot, Cam has already requested footage from the two nearest stop lights.
“King…” Looking up, I find Skye in the doorway. Cam ushered her up to their room as soon as they got here. I was starting to get worried about her; she had lost all color and was trembling uncontrollably when we arrived.
My dad brought the kids here, and they headed straight to one of the spare rooms to lie down. I checked on them before coming in here and found them both sound asleep. Telle has gone back to hating me during his car ride over here, and I don’t blame him. I can’t imagine what Loch and Telle are thinking; they were there when Sparrow was attacked last, and I imagine they heard things that will stay with them forever.
Skye slowly walks up to the desk and says, “Before he took her, Sparrow said to tell you that she loved you.” She pauses to wipe her face. “King, she loves you and those kids so much.” She breaks down in tears again, so Cam leads her out of the room.
Hanging my head, I count to ten before I start punching holes in Cam’s walls. Of course, Sparrow’s last thoughts before being drug to hell were of me and the kids. Not how to save herself, or hell, anything else. No, she thought about us.
“King, I think—”
“I don’t fucking care what you think, Ace.” Lifting my head, I stare at my younger brother. The brother that I stole food for to make sure he would get a meal. The brother who I went to every baseball game to watch him play, to make sure he had someone in the stands. The brother who I’ve helped through his anxiety and depression.
The brother who failed Sparrow today.
“Okay, I’m waiting for the footage, but I think we should start thinking of some remote spots. Hunting cabins. Abandoned houses. Anywhere,” Cam says as he comes back into the room.
He drags out a map and pulls up google earth on his computer. My dad steps closer to the desk as I hear him on the phone. “Dewey, anyone been up to your cabin lately? Okay, yeah. Well, we are going to send some troopers out there, my daughter-in-law is missing.” He hangs up the call, looking at Cam.
“Send some guys out to Dewey’s cabin, out before Sable Point.” He points at the map, and I wait for Cam to nod his head before I head towards the door.
“Where are you going, King?” Cam asks, stopping my movement.
“To Dewey’s.” We used to go to Dewey’s to fish all the time, I know how hard it is to get to. Cam’s guys will have a hell of a time to get to it, it will be easier for me to get to.
“I’ll go with you,” Ace says as he walks my way. Rolling my eyes, because it’s going to take a hell of a lot more than riding shotgun to get me to forgive him.
“Hell, I’m not going to be able to reign you in. Check-in when you get there,” Cam instructs.
He wouldn’t be able to stop me and he knows it.
Slowly walking towards the kids, I discover that they're both still asleep. Brushing Loch’s hair out of her face, I kiss her forehead. Moving towards Telle, I take in his swollen eyes. My son acts so strong for his sister, reminding me so much of me and my brothers. Kissing his forehead, I whisper, “I love you guys. I will bring your mom home.”
Turning around, I find Skye and Ace waiting in the hallway. Closing the door behind me, I stop in front of Skye. “You’ll stay with them?”
“Of course. I’m going to lay down with them. I’ll text you if they need you when they wake up.”
Pulling her into my arms, I tell her, “Go rest. Take care of my kids, I’m going to go search for Bird. Text me if you need me.”
Stomping through the house, I get to my truck in record time, Ace climbing into the passenger seat. Speeding off, all I can think about is what Sparrow’s going through. How far from a hospital is she going to be? Will I get to her before she needs a hospital? Will I get to her in time?
I’m coming for you, Bird, I swear I’m coming for you.
Please be okay.
I need you.