Chapter 45
FORTY-FIVE
Bishop
Whatever elation I felt at seeing my daughter in the kitchen of the Stockton household for the first time, it’s rivaled by the feeling I have right now of having her in my arms and knowing she’s alive and safe again.
“Bishop,” she sobs into my chest and wraps her arms around me for the first time.
I hate it’s under these circumstances that we’re getting our first hug, but having her blow past her uncles and seek me out right now makes my heart swell until it feels like it might break.
And it does with the next words out of her mouth.
“They took her. They took Mom. You have to get her. Please.” She pulls back and looks at me; my own eyes are staring back at me with her mother’s bright green in them, rimmed with an even brighter red. It shatters me.
“Who took her, sweetheart?” I search her face.
“The same men who took me. They traded us to Jay.”
I whip my attention in his direction, where he still stands outside his sheriff’s car. Grant, Levi, and Ramsey are all laser focused on him, and his eyes scan all four of us before he shakes his head.
“It’s the governor and his sons. They took her to Fool’s Gold to have her show them the relic.
” Jay answers the unspoken question in our silent threat.
“I’m going to fix it. For good this time.
” He doesn’t wait for our answer, probably half afraid we’ll kill him right here and now for his involvement in this.
The door slams behind him, and he tears out of the parking lot, lights and sirens blazing.
I turn my attention back to Fallon.
“Are you okay? Did they hurt you?” I ask her.
“I’m okay. Just some little bruises on my wrists.
They didn’t hurt me. They just held me and wouldn’t let me go home.
” She speaks through stuttered breaths, her choked sobs making it hard to hear each distinct word, but I’m confident that whoever did this is gonna pay with their life. “But Mom. Mom needs you.”
“I’ve got her. I promise.” I pull her close, hugging her tightly and kissing the top of her head before I pull back and hold her eyes. “I’ve got your mom, but you need to stay here with your uncles. I need to know you’re safe.”
“Okay.” She nods her agreement, sniffling back another sob, and her spirits lift ever so slightly with my words.
“You got her?” I look to my brothers-in-law.
“I’ve got her.” Grant nods to me.
I squeeze her one last time, whispering what I hope aren’t my last words against the crown of her head as I try to capture a lifetime of love into one hug. “I love you, Fallon.”
Then I let her go, taking off across the parking lot.
“Where are you going?” Ramsey calls after me, Levi already scrambling for the door to get his own keys. I don’t have to ask to know he’ll be on my heels as fast as he can, speeding straight for the mine.
“To get my wife.”