8. Sammy
CHAPTER 8
SAMMY
The wait was killing me. I didn’t know if Juice heard my warning on the radio or not. For the past fifteen minutes, I’d been debating whether or not I should head in the direction I knew they’d gone or stay put by the truck. Then I heard the crack of a gun and Oliver’s scream.
My knees buckled as I jumped out of the truck and ran straight into the woods. I didn’t know where I was going. All I knew was that something bad had happened to my boy, and I was going to get to him even if I had to crawl to him on my hands and knees.
My foot caught on something, and I pitched forward, slamming my head against a tree before I tumbled to the ground. I ran my fingers over my forehead, wincing as they brushed over a painful bump. Knocking myself out while running through the forest would be a bad move. I needed to pay more attention to where I was stepping if I wanted to get to my son .
I got up and moved forward again, this time a little slower. It was going to take me forever to find my way through the woods. Even though I’d lived in Montana my whole life, I’d never been interested in spending a ton of time in the great outdoors. While my classmates went on survivalist weekends and learned how to make fire with a pair of glasses and a piece of twine, I’d been helping my mom around the cafe. Now I wished I’d been one of those kids who spent summers hiking trails through Yellowstone.
Something wet brushed against my arm. I pulled back and groaned. Probably just swiped my arm against a toxic mushroom or a bundle of poison ivy. Then something nudged into my leg. I looked down to see Sirius. I’d never been so happy to see a four-legged animal in my life.
“You didn’t get eaten.” I bent down and wrapped my arms around his neck. Finally, something good had happened. Then I looked up, straight into the eyes of a giant wolf. My legs gave out, and I went down.
“Easy there, Sammy.” Juice came out of nowhere and crouched down next to me.
“Mom?”
Tears welled up in my eyes, making it impossible to see. “Oliver? Oh, baby. Come give me a hug.”
His thin arms wrapped around my neck. I got back up on my knees and hugged him tight.
“I was so worried about you. Are you hurt?” I didn’t want to let go, but I needed to know he was okay .
“My stomach hurts a little.” He rubbed his palm over his belly. “I ate a lot of cookies. Are you mad?”
“No, I’m not mad at all.” My sweet, sweet boy. He’d just survived the scariest experience of his life and he was worried he’d get in trouble for having too many cookies.
“Let’s get back to the clubhouse. I don’t want to be out here any longer than necessary.” Juice helped me to my feet and picked up Oliver.
“Did you meet the wolf, Mom? His name is Hades. Juice has a dog that’s part wolf too.” Oliver’s voice vibrated with excitement. He didn’t sound like a little boy who’d been traumatized. Even though he’d only been gone for a few hours, a lot could have happened during that time. I wouldn’t be able to take a full breath until I checked over every inch of him.
We reached the truck and Juice held the back door open. “Why don’t you two ride in the back and I’ll have Sirius sit up front with me?”
“That sounds good.” I waited until he set Oliver down on the seat, then leaned over and secured the seatbelt.
“I don’t have to be in a booster?” Oliver asked.
“Not tonight, sweetie,” I said.
Juice shut the door and walked around the truck next to me. “I’m sorry. I didn’t think about him needing a special seat.”
“It’s fine. After what he’s been through, I’m okay with him riding back to the clubhouse with just a seatbelt.” I turned to face Juice and put my palms on his chest. “ Thank you for bringing him back to me. I don’t know what I would have done if something had happened.”
He pulled me close and wrapped his arms around me. “He’s safe now, Sammy. Both of you are. And I’m going to make sure it stays that way. I promise.”
Relief flooded my system. I tilted my head back and looked up into his eyes. Even in the dark, I could see he meant it. He held my gaze, his big hands curled around my shoulders. I’d always felt safe with Juice. Even back in college, he had a way of setting me at ease.
The moment stretched and something new passed between us. I was too tired to try to put a name on it, but for just a few seconds I forgot about the anger and hurt I’d carried around with me for years. Then Hades let out a low growl, breaking up the moment and pulling us both back to the present.
“We’d better get moving.” Juice put his hand at the small of my back and guided me around the truck. When he was satisfied I’d securely buckled myself, he shut the door, then climbed behind the wheel.
Oliver let out a huge yawn and tried to blink away the sleepiness that threatened. I scooted as close to him as I could and pulled his head over to lean against my side. The scent of the baby shampoo from his bath the night before filled my nose as I ran my fingers through his baby-fine hair.
He was my world, my everything… and I could have lost him.
I tried to stay awake during the drive back to the clubhouse, but must have dozed off. I woke up in Juice’s arms, my cheek snug against his chest, as he carried me from the truck into the clubhouse.
“Where’s Oliver?” My heart skittered, and I immediately snapped out of my drowsy state.
“He’s safe. I already carried him up to Stone’s room. Poor kid’s sacked out and didn’t crack an eyelid when Sirius jumped onto the bed and curled up around him.”
Juice navigated the stairs like I didn’t weigh a thing and set me down right outside the bedroom door. I shouldn’t be surprised. He used to spend more time at the gym than he did in class when we were back in college. But I’d never been a tiny little thing and still hadn’t lost the baby weight I’d packed on when I’d been pregnant with Oliver. In his arms, I felt protected… cherished even.
“Why don’t you go in and check on him?” Juice asked. “If you’re tired, you can take a nap, but at some point, we need to talk.”
I looked up at him, wanting to flinch at the pain in his eyes.
“I’m sorry,” I started.
He shook his head. “Not now, Sammy. Go check on our boy. I’m going to get some coffee started. If you feel up to talking, you can find me downstairs.”
He’d said our boy . I didn’t know how to interpret that. Oliver and I had been on our own for so long. Was Juice planning on becoming a permanent fixture in our lives? A chill raced up and down my spine. He wouldn’t try to take him away from me, would he?
“Okay.” I wouldn’t be able to fall asleep again, not with so many emotions swirling around inside. I’d save my questions for later, though. At that moment, all I wanted to do was set eyes on Oliver again.
Juice opened the door for me and motioned for me to go inside. Then he turned and walked down the hall, disappearing from sight, and leaving me with more questions than answers.