Chapter 10
Chapter Ten
Sydney
My week off was uneventful. My attorneys got the zoo to pay me partial wages by explaining a bit of my case to them.
I still haven’t told them the entire story, but I know I’m going to have to soon.
My attorneys, my mom, and I have a meeting with the zoo board in a couple of weeks to go over everything. To explain my past and the issues.
Today is the anniversary of the attack. I’ve been grumpy with everyone. I’ve only found a bit of comfort working with Umi and the elephants. The memories are right there, wanting to come out. The pain of everything I went through and saw wants to bury me in a wave of despair.
“Are you going to tell me what happened?” Lydia corners me as I’m heading out to my car.
“I can’t right now. I’m not ready. But let’s just say that my last trek didn’t end in the best way.” I can’t go over it all. I’ve been talking to my counselor, but it still hasn’t come out completely.
“You know I’m always here for you.”
“I know, but you’re going through a lot right now.” I point out her issues, trying to deflect from mine.
Her soon-to-be ex has stayed in Dallas and is avoiding her and the kids, but she found out he was trying to sell their family home without her permission.
She had to have the attorney stop it. He didn’t care that his kids still had their stuff there.
He said he needed the money to purchase his new home in Dallas.
He reminds me so much of my own father. Ready to start a new family and forget his old one.
“Actually, it’s not so bad. Colton agreed to wait to sell the house. He’s even coming back in the next couple of weeks and wants to see the kids. His boss called him back last month for some emergency meetings, but now he can come back here, he said.”
“Really? He hasn’t wanted anything to do with Micah and Michelle.”
I’m confused because when he was at my house, he was yelling about how he wanted his children, and then he didn’t want them except for small bits of time.
“He left me a message stating that he wants to spend some time with them now. He doesn’t even call them, and Micah has started acting up. He just craves time with a man.”
“That’s pretty messed up. Maybe Tucker will spend some time with him. I can ask if you want me to.”
“Hey, Syd.”
We both turn at the voice as it shifts from a deep tone back to a youthful one.
Jace is running up to us. After I had lunch with him a few weeks ago, he finds me every chance he can to talk to me.
I like the kid, and I found out his dad works a lot away from home, so his grandfather moved here to be with him.
His mother has been flacking out on her responsibilities. I know he craves a mother’s attention.
“Hello, Jace. Are you waiting for your ride?”
It’s spring break, so he’s not in classes at school and has been pulling longer shifts to get his community service done. He says he loves working at the zoo and is thinking about applying for a position.
We are standing by Lydia’s car, and I look over to mine. Something doesn’t look right.
“What the heck?” I move closer to my car and notice all four of my tires are flat.
“Shit. Who did that?” Jace exclaims.
“Watch your mouth, kid,” I tell him as something on the ground catches my eye.
“How did that happen?” Lydia asks from behind me, but my eyes are focused on the machete lying on the ground. “Oh my God! Is that—”
I move away from them and call my mom. I want to call Tucker, but I have to make this call first. The memories flash behind my closed lids as I hold back the tears threatening to come out.
“Mom, all my tires have been slashed and there’s a machete next to my car. A bloody machete,” I croak out as soon as she picks up.
“Call the police and Tucker. I’m on my way to Mari.”
I knew she would know what to do first. My baby is vulnerable and needs to be protected.
I dial Tucker after asking Lydia to call the police.
“I just called my dad. He and my grandpa are on their way too,” Jace says, and just nod, not caring. I need Tucker.
“Hey, spitfire. I’ll be heading to the house in a bit.”
He started staying most nights after we made love that first time last week. I can’t stop the sob from coming out.
“T-Tucker, my tires have been slashed.”
“I’m on my way, baby. Get security and call the police.” He hangs up, and I turn to see security approaching.
“I called Sergeant Whitlock with the Tennessee State Troopers,” Lydia says. I shake my head in confusion. “What? If I have to help him, I’m going to get perks out of it, such as immediate help.” She shakes her head back at me.
Moments later, the parking lot is flooded with red and blue lights. Sergeant Whitlock is out of his truck and heads straight toward Lydia.
“Are you okay?” he demands as his long legs eat up the distance between them.
Jace moves closer to me, as if he’s going to protect me. It doesn’t comfort me, but it makes me think of what Tucker would do.
“I’m fine, but Sydney’s car has been vandalized.” She points to me as she turns away from him. His eyes move up and down her body, checking her over.
“You called me for that?” he asks in shock and looks at me confused.
“Well, yeah. I wanted someone to come help us right away. What if the perpetrator is in the area watching us? Look at the knife they left behind.” She points at the machete.
Her words must work because he’s beside her immediately, grabbing her hand and pulling her to his truck.
“Come on, Sydney. You too, kid,” he hollers at Jace and me.
I move away from my car toward where they’re standing by the open passenger door of his truck. He lifts Lydia up into the seat and stands guard, his body tight and his hand near his holstered gun.
“Do you have any enemies?” he asks me, then turns to Lydia. “Or is this the ex?”
“Not my ex, although he could be mad at Sydney for helping me and the kids hide from him.” She must realize it’s a possibility because she calls her nanny, Krystal, to check on the kids.
The sergeant looks back at me, and I just stand there looking at the machete.
I’ve seen some like those numerous times.
I know who uses them. But we thought they wouldn’t come here because I’m so far away.
No one over there would have seen the news report.
My attorneys double-checked. Sensing my turmoil, Jace moves even closer, his body practically touching mine.
“Well, are you going to answer me?” the sergeant barks at me.
“Hey, watch it man. Can’t you see she’s in shock.” Jace tries to step between us.
“Kid, back off. I need to question her.”
“You don’t need to be an ass about it. I’m calling an attorney for her.” Jace pulls out his phone.
I put my hand on his arm. “No, Jace, it’s okay.” I look at Sergeant Whitlock. “I don’t know.” It’s an honest answer.
“You don’t know if you have enemies?” He looks at me confused.
I take him in again. He’s almost as tall as Tucker, maybe the same height.
He has seafoam green eyes and a dark five o’clock shadow along his chin.
He’s built wide, and he keeps checking out my friend, even as he questions me.
His body covering her from a possible attack.
I remember the first time I met him, I thought he was sexy, but no man holds a candle to Tucker.
“I don’t know if it’s them.” This time it’s the God’s honest truth. I don’t know.
“Who are your enemies?” he asks as Lydia tries to move around his body to get to me.
“I can’t tell you.” I move toward the blade, trying to prove to myself it isn’t them. That I’m not in danger again.
“Don’t touch that,” he says as he stands next to me. “I don’t understand why they’d use a machete. It’s a bit overkill.”
“It’s—” I stop as more red and blue lights show up along with a tow truck. I can’t explain it to them. I’m not even sure who I can tell about my past anymore.
I stand there in shock, watching everyone move around my car. Because I didn’t get close, I didn’t know until now that it has been completely vandalized on the inside too. Red paint is splashed all over the interior. The seats are slashed apart, and Marinda’s car seat is destroyed.
I’m worried about her even though I’ve called and confirmed she is safe. My mom should have made it to her by now. Jace won’t leave my side. He keeps hovering and assuring me his father and grandfather will be here soon. They’ll know what to do, he says. I just nod, going deeper into my head.
Tires squeal, and I look over to see Tucker’s truck racing through the parking lot. Chapelville is over thirty minutes from the zoo, but he made it in twenty. He’s out of the truck and moving toward me as soon as it comes to a stop. Whitlock tries to step between us.
“Get the fuck out of my way before I break you in half,” Tucker growls.
“Settle down. Who are you?”
Tucker points at me. “She is mine.” It’s all he says, and Whitlock moves aside.
Tucker’s long legs eat up the distance, and I can’t move. My legs tremble. I realize my whole body is shaking. I’m scared and not of Tucker. I’m scared of what this could possibly mean.
“Baby,” he says, and wraps me around him.
I start crying. Tears roll down my face. He lifts me up and holds me so tightly I can barely breathe, but it’s exactly what I need in this moment.
He holds me as I shatter apart, and not in a good way. I ignore Jace’s voice as he starts talking. I’m only focused on Tucker and the fear rolling through my body.
Poseidon
I’ve never been more scared in my life until this moment. Her voice when she said her tires had been slashed gutted me to the core. I couldn’t breathe until the moment she was in my arms.
I look over at her ruined car. It’s not just the tires, the interior is wrecked too.
I hold her as her mother pulls up and carries Mari to us.
She stands next to us, and I pull her into me too, holding all of them as we watch.
All of these women are mine to protect, and I almost failed them. I won’t let that happen again.