32. Chapter 31
Chapter 31
Declan
T oday, my crew is working on the other side of the mountain. The vast expanse of land before us waits for the stroke of our saws as we harvest the towering trees, turning them into lumber. Our commitment to the environment means we plant twice as many saplings as we uproot, ensuring the cycle of growth and maintaining the prosperity of our environment. This means we have to meet our deadline and get out of the way for the planters to come through. I’ve been putting in extra hours to get it finished on time.
The air is thick with the pungent aroma of sweat mingling with the heady scent of freshly cut wood. As I reach into my pocket, a sudden realization dawns upon me. I don’t have my cell phone with me. As I retrace my steps back to my old truck, I realize I’ve left it inside.
Reaching inside, I feel the smooth vinyl seat beneath my fingertips. I grab my phone and eagerly unlock it, hoping to find a text or a missed call from Savannah. The anticipation of calling home to check on her grows as I recall how sick she’s been lately. Despite my excitement about her pregnancy, I can’t help but wish she shared the same level of enthusiasm. We haven’t received a positive test yet, but the countless times I’ve fucked my cum into her, coupled with her symptoms, leave no doubt in my mind that we have a baby on the way. As I envision our future child, a warm smile spreads across my face. Will they inherit Kenzi’s features? Will they resemble their mother or perhaps take after me, a little man?
Glancing down at my phone, I notice a missed call notification flashing on the screen. With a quick swipe, I access the voicemail and press play. As the sound floods my ears, I can sense the panic in Savannah’s voice, causing my heart to pound against my chest and my breaths to come out rapidly.
Without hearing the whole message play, I jump into my truck, the engine roaring to life as I speed toward my cabin. With one hand on the steering wheel, I dial Mason’s number, adrenaline pumping through my veins.
“Hello. Sheriff Walker,” he answers.
“Mason, something is wrong. Savannah—” I pause, not knowing what to say.
“Calm down, Declan. I’m on my way,” Mason assures me as I hear the faint sound of footsteps. I know he’s on his way.
Hanging up, I know Mason will be there as soon as he can. Glancing out of the windshield, I notice the sky is turning gray; however, the closer I get to home, I realize that it’s smoke. And it’s coming from the direction of the cabin. My heart races in my chest as panic sets in.
Soon, thick smoke fills the air, making it hard to breathe. Once I get as close as the fire will allow, I exit the truck and walk the rest of the way to the cabin. Each step towards home feels heavier than the last, my legs growing weak with every passing second.
The smell of burning wood stings my senses, causing me to hasten my steps. Thoughts of my home, where Savannah is, now consumed by the raging fire, send waves of fear crashing through me. I can’t help but imagine the worst-case scenario, my mind conjuring images of flames devouring everything I hold dear. It’s terrifying knowing Savannah and our unborn baby are inside.
The normally vibrant sky, now obscured by the thick smoke, adds to the sense of impending doom. The once-blue canvas has morphed into a haunting gray. It’s as if the heavens themselves are mourning the loss that awaits me at home.
I don’t know if I’ll have the strength to live if I’ve lost Savannah. She’s my world, my life, and I can’t live without her. With each step, the smoke grows thicker, obscuring my vision and making it harder to see more than a few feet ahead of me. The crackling sounds of the fire echo in the distance, intensifying the fear that grips my soul. I start screaming. “Savannah, Savannah.” My lungs ache, but I push forward, fueled by the love for my sweet girl and the determination to protect her if there’s a possibility that she’s still alive.
Arriving at the cabin, I watch as the flames dance menacingly, devouring the structure that once held everything important to me. It’s obvious this fire has been burning for a while, because there isn’t much left of my cabin. The sight is devastating. I would run into the building to save Savannah if there was anything left to run into. However, all that’s left are only flames, ashes, and crumbled remains. The sight brings me to my knees, tears cascading down my cheeks as I hear the squad cars and sirens behind me.
I hear people running and Mason screaming, “Look for the woman! She’s small, maybe five feet tall, dark hair, possibly with a small child. Look over the entire grounds in case they escaped the cabin.”
Even amidst all of the chaos of Mason and his deputies searching the area, I am still screaming at the top of my lungs for my Savannah. By the time I stop, my voice comes out hoarse. Her absence making me lose all sense of hope.
I feel a hand on my shoulder before my brother speaks, “I’m sorry, Dec, so damn sorry.”
The fire department has arrived and starts spraying water on the remains of the cabin and the surrounding trees.
“I can’t go on after this, Mason,” I whisper, my voice trembling with despair, the weight of my words hanging heavy in the air. The despair I feel in this moment almost makes me want to lie down and quit breathing. My trembling hands reach out, grasping for something, anything, but there’s nothing left to grab but gray air.
“Dec, was Kenzi inside with Savannah?”
Mason’s question takes a second to register. My baby girl is still alive and with my mother. Tears come faster as I think of Kenzi and the pain she’s going to feel when I have to tell her that her mother is gone.
“She’s with Mom today. Savannah was sick again, so I left her at home to rest. I’m pretty sure she was pregnant,” I say as my chin falls to my chest and more tears flow from my eyes. “Mason, how do I tell that little girl that her mother is gone? I’ll kill anyone who tries to take her from me.”
Devastation turns to rage as I think of Savannah’s ex coming forward and trying to take Kenzi from me. She might have his DNA, but she’s got my heart, and I will kill anyone who is a threat to her safety.
I hear Mason dial his phone and check to make sure Mom and Kenzi are safe, sending extra officers to guard her house.
As Mason helps me to my feet, the fire chief walks up to us.
“Sheriff Walker, this fire was set deliberately, and your deputies tell us there was a woman inside?”
A sound escapes me at the thought of Savannah perishing in the fire.
“Sir, I can confirm there were no bodies found. No one was inside.” Relief rolls through my body. My brain can’t catch up to what my ears are hearing.
“Where is she?” I question with a renewed sense of hope.
A deputy walks up to us. “Sheriff, we’ve searched the perimeter, and no one has been found.”
Mason’s brain is working as I see his eyes dart around, trying to figure out what happened to Savannah.
“Mason, he has her. There’s no way Savannah would have left and not told me.” I recall her voicemail and realize it makes complete sense. “I received a voicemail. She said someone was beating on the door with something. I forgot all about it until just now.”
“Judging by the state of the home, it appears the front door had been securely nailed shut,” the chief adds. “The broken glass outside the house suggests the windows had been broken prior to the cabin catching fire. ”
“The crazy fuck nailed the fucking door closed and set the house on fire? How the hell did this lunatic work for the police department for years and no one realize he is a fucking psychopath?” I can’t contain my anger and disbelief at how cruel Savannah’s ex is.
“Thanks, Chief. Keep me updated on your investigation,” Mason responds, his brain still working behind the scenes.
“Declan, we are going to find her and get her back,” my brother reassures me, and I know he will do everything he can to find her.
“I know who I need to call, Mason, and just this once, I need you to look the other way. I’m not living without my woman. She’s coming home to me and our daughter. I’m willing to burn the entire world down to find her and bring her home safely. I know that son of a bitch did this, and he has to be dealt with so that my family can live without looking over our shoulder for the rest of our lives.”
“Brother, I’m with you. I’m your family first, an officer of the law second. We’ll do anything we have to bring Savannah home, and I do mean anything.”
I know from his statement that we are on the same page, and Mason will cover up whatever we have to do from his end. He also knows what I’m going to do next and gives me a nod to let me know to go ahead.
I know how much it takes for Mason to commit to breaking the law. He would never do that unless there was no other option.
“I’m going to make a call,” I say as I walk away and call the one person who I know can help.