Chapter 15
CHEWIE
“How’s your arm?” I asked Donner as I handed him a bottle of water and sat down on the chair next to his.
“Just bruised. It’ll heal,” he said as he readjusted the puppies that were snuggled up together on his chest. “We need to talk about what happened.”
“You don’t think it was an accident?” I asked as I looked over my shoulder to make sure that no one else was outside.
“I know it wasn’t,” Donner said as he reached up and rubbed the back of his neck. He grimaced and said, “I think the airbags smacking me hurt worse than it would have if I’d just hit the dash.”
“Did Brinn just piss somebody off in traffic or what?” I asked.
“I don’t think so. I saw that car when we were pulling into the junkyard, and it was in the parking lot when we left, but I didn’t really think much of it. I was holding on for dear life, so I didn’t notice the car following us.”
“You told the cops it was a truck.”
“Car, truck, whatever. It was an older vehicle with some substantial dings, not rusted out but not new either. I just figured it was at the junkyard for the same reason we were.”
“You didn’t see the driver?”
“From the size of the person behind the wheel, I’d say it was a man. He had his hood up, so I didn’t get hair color or any of that shit. He did a pit maneuver, and we started spinning, so I didn’t get a good look at him as he passed.”
“Shit. I’m surprised the three of you are okay.”
“Taya’s SUV is fucked, and so are those trees, but we got off easy.”
“So, that’s all you remember?”
“It happened so quickly that all I could see was sunglasses.”
“Sunglasses? Who the fuck around here wears sunglasses?” I muttered.
“Someone who doesn’t want to be recognized?” Donner suggested.
“So, you think this was on purpose and not some reckless asshole?”
“I’m almost positive.”
“What the fuck?”
“We were in Taya’s vehicle, so I’m going to assume they were gunning for her.”
“I wonder if that prick saw her leave my house with the dog.”
“Either way, that prick is going to get a visit from me before I leave,” Donner assured me.
“I wonder if the junkyard has cameras.”
“Doubtful.”
“Every business has cameras these days.”
“It’s a fucking junkyard, Chewie. Why would they bother?”
“Could it be someone coming after you?”
“Driving a beater like that? Not likely.”
“I seriously doubt Brinn or Samara have made any enemies that would want to hurt them like that.”
“That leaves your old lady.”
“She’s not the type to piss somebody off so badly that they want to kill her.”
“What about her work?”
“What about it?”
“Did she kill off a character and piss off a bunch of readers or something?”
“I don’t know,” I whispered in wonder as it dawned on me that might be a possibility. “She’s getting ready to release another one, and I know some people are making waves online because she didn’t put the main guy with the woman they think he deserves or some shit.”
“What kind of waves?”
“Not ones big enough to make me think anyone wants to hurt her.”
“The cops are doing their thing, but I don’t think they’re taking it seriously. It seems like they’re blowing it off as a road rage thing. I think you should call Ajax and see if he can come up with something on the license plate.”
“Do you remember it?”
“Of course I do. I remember everything.”
“You guys! Come inside, and play with us,” Samara yelled before the screen door slammed, and she disappeared again.
“Fuck. Just kill me, man.”
“Come on. It will be fun.”
“If you think this is gonna be fun, then you’re gonna love your first colonoscopy.”
◆◆◆
“I can’t see shit!” Jodie yelled as she moved her arm back and forth, trying to touch Taya’s hand. “Help me out, Taya!”
“Well, I can’t see a damn thing either!” Taya yelled just as loudly.
I wiped the tears off my cheeks as I tried to catch my breath, but when Taya attempted to high five Jodie to win each of them a point but completely missed, she almost fell off of her chair. Obviously, I lost it all over again.
Even Donner was enjoying himself, if the sound of his wheezing laughter was any indication.
The girls were just as amused, but then again, Brinn and Samara were on the same pain medication as Donner to help them with the stiffness and discomfort of the injuries from today’s wreck, so that was probably adding to the reason for their recurring fit of giggles.
All in all, it could have been so much worse, but that didn’t make me feel any better.
Samara had a lot of bruises and a pretty good bump on the head since she wasn't wearing her seatbelt and got thrown around in the back seat.
Brinn had needed three stitches in her hairline and had a possible concussion.
She also needed a brace on her wrist after it was hit by the force of the airbag deploying as she held up her hand to protect her face.
Donner had fared about as well. He had bumps and bruises along with a sling to keep his arm immobile while his bruised shoulder healed.
Taya’s SUV was totaled, according to her son who had called to report that he’d had one of their trucks tow it to their yard.
He hadn’t been able to make it himself but had sent two employees over to drop off one of the company vehicles for Taya to drive until she settled with her insurance and was able to buy a new vehicle.
It could have been so much worse. If I kept telling myself that, I might calm down at some point. It was doubtful but worth a try.
With their mission failed, Taya and Jodie took off the goggles they’d been wearing and passed them over to Jaimee and Samara, who were anxious for their turn.
Even as I laughed with everyone else as I took my turn trying to navigate a random task wearing glasses that made the world look upside down, my thoughts kept straying to who might have it out for my girl and how I was going to protect her from an unknown threat.
I wasn’t sure how I’d do it, I just knew I would. When I found out where the threat was coming from, I would end the problem for good.
That was a fact.
◆◆◆
TAYA
Once I had the girls settled in their separate bedrooms, I felt a lot better about the evening. Jodie had insisted that she didn’t mind that Jaimee wanted to stay at my house with Brinn and Samara, who would be under my watchful eye for the next twenty-four hours or so.
Who was I kidding? After that call today and the rush to get to them after the accident, Brinn would be lucky if I let her out of my sight again before she was thirty.
I filled Rose’s water bowl and was sitting next to her bed to love on the puppies and give her some attention when Chevy walked into the laundry room carrying one of the chew toys he’d purchased at the store today.
He gave it to Rose, who looked grateful for the attention, which broke my heart.
The poor girl had been through so much in the last week.
From what the vet said after looking at the x-rays and other tests she’d run, Rose had been through much more than just being shot by an arrow.
She had clearly been abused her entire life.
According to the vet, it was a miracle that she was in such good shape now.
When she told me what Rose’s tests had shown, I cried in sympathy and vowed to make sure the rest of her days were spent in peace and filled with enough love to hopefully make up for the horrible start she’d had in life.
The vet employees had bathed her and trimmed her long white hair.
Now that it was shorter, it was easier to see that she was a female rather than a male like we’d originally thought.
Of course, the little pink bows above her ears made it obvious along with the hot pink collar the girls had chosen at the vet’s office.
“Who’s a good girl?” Chewie whispered as he rested his forehead on hers while he scratched her neck.
Just like me, Rose ate up every scrap of attention he gave her. When he sat up, I could tell she craved more, just like I did when we were apart.
There was obviously something about the man, because it was apparent that Rose had fallen as fast and as hard as I had. It amazed me just how much I looked forward to talking to him and how happy I was to see him again even when we’d only been away from each other for a few hours.
Today’s events cemented the fact that Chewie was someone I could count on.
When I wanted to break down and cry but knew I had to be strong for my daughter, his calloused hand in mine grounded me and helped me get through that moment and then the next and the one after that, all the while comforting me with his strong presence.
“Are you still upset?” Chewie asked. When I just stared at him, he said, “That makes sense.” He took my hand and then lifted it to his mouth and kissed my knuckles.
“What I’m about to tell you is going to upset you even more, but I want you to know that I’m here for whatever you need and then some. ”
I tensed at the warning tone in his voice and asked, “What is it?”
“Donner told me that the truck that hit the girls today did it deliberately.”
“How does he know that? The cops said . . .”
“He thinks they were followed to the junkyard, and then they followed them out of the parking lot and waited until they were on that winding part of the road before clipping the bumper to intentionally make them lose control and crash.”
“Why? Who?” I yelled. “What the fuck?”
“We talked it through, and we’re sure it didn’t have anything to do with Brinn, and it wasn’t about Donner, so we think it might be someone who was aiming to hurt you.”
“Me? Why? Who would do that?”
“If I knew that, I wouldn’t be here right now; I’d be out making sure nothing like this happens again.”
“We should call that officer who worked the wreck.”
“For what? To tell him we have a theory that seems insanely outlandish and unhinged?”
“He’d probably think that, but you and Donner know how people like that think, so . . .” When Chewie raised his eyebrows in shock, I hurried to say, “That didn’t sound like I . . . I didn’t mean . . . Shit.”
“As sad as it may be, you’re probably right. We don’t think like cops; that’s for damn sure.”
“Is Donner really sure it was the same person following them? Maybe it was a truck that looked a lot like one he’d seen earlier. Maybe . . .”
“The person driving had their hood up and was wearing sunglasses.”
“Who wears sunglasses on a rainy day in Oregon?”
“That was my first thought too.”
“What do I do? How do I figure this out?”
“Donner and I have a theory. It may be that little shit that lives down the street from me,” Chewie said as he reached out and touched Rose’s head. She nuzzled her face into the palm of his hand as he said, “If we find out that it was him, we’ll take care of it.”
“Take care of it?”
Chewie looked up at me and frowned before he said, “I’d rather not tell you how, but believe me, it will be in a way that will mean he’ll never hurt another person or animal, okay?”
“I trust you, Chewie, but I want you to make sure that whatever you do doesn’t take you away from me. And Samara too! Remember that you’re not alone. What happens to your future affects more than just you now, okay?”
Chewie smiled and leaned closer. His lips were almost touching mine when he said, “Believe me, that’s at the forefront of my mind. I’m not leaving Samara, and I’m not leaving you either. Obviously, Samara is important to me, but so are you.”
I kissed Chewie with all the emotion I was feeling and then leaned back far enough to look into his eyes before I said, “Take me to bed, Chevy.”
“Gladly, my love.”
◆◆◆
CHEWIE
“Have you talked to Ajax?” I yawned before I shook my head and put the next bite of food in my mouth. Once I swallowed, I said, “You just got up. Why are you so tired already?” Donner rethought his question and said, “Nope! I don’t want to know.”
“It’s Taya’s bed. When you first lay down, it feels like a cloud, but then it sucks you in and starts to feel like quicksand made of lava. I get so fucking hot that I can’t sleep and then I feel like I can’t breathe and I just have to get up.”
“Maybe you should buy her a new mattress for Christmas.”
“I’ll die of exhaustion before then.”
“Don’t be a pussy. Have you talked to Ajax yet,” Donnar asked impatiently.
I shook my head. “I sent him a text last night, and he said he’d get back to me if he got any information.”
“I sent him a message early this morning after I went snooping around at that house. They’ve got some late model vehicles and one classic in the garage, but it’s up on blocks, and it’s a car and not a truck.”
“Doesn’t mean they don’t have one somewhere else.”
“True. I watched the house this morning. Mom left about six, and Dad followed about twenty minutes after seven. Looks like their darling son is home for the day. Want me to go have a chat with him?”
“Let’s give him a day or two to relax and then wake him up one morning after Mom and Dad go to work. We’ll need to keep an eye on the house until then.”
“On it. It’s not like I can sleep in a regular bed very easily, so I’m up and down all night long anyway.”
“I’ll talk to Jodie and tell her to . . .”
“She was with me while I snooped around last night, so she knows what’s up.” Donner laughed before he said, “She was just as shocked as I was that you let that asshole live after you found him peeking in the windows.”
“Fear of returning to prison is a great motivator for me to do whatever I can to stay the fuck out and free. I’ve got a lot riding on my freedom. I don’t want to miss any more of Samara’s life than I already have.”
“Understood, brother. I don’t exactly want to go back either, so whatever I happen to do, I’ll make sure I’m extra careful.”
“That sounds like a plan.”
“What’s on the agenda for today?”
“I’ve gotta check on some stuff in the shop and then go to the lumberyard and buy some supplies.”
“For what?”
“I’m going to build something for my girl, and if she likes it, I have a feeling I’ll be building a lot more.”
“Shit. I guess you’re gonna want me to help, aren’t you?”
“It’s not like your social calendar is going to get in the way.”
“I knew I should have stayed home.”
“Bullshit. You’re enjoying my company whether you want to admit it or not.”
“Let’s go with not.”