Chapter 14
VANESSA
The diaper rubs against my raw skin with every step I take, but I force myself to ignore the discomfort as I run and play with the other Littles.
Unfortunately for me, Dane and Axel insist on hovering within earshot pretty much the entire time, thwarting my attempts to have any kind of meaningful conversation about escape with my “cousins”.
“Nessie!” Lanie calls in her sweet voice. “Come swing with me!”
Just as she calls my name, she catapults herself forward and leaps from the seat, flying higher than seems safe before landing on both feet. But her right foot twists to the side as she hits the ground and her loud, pained cry rips through the air.
“Lanie!” Racing forward, Axel scoops his sobbing captive into his arms, cradling her close to his chest. “What happened? Where does it hurt?”
His tone is off somehow. Almost… panicked. As if he’s genuinely worried that she’s hurt herself.
Maybe he’s worried he’ll have to take her to the hospital. I can see where that might stress someone out if they were holding a woman hostage.
It really is too bad my own hospital escape attempt was thwarted. Sigh.
Lanie’s sobs grow louder, interrupting my musings. “M-my foot! I think it’s br-broken!”
“It’s all right, baby. Let’s go visit Uncle Ford and have him take a look.”
“Do you think she’s okay?” Worry fills Tabby’s eyes as she follows Axel and Lanie’s path to the front door.
Crouching down beside the sandbox, Dane gives one of her blonde braids a playful tug. “You know Lanie’s tougher than a little twisted ankle. I’m sure she’ll be fine, sweetheart.”
Ugh. I don’t want him to be so damn nice. It’s actually kind of cute, the way he distracts the other Littles by showing them how to build the perfect sandcastle.
And when he looks up, his brown gaze latching on mine, my breath catches in my throat. Fucking hell, he’s sexy.
Why couldn’t he just be a normal guy?
As if caught by some magnetic force, I make my way over to the sandbox and kneel beside Josie. Her smile flashes, bright and full of excitement, and guilt twists in my gut.
I’ve known Josie for close to a decade and in all that time I’ve never seen her looking so happy. So… carefree. As if all the weight of the world has been lifted from her shoulders.
Maybe I’m wrong about the lumberjacks. Maybe they aren’t as bad as I think they are. Maybe—
No. Fuck no. Regardless of how happy Josie seems, it’s just brainwashing or something. There are plenty of pictures of smiling, happy people in old cult photos and such. I still need to get us the fuck out of here.
Although, if she really is as happy as she looks, maybe I shouldn’t try to take her with me. It might be a better plan of action to find myself a way out and go find help. Bring some kind of support back with me.
The local cops, maybe. Or the FBI.
Yeah. I bet the Feds would be really interested in a former mafia family keeping women as prisoners in the mountains of Colorado.
So I guess that’s the plan. Find a route of escape for myself and bring in the cavalry. And hope they don’t decide to “relocate” again before I can return.
“Um, Uncle Dane?” Cheeks blazing bright red, Tabby tugs on Dane’s shirtsleeve.
Dane smiles down at her, and something ugly twists up inside me. Something that wants to slap that sheepish look right off Tabby’s face. “What is it, sweetheart?”
“Can I go back inside? I, um, need to potty.”
A thoughtful frown tugs at Dane’s lips. “I don’t want you wandering around by yourself. Probably best if we all go inside for a bit. I’m sure Josie and Vanessa will need new diapers soon too.”
The mere mention of a diaper has heat flooding my face. But before I can protest, Josie beats me to it, her voice pitching up to a childlike whine I’ve never heard from her. “No, Uncle Dane! We’re having so much fun! We don’t wanna go inside!”
“Josie.” Dane’s voice holds a hint of warning. “I can’t leave you and Vanessa out here alone. We’ll all go inside, get some water, and everyone can get fresh diapers.”
“But I don’t need a fresh diaper.” Josie continues whining, her bottom lip pushing out in an admittedly impressive pout.
“Then you can come inside for a rest.”
“No!” To my shock, Josie screeches the word at the same time she flings a plastic shovel straight at Dane’s head.
“All right.” Moving with a grace that makes my tummy flutter in a not-at-all-unpleasant way, Dane rises to his feet and scoops Josie up, tossing her over his shoulder even as she screams out her protests and pummels her fists against his back. “Vanessa, Tabitha, come with me.”
“Are we in trouble?” Tabby’s big hazel eyes cloud with tears, her bottom lip trembling dangerously as she slowly pushes to her feet.
“No, sweetheart. As of right now, Josie is the only one who is going to get her bottom spanked.”
Relief flashes over Tabby’s face and her shoulders seem to sag with it. “Oh. Okay.”
Glancing over at me, Dane cocks an eyebrow. “Unless my Little girl is planning to be naughty as well?”
Part of me is tempted, if for no other reason than to prove he doesn’t control me.
But I have plans, and those plans necessitate his attention being diverted… elsewhere, for as long as I can manage.
“No, Daddy,” I respond, widening my eyes with faux innocence. “I’ll be good.”
A smile curves his lips. “Good girl. Come on, let’s get you girls inside.”
Josie is still carrying on over his shoulder, and even the promise of double spankings doesn’t seem to deter her. Jumping to my feet, I hurry along behind them, scanning my surroundings as we go.
And then I’m gifted with such a stroke of luck, I almost can’t believe it. Josie manages to wiggle herself free of Dane’s grasp and he drops her. For a split second, it seems as though the trees themselves hold their breath as my best friend goes hurtling toward the ground.
Thankfully, Dane manages to catch her at the last minute. But this time when he scolds her, there’s none of the playful teasing I usually hear in his voice.
“That’s it, Josephine Elise. As soon as we get inside, I am taking my belt to your bottom until you can’t sit for a week. And then your Daddy can have his turn.”
“No, Uncle Dane!”
Yanking open the front door, he storms inside, with Tabby at his heels. I hang back, waiting until a count of five to see if he calls for me.
When he doesn’t, I realize this is my chance. Turning on my heel, I race around the house, looking for a car, a four-wheeler, literally any kind of vehicle I might be able to steal.
I just need my luck to hold out a tiny bit longer. And then I’ll be free.
Dane
Knowing my anger is mostly fueled by fear doesn’t make it burn any less hot as I march Josie into the living room.
“Bram! Colt! I need both of you, now!”
Josie freezes over my shoulder. Unfortunately for her, it only takes a few seconds for the sound of my brothers’ heavy footsteps to reach me. And not much longer after that for the twins to make their appearance, wearing identical masks of concern.
“What’s going on?” Bram’s voice is tight with a mixture of anger and worry. “Why are you carrying my baby like a sack of potatoes?”
“Because she decided to throw a literal tantrum when I said it was time to come in so Tabby could get a new diaper, and I nearly dropped her on her goddamn head while trying to carry her into the house.”
While Bram’s expression hardens, Colt smiles down at his babygirl. “Do you need a new diaper, baby?” he croons as he hoists Tabby up onto his hip.
Tabby’s eyes are wide, a sheen of tears coating the golden green. “Y-yes, Daddy.”
“All right, little firecracker. One new diaper coming up, and then you can come spend some time in Daddy’s office. I think Rexy missed you this morning.”
With Tabby taken care of, I set Josie on her feet between me and Bram. And it’s clear from her mutinous expression that even though she stopped her tantrum, she isn’t quite ready to admit to how naughty she was.
Crossing my arms, I match her stare for stare. “You are in a lot of trouble, little girl.”
“I don’t care! You’re being an ass—”
“Josephine Elise Thorne!”
At the sound of her Daddy’s thundering voice, all the color drains from Josie’s face. It’s almost as if she was so lost in her Little space, she forgot consequences existed.
I might even have laughed if she hadn’t almost broken her neck with her theatrics.
Shoving her hands behind her, Josie drops her gaze to the ground. “Sorry, Daddy.”
“Apologize to your Uncle Dane, and then you and I can have our conversation.”
Josie peeks up at me through her lashes. “Sorry, Uncle Dane.”
“Thank you, sweetheart. But you are still getting that whipping I promised you.”
From the corner of my eye, I see Bram’s eyebrows fly up toward his hairline. Other than Ford, it’s generally accepted that I’m the least strict of all our siblings. Except when I catch one of our Little ones doing something dangerous. Then my punishments rival even the harshest of my brothers.
“All right,” Bram says, his voice deceptively calm. “Uncle Dane is going to give you the punishment he promised you, and then you and I can talk. Come here, Josephine.”
Reaching for the buckle on my belt, I tug the leather free as I turn to face my own babygirl. “Vanessa, why don’t you go see if—”
But there is no green-eyed babygirl staring up at me with that odd mix of wonder, confusion, and righteous fury I’ve already become so addicted to. Only an empty space where she should be standing.
Bram turns, Josie’s rolled-up diaper in his hand and a frown tugging at his lips. “Where’s Vanessa?”
“I don’t know. She was right behind me when…”
When Josie tried to throw herself onto the front steps. But was she still with me when we actually came into the house?
I think back, my heart racing as I mentally retrace my steps. No matter how hard I try, however, I can’t picture Vanessa with me after Josie’s near-death experience.
“Goddammit.”
“Go.” Bram waves a hand. “I’ll give my naughty girl both of the punishments she’s earned.”
“Oh, Daddy, no!”
Satisfied my brother has his own Little girl well in hand, I spin around and hurry toward the front door, threading my belt back through the loops as I go. Before I even hit the fresh air, my blood is pounding with the thrill of the chase.
Time to go hunting.