Chapter 20 #3
Miles kept his hands around the bitch’s throat for a moment after she went limp, just to make sure she wasn’t faking. Then he quickly stood and looked for the DVD case. His dick was hard as a pike, and he looked down at it in surprise.
“Huh. Who knew?” he said out loud, smiling.
It was wildly interesting that he could get it up not just by thinking about and fucking boys, as he’d thought. But also while killing someone.
He wondered if it would be even more exciting to do both at the same time?
Maybe he wouldn’t keep the boy as he’d planned. Maybe he’d experiment with this new knowledge instead.
Looking at his watch, Miles realized he was running out of time. He had to get downstairs and meet the bus.
Not looking back at the body on the floor, Miles exited the apartment, closing the door as best he could behind him. Then he whistled absently, as if he hadn’t a care in the world, as he strode back down the hall.
Logan was excited. He was going to get to see a baseball game! He’d watched plenty of games on TV, but this would be live and in person. School had seemed to go by extremely slow, and he waited impatiently for Bria as she climbed off the bus behind him.
“Come on, Bree,” he whined.
She smiled at him and jogged the few steps to get to his side. She reached for his hand and Logan immediately clasped his fingers around hers. He knew some people wouldn’t like to hold their sister’s hand, but he’d missed her a whole lot and was happy to have her living with him again.
He didn’t even mind sharing a room with her.
Their bunk beds were cool, and they were both so much happier than they’d ever been.
Logan still felt guilty about that. He loved his mom, but it was hard living with her.
He’d had to find food for Bree, and sometimes his mom too.
He’d had to lock them inside their room when people came over and take care of his mom when she got too sick to get off the floor.
Living with Oz and Riley was…easy. They made him food, washed his clothes, and helped him with his homework.
They played with him and laughed a lot. He had chores, but they were easy compared to what he used to have to do.
He regretted not telling Oz his secret about his sister earlier, but was happy they were all together now.
They walked hand in hand toward the apartment complex, and Logan frowned when he didn’t see Riley waiting for them. They hadn’t been riding the bus from the new school long, but she’d been there every day so far.
A man approached them, and Logan instinctively moved so he was in front of Bree. The stranger had greasy brown hair that looked as if it hadn’t been brushed in a while and his clothes were really wrinkled. He had big scratches on his face that looked like they had to hurt.
“Hi!” the man said in a friendly voice as he approached. He stopped a small distance away, making Logan feel better that he didn’t crowd them.
“Hi,” he responded, not wanting to be rude.
“I’m sure you’re wondering where Riley is. One of her friends had an emergency and she had to go to them. She asked if I would take you to her.”
“Gillian?” Logan asked, not sure which friend the man was talking about.
“Yeah. She was hurt in an accident and is in the hospital. Riley was super worried about not being here when you got off the bus, so she asked if I would meet you and bring you to the hospital.”
“Where’s Oz?” Logan asked, looking around.
“He’s at the hospital waiting for us,” the man said without hesitation. “My name is Mark. I live on the first floor.” He gestured to the building behind them. “Riley’s known me a long time.”
“How come she hasn’t mentioned you before?” Logan asked suspiciously.
“Because we’re just neighbors. We see each other here and there, but don’t actually hang out. But she was really upset when she left. Was crying and everything. She begged me to pick you guys up and bring you to her.”
“What happened to your face?” Logan asked, trying to give himself time to think.
“I’ve got a cat, and she got me good this morning,” the man said without hesitation.
Logan bit his lip. He hated that Gillian was hurt.
He liked her. Liked all the women Oz was friends with.
And he really didn’t like that Riley was crying.
She was usually pretty happy all the time.
He was also upset that it looked like the plans to go to the baseball game were probably out, but he knew people’s lives were more important than a game.
“Okay,” he said slowly.
Mark smiled huge. “Great. My car’s over here. I’ll get you dropped off quickly. I have to come back here and meet my wife when she gets home from work.”
Hearing that the man was married made Logan feel better. “Come on, Bree. Let’s go find Riley and Oz.”
His sister nodded trustingly and followed him toward Mark’s car.
It was a smaller four-door that had seen better days.
The man held open the back door and Logan climbed inside.
He wrinkled his nose at the garbage on the floorboards.
It smelled funky inside too. Bria sat on the seat next to him, and the man shut the door.
He smiled at them through the window and got into the driver’s seat. He started the car and began to drive. Logan wasn’t paying attention at first, as he was helping Bria get her seat belt fastened, but when he looked up, he didn’t recognize where they were going.
Then Mark turned onto the interstate and accelerated, driving faster and faster.
“Um, mister…I don’t think this is the way to the hospital.”
The man didn’t answer. Logan could see a smirk on his face, but he didn’t even turn around.
Logan’s belly rolled. He’d messed up. He knew it immediately. This guy wasn’t a friend of Riley’s, and she wouldn’t send someone he didn’t know to get him. She would’ve had Kinley, or Lucky, or one of the other guys come and get them.
He wanted to throw up, and his entire body shook with fright.
He’d been hearing all his life about stranger danger, and he’d gone and climbed inside this car without a second thought.
Just because the guy said he knew Riley didn’t mean he really did.
He probably didn’t even live in the apartment complex.
He was so stupid! And now both he and Bree were in danger.
The man driving leaned over and turned on the radio. Loud music filled the car, and it hurt Logan’s ears. But he was glad for it because it gave him a chance to talk to Bree without the man hearing.
He had to think of a plan. Had to get Bree out of this situation. Had to protect her…like he’d done her entire life.
Oz was in a great mood as he walked up toward his apartment.
He couldn’t wait to spend the afternoon and evening with the people he loved most. He unlocked his apartment, ready to be bombarded by an impatient Logan and to see Riley’s smile.
But when he walked inside, the place was quiet.
There was no sound of the kids talking and laughing and no scent of food cooking.
Even though Oz was pretty sure the apartment was empty, he still searched it from top to bottom, his gut churning. He even checked behind the sofa, Logan’s favorite hiding spot. No one was there.
Oz pulled out his phone and dialed Riley’s number. He sighed in relief when he heard her ringtone through the thin walls between their apartments. For some reason, Riley had obviously brought the kids next door to her place while waiting for him to get home.
Feeling foolish that he’d been so worried, Oz headed for the door once more. Not bothering to change, and wanting to see his kids and Riley more than he wanted to get into comfortable clothes, he headed down the hall for Riley’s apartment.
But the second he saw her door, all the anxiety he’d had a moment ago returned. This time even worse. Her apartment had been broken into. Someone had pried the lock open, splintering the wood.
Oz knew he should’ve called the cops right then and there, but he could not just stand in the hallway while he waited for them to show up.
Riley had to be in there. He’d heard her phone.
She didn’t go anywhere without her phone.
She’d told him that she wanted to be able to be reached just in case the school called.
Or if Gillian, Kinley, Devyn, or Aspen needed her.
She’d gotten very close with the other women, and they all texted back and forth constantly.
He took his K-BAR knife out of the holster at the small of his back and carefully pushed the door open with his elbow, trying not to contaminate any fingerprints on the door from whoever had broken in.
“Ri?” he called out. Nothing but silence greeted him. He slowly stepped over the threshold, the stillness unnerving. If Logan and Bria were there, they should’ve heard him. He glanced into the living room as he entered—and froze.
Riley was sprawled on the floor, not moving.
Oz knew he needed to clear the apartment. Make sure whoever had hurt Riley wasn’t still lurking inside. But he literally couldn’t stop himself from rushing toward the woman who owned his heart. She was lying so still on the floor. Lifeless.
He could see bruises forming on her throat, as if she’d been strangled. There wasn’t anything lying nearby that could’ve been used to strangle her, but that didn’t mean the perpetrator didn’t take it with him.
A sob caught in Oz’s throat as he kneeled next to Riley. He was scared to touch her, but he knew if she was still alive, he needed to help her.
Moving slowly, as if he were in quicksand, Oz reached forward with his left hand.
His other still held the knife at the ready.
He placed two fingers on Riley’s wrist, trying to feel for a pulse.
He knew if she had one, it would be more easily detected at her throat, but again, if the bastard who hurt her had used his hands to strangle her, he didn’t want to contaminate the DNA he’d surely left behind.
It took a second, but then he felt it. Blood pumping through her veins.
She was alive. He had no idea how, by what miracle, but he was so damn thankful.
“I’m here, Ri,” he told her, torn between wanting to take her in his arms and search for his kids.
As if the sound of his voice roused her, Riley moaned. Oz put down his knife and took her hand in his, noticing the blood under her nails. She’d scratched the hell out of whoever had done this. Good. There’d be more DNA evidence there.
“Can you hear me, Riley? It’s Oz…Porter. I’m here. You’re okay.” He pulled out his phone and dialed 9-1-1.
“Nine-one-one. Do you need fire, medical, or police?”
“Medical and police. I just found my girlfriend on the floor of her apartment. Looks like someone tried to strangle her. My nephew and niece are missing too.” Oz knew he didn’t need to search the apartment for Logan and Bree.
They weren’t there. They would’ve come out when they heard his voice. He knew that without a doubt.
“Okay, sir. What’s your address?”
He gave it to the operator.
“What’s your name?”
“Porter Reed.”
“And your girlfriend?”
“Riley Rogers.”
“Okay, is she breathing?”
“Yes. But she’s got bruises around her throat.”
“Porter?” Riley whispered. Her voice was scratchy and didn’t sound anything like her.
“Yeah, I’m here,” he assured, hunching over her.
“Miles,” she whispered.
“What?” Oz asked.
“What’s she saying?” the operator on the phone asked.
But Oz ignored her, straining to understand Riley.
“It was Miles,” she repeated. “His game was child porn. Was going to get Logan and Bree…”
Oz’s blood ran cold. His voice hardened. “I’m gonna get them back,” he told Riley.
Her eyes opened into slits. “I’m sorry.”
He shook his head. “No. You have nothing to be sorry about. Nothing. Hear me? This wasn’t your fault. Okay?”
She swallowed and winced.
“The police and ambulance are on the way.”
“Go find them,” she pleaded. “Now!”
Oz was torn. He needed to find his kids, but he couldn’t leave Riley. He looked down at the phone in his hand and ended the call with 9-1-1. He knew he was supposed to stay on the line, but he had to call his team.
Trigger answered on the first ring.
“I need everyone,” Oz told him. “Riley’s been attacked and the kids are gone. She said it was Miles. Police are on the way, but I need you guys.” His voice cracked on the last word.
“I’m on the way. I’ll call the others. Is Riley okay?”
“I think so,” Oz told him. “But the bastard tried to strangle her. He must’ve stopped when she went unconscious and didn’t make sure he’d killed her.”
Just saying the words made Oz feel sick.
How he could be repulsed and relieved at the same time was insane.
He’d never felt like this before. Even when on missions, when they’d been in the middle of a firefight, he hadn’t felt like this…
as if his skin was too tight and he was going to throw up from fright.
“We’ll be there in ten minutes,” Trigger said. “Hang on, brother.” Then he hung up without another word.
Oz was so scared for his kids right now. If Miles really was a pedophile, they were in extreme danger.
He felt Riley’s hand on his arm. “Go,” she ordered.
“I will. When the guys get here.”
She nodded.
“You’re okay. He’s not going to get away with this. I love you, Riley.”
“Love you.” Her eyes filled with tears that spilled over onto her temples.
Oz felt helpless as he waited for the cavalry to arrive. All he could do was sit there holding Riley’s hand and watching her chest move up and down, reassuring himself that she was still breathing. Was still alive.
Footsteps walking quickly down the hall had never sounded so good. He could hear whoever was moving toward the apartment telling dispatch that they’d arrived. “They’re here. You’re gonna be okay,” he told Riley.
“Go get our kids,” she ordered.
Our kids.
Fuck yeah, they were.
As much as Oz wanted to stay—wanted to go to the hospital with her—he couldn’t do anything other than obey. He had no doubt Gillian and the other women would be there soon. They’d go to the hospital with Riley.
He and his team had a kidnapper to hunt.