Chapter 15 #4
“Don’t ever compare yourself to April,” Tanner seethed. “She got her out and you’re trying to take her back. That tells me everything I need to know.”
“It tells you nothing, Detective. Believe it or not, I’m actually on Violet’s side.
Always have been, always will be. But if you don’t let me go soon, I guarantee more guys will come to my location, and they’re not only on Ned’s payroll, they’re his biggest ass kissers.
If you want to keep Violet and April safe, let me go, and get them out of here.
Somewhere that’s a lot harder to get to than this nice house. ”
Tanner grunted and finally released Echo. “Go,” he ordered. “And don’t bother giving your boss this address. They won’t be here for more than another five minutes.”
“Good.” Echo rubbed his neck where the gun had been digging into his skin. He turned to leave, then stopped and looked back like he wanted to say something, then changed his mind. They watched him drive away before Tanner came to April’s side.
“Phone.” Tanner held his hand out to April.
She handed it over as if the thing was about to catch fire. “Where are you taking it?”
“Let’s just say it’s going fishing. Permanently.” Tanner huffed as he stomped away and that’s when April finally looked at the people standing around her. Caden, Blake and Luke still had slack jaws.
Hallie, Orly and Reese raced outside as soon as the SUV turned the corner. “Did we imagine that?” Orly asked.
“How?” Hallie asked.
“Unbelievable,” Reese said.
“Let’s go inside,” Luke said, taking Orly by the hand. April followed everyone back into the living room where she noticed Violet sitting at the table eating her ice cream. Her heart melted at how content Violet seemed, even with what just happened.
“Is he gone?” Violet asked after swallowing a mouthful of ice cream.
“Echo left. Turns out my cell phone also had a tracker in it, but Tanner is getting rid of it so we should be safe now.”
“Can we stay here?” Violet asked.
“No,” Tanner answered as he stepped inside through the back door. “I’m going to take you somewhere safe, and I promise you’ll love it there just as much.”
“I was thinking it would be best to take them to a safe house,” Caden said.
“I agree,” Tanner said. “The safest house I can think of is where I’m taking them.”
“And where’s that?” Blake asked.
“My place,” Tanner answered. “Let’s go. I don’t want to risk any of Ned’s other goons showing up here.”
“What about my ice cream?” Violet complained still having half a scoop left in her bowl.
“I’ll get you all the ice cream you want, Violet, but right now, we have to move,” Tanner said.
Violet sighed and begrudgingly put her spoon down as she slid out of her chair. “Aunt April, when can we go back and get my things?”
April knelt in front of her niece, her heart breaking all over again for how much this little girl had already gone through.
And there was no telling how much more Ned was going to put them through before they were finally really and truly safe from him.
“Remember what we talked about before leaving?”
Violet nodded, solemnly. “We can’t ever go back, can we?”
“No, Violet. We can’t.” April didn’t want to sound mean, but there was no nice way of telling her that she’d probably never see her things again.
“All my toys. My books. Never again?” Violet asked, tears pooling in her eyes.
“I don’t know,” April answered honestly.
“But I’ll get you more books and toys. I promise.
I did bring something though that I completely forgot about.
” When she’d reached into her pocket to pull out her phone, something caught on her finger.
After Echo left and before heading back inside, she’d remembered about Violet’s new pink friendship bracelet.
She pulled it out of her pocket now. “I saw this when I was in your room this morning and I wanted to tell you how pretty I thought it was.”
Violet sighed, a small smile pulling at the corners of her lips. “I was going to surprise you.”
April held it out to her. “That’s very sweet and I love it, but would you like to wear it for now?”
Violet gave another deep sigh. “Okay, but just for a little while.”
April slipped it onto her wrist and pressed a kiss to Violet’s arm. “Better?”
Violet lifted her arms for April to pick her up, but Tanner kneeled beside April then and said, “Mind if I carry you, Darlin’? That way we can give your Aunt April’s arms a chance to rest for a bit.”
April’s heart just about melted at the tenderness in his voice and the sweet thoughtfulness for her arms that were a bit sore from carrying her while running earlier.
“We’ve got plenty of toys and clothes that I think will fit you perfectly where I want to take you and your aunt,” Tanner continued. “What do you think?”
Violet thought about it for a moment, then nodded, and let herself be picked up by Tanner. She wrapped her arms around his neck and rested her head on his shoulder. Tanner held her close, then placed an arm around April’s shoulders pulling her into his side. “Let’s get you two somewhere safe.”