Chapter 25
April had been so deep in her own thoughts that she nearly jumped out of her skin when Pam said, “you’re awfully quiet. We thought you were happy about the news.”
April smiled at the woman. “I couldn’t be happier about Violet being Tanner’s daughter. She finally has a chance at a real and happy life. I’m just worried about Ned. He’s always been the kind of man who gets the last word. I just can’t see him caring, much less accepting, the test result or -”
“Let’s deal with one storm at a time. Ned has been blissfully quiet the last few days. Maybe he’s realizing that going up against the Rhodes family is never a good idea.”
“Oh? Is there something I should know?” April asked.
Pam smiled while putting the cake in the oven. “Peter is no Ned Dynam, but he holds his own. We have very deep ties to this community, and there are a lot of powerful people who owe Peter a lot of favors. All you need to know is that you’re safe. Violet’s safe. And we’re all going to be just fine.”
April nodded. Pam was right. There was no sense worrying about something that hadn’t even happened yet. “You’re right. One thing at a time. You have a generator to check on, and I have candles and flashlights to round up with Faith.”
Half an hour later, April joined Sienna and Violet in the living room, while Pam stayed behind to keep an eye on the cake and finish cleaning up the kitchen.
Sienna wanted to have a make-believe tea party, so Faith joined the girls on the floor where they proceeded to drink their pretend tea and eat their pretend treats while a movie played in the background.
Being around Tanner’s family always gave April a slight feeling of longing.
Growing up, it had always just been her and her mom, and they would watch those Hallmark Channel movies depicting large happy families.
Her mom never said anything, but April knew they both secretly wished for a big family of their own.
Now that April had it, she only wished her mom could be here to share it with her.
When the movie ended, the girls were still busy with their tea party, but Faith looked around with a concerned expression.
“What is it?” April asked.
“I didn’t hear Dad come back in, did you?”
“No, though I was watching the movie so I could’ve missed him.” April had honestly spent most of the time thinking about and missing her mom, but that was neither here nor there.
“No, I didn’t see him come in either, and now I’m starting to get worried,” Pam said.
“Maybe I should go check on him. See if there’s anything we can do to help the mare along.
” She was already moving toward the hall closet.
“You two stay with the girls. I’ve got my phone on me. I’ll call if we need something.”
April knew next to nothing about horses or how long their labor lasted, but she hated the idea of Tanner’s parents being out in this weather. “Be careful,” she pleaded, a strange feeling of dread creeping into her belly.
“I’ll be right back. Stay inside,” Pam said, before going out the back door.
The rain was coming down in droves to the point that April could hardly see two feet out before closing the door after Pam.
Candles and flashlights had been distributed to all the bedrooms, and main living spaces, but April still felt uneasy.
She’d lived in Texas long enough to know that storms like this happened all the time, but this one somehow felt different.
A loud clap of thunder shook the house, then a bolt of lightning cast an eerie glow sending a shudder down April’s spine. This storm was getting worse.
“Where did Meemaw go?” Sienna asked, her eyes suddenly flooding with tears.
“She’ll be right back, Sienna. She’s just going to help Peepaw with one of the mares,” Faith said. “Actually, your room is a complete mess, young lady. Why don’t we go clean it up before dinner time. Then you and Violet can play upstairs for a little while.”
Sienna didn’t look at all happy about cleaning her room, but she stood reluctantly and went with Faith up the stairs.
April listened as their footsteps tracked down the hall until they were too far away to hear.
The house was a sprawling colonial with two stories and a loft.
Big was an understatement, but April never felt like it was impersonal or unwelcoming. Just the opposite.
“Can we watch another movie?” Violet asked.
April smiled. “We could, but since you’ve been playing with Sienna all day, maybe we should go upstairs and help her and your Aunt Faith clean up?”
Violet cast her gaze down to the ground. “Do we have to?” She whined.
April kneeled in front of her niece. Violet had never been asked to clean up after herself, but she wasn’t at DynaTech anymore, and April knew it was time to start instilling good habits.
“Yes, Violet. We have to. Come on.” She held out her hand to her.
“The sooner we help them clean up; the sooner you girls can go play again.”
With a dramatic sigh, Violet took April’s hand and they started toward the stairs, but just then, the back door flew open.
April turned, thinking it was Pam, but gasped when she didn’t recognize the man standing before them.
He was soaked to the bone, wearing all black, but it was the small logo on the left breast pocket of his jacket that terrified April. DynaTech.
“I’m not carrying a weapon because I was told it would do me no good,” he warned in an even, but deadly tone. “But I was told to let you know that if you fight me, or try to evade me in any way, the woman and child upstairs would be killed instantly.”
“No,” Violet cried. “Don’t hurt them.”
The man held out his hand to them. “With me. Now.”
April moved to shield Violet with her body. “We’re not going anywhere with you.” The words were spoken with a defiant tone despite her trembling insides. Because she already knew how this was going to end.
The man just smirked. “The girl’s father insists that you both come back with me right now.”
“Ned is not her father,” April argued, desperately hoping Faith and Sienna didn’t come downstairs to investigate.
“He is by law. Let’s go.” His tone broached no argument. “The two men and the woman who left this house have already been detained, but they are alive. That can be changed if you procrastinate the inevitable much longer.”
“Daddy,” Violet whispered just loud enough for April to hear.
She had no idea which two men this guy was talking about, but she had to believe that if Tanner hadn’t made it to where he was going that someone would’ve called them by now.
Which meant this guy was talking about Tanner’s parents and the ranch manager.
April hoped Tanner was out there, solving his big case, and that he’d be back soon.
But for now, her only chance of keeping his family safe was to do whatever this guy told them to.
April took Violet by the hand and took a step forward.
When Violet didn’t budge, she kneeled in front of her niece, knowing this could be her last few minutes with her.
Ned would likely separate them. “It’ll be okay, Sweetie.
Everything will be okay.” It was a blatant lie, and the silent tears streaming down Violet’s cheeks meant her six-year-old niece knew it, too.
But being the brave little girl she was, Violet drew in a shaky breath and nodded.
April followed the man, keeping Violet behind her as close as she could, all the while wishing there was something more she could do besides whatever this man told them to.
But she wouldn’t risk Faith and Sienna’s life.
Tanner would come back soon and notice Violet and her missing.
She just hoped his parents were unharmed, wherever they were.
April held tightly to Violet’s hand as they stepped out into the pouring rain and were led to a dark sedan. The engine was still running and the air conditioning was blowing cold air.
“Get in,” the man ordered, looking around as to ensure they were alone. “Hurry up or the woman and child upstairs die,” he warned through gritted teeth. Clearly, he was losing patience. “There are snipers trained on them right now.”
April shuddered at the thought, and Violet quickly climbed in and slid over to make room for April, who also climbed in and pulled her legs up just in time to miss the slamming of the door.
She buckled both their seatbelts and watched out the window as they drove down the driveway and out of Off Rhodes Ranch.
The guard who was supposed to be standing at the gate was lying face down in the dirt.
She had no idea if he was still breathing.
“Don’t hurt them,” April pleaded, thinking of Violet’s new family, and the guards.
“We did what you asked. Tell your men not to hurt them. Please.”
The man glanced at April through the rear-view mirror, but didn’t respond.
She had to believe that Peter, Pam, Faith, and Sienna were safe now.
Tanner would be home soon. He’d find them.
“No funny business back there,” the driver said, eyeing Violet.
“They won’t be safe until you’ve been returned. Both of you.”
Silent tears streamed down Violet’s cheeks as she stared out the window, clutching April’s hand.
The drive was long and seemingly endless, but when they finally pulled into the familiar parking garage of DynaTech Corp, April’s door was thrown open and strong arms pulled her out of the vehicle, uncaring of if they hurt her.
“Aunt April!” Violet cried.
April tried to answer, but she was immediately gagged with a rag shoved against her nose and mouth, and it was suddenly hard to breathe. She struggled, fighting the strong grip of hands on her, but everything was getting darker and tilting at a weird angle.
Tanner. She had to believe he’d come for them.