Chapter Twenty-Eight #2
“He ended up dead weeks later.” Her chin lifts, a sense of triumph appearing on her grief-stricken face. “He was found murdered in his building. A single gunshot wound to the head. The shot so precise it hit him before he even knew someone was there.”
It doesn’t take long for realization to strike. “Thatcher,” I whisper.
She nods. “We’ve never spoken about it, but I have no doubt it was him. As horrible as it is for me to say, I was glad when I heard the news. I felt like, in some small way, justice had been served for our baby.”
“I’m sorry, Gwen. So sorry,” I tell her, knowing those words mean nothing. Not when she has lost so much.
“I know you are, dear. I’m just thankful Thatcher was there to help you leave all those years ago. Otherwise, I have no doubt they would have done to you what they did to me.”
I finally realize that while I feared the unknown of what my parents would do, Thatcher knew exactly what would have happened if I had stayed. Thank God for that man. He was my angel that night, my saving grace.
“Why are you still here?” I ask her. “Forrest is gone now. You’re free. You and Thatcher could still have your happy ending.”
He still loves her just as much as she does him. I know it.
She shakes her head. “Even if Thatcher were to forgive me for marrying Forrest, the others would never allow it. I know all their secrets. I will never be free of them.”
She’s still in so much danger; still imprisoned in this life she never wanted.
If everything falls into place and the guys can get what they need, we can bring them down and she will be free to live the life she’s always wanted.
Now, more than ever, I’m determined to help make that happen.
They need to be stopped and my mother, my real mother, deserves justice.
“Thank you for trusting me with the truth,” I say, looking down at the picture. “Can I keep this?”
“Of course. I’m sorry that’s all I have of her.”
“I’m thankful you kept it all these years,” I whisper.
“Trust me, there’s a lot I’ve kept over the years.”
The cryptic response has my eyes lifting back up to hers. “What do you mean?”
“They may be ruthless but they aren’t as smart as they’d like to believe. I’ve acquired quite the collection over the years, locked them away for safekeeping because you never know when an opportunity could arise.”
The information has hope igniting. I sit up to my knees, moving in closer. “Gwen, are you telling me you have evidence of the things they’ve done? Physical evidence.”
“Some. Yes. Unfortunately, it does little good when they have every aspect of the law in their pockets.”
“Not everyone. Thatcher has a trusted person in the FBI. Someone who is trying to help us bring them down.”
She shakes her head. “That’s not solid enough. Anyone can be bribed. I’ve seen it.”
“Not him. He’s come highly recommended and Thatcher is no fool. He’d never trust just anyone. If…if we know for sure he could bring them down, would you help us?”
She hesitates for only a moment before nodding. “If we knew for sure then yes, of course, but I’m telling you, it’s not going to be that easy.”
“Nothing ever is but that doesn’t mean it can’t be done.” I stand, this newfound hope fueling me. “Come back to the farm with me.”
Panic flashes in her eyes. “No. I couldn’t. You go ahead. I’ll be here if y’all need me.”
I want to press her but decide she’s done enough. I’ll have Thatcher come see her.
“Thank you again,” I whisper, “for everything.”
“Be careful, dear,” she says with worry. “Remember, they will stop at nothing to cover their tracks.”
With one final nod, I release her hand then run out to the truck, needing to get back to the farm.
To Justice.
As I pull away, I grab my cellphone and call Thatcher.
He picks up on the second ring. “Ryanne, you all right?”
Guilt pricks my heart at the concern in his voice. “Yes. I’m fine. Are Justice the others back yet?”
“No. Not yet. What happened with Gwen?” Beneath the worry in his tone, I can still hear the affection he has just speaking her name.
“Everything,” I say, my mind still trying to process all I just learned. “Look, I’m on my way home. I have so much to tell you all. Thatcher, I think…I think we might have what we need to take them down. All of them.”
The line goes quiet, but I have no doubt he’s as anxious as me. Especially after knowing his past and all those bastards have done to him.
A few silent seconds tick by until he clears his throat. “Just drive safe, child. I’ll see you soon and we can talk then.”
“I will. Love you.”
After hitting end, I toss the phone on the seat beside me, right next to the picture of my mother. Her black and white face smiles back at me, taunting my aching heart. They will pay for what they did to her. I’ll make sure of it if it’s the last thing I do.
The moment I turn down the back road leading to the farm, sirens pierce the air, a police car speeding up behind me. When it doesn’t pass I look down at my speedometer and see I’m barely pushing past the speed limit.
Frustrated, I pull off to the side. When the officer steps out, I see it’s none other than Sheriff Toder.
“Shit!” I quickly shove the newspaper clipping of my mother in my purse then slide on my sunglasses, shielding my red-rimmed eyes.
As he comes up to my window I lower it, and it takes everything in me to keep myself composed, the sight of him making me sick after all I’ve learned.
“Sheriff, is there a problem?” I ask.
“I’m afraid there is. Step out of the truck, Ryanne.”
My back stiffens at the command. “Excuse me?”
“I said step out of the vehicle.”
“Why? I haven’t done anything wrong.”
“Don’t ask questions and do as you’re told.”
Alarm bells bang around inside of me, dread sinking into my stomach. Many scenarios play out in my mind, none of them good. It has me wanting to punch the gas but I know that would make things worse.
Without having any other choice, I open the door and carefully step down. “Are you going to tell me what this is about?”
He stares back at me, a look of regret washing over his face. “You should have never come back.”
Before I can even process that, the passenger door to his squad car opens and out steps Derek. Panic grips me, temporarily imprisoning me before I snap out of it and leap to jump back inside the truck.
Not fast enough.
A scream rips from my throat as I’m grabbed from behind, Derek’s beefy hand slamming over my mouth before I’m pushed against the truck face-first.
“You’ve been a very bad girl, Ryanne.” His putrid scent invades my senses as he whispers in my ear.
The erection pressing at my bottom has terror thrashing through my veins.
“We need to have a very important talk, but first it’s time I collect what’s long overdue.
Don’t you think?” His hand drops to the top of my thigh, sliding up my leg to push under my dress.
I scream into his hand, struggling against his heavy body.
“Shh. You should be used to this by now. After all, you love to be shared.”
When he touches the center of my panties, bile surges up my throat, a helpless cry shattering my chest. In a desperate attempt at escape, I open my mouth and sink my teeth into the flesh of his hand.
He howls out in pain. “Bitch!” With a fistful of my hair, he pulls my head back and smashes my face into the truck.
Black spots dance in my vision, the metallic taste of blood touching my tongue and running down my chin. The blow dazes me long enough for him to get what he wants. I cry helplessly, the unwanted touch tarnishing my soul.
“Damn it, Lancaster. Hurry up. This wasn’t part of the plan,” Rick says, but continues to do nothing to help me.
“Just a little taste.” Derek removes his hand from beneath my panties and brings it to his mouth, licking his fingers. The groan that leaves him has my stomach rolling and despair washing over me. “So fucking good.”
He flips me around to face him, hand wrapping around my throat as he forces my head back, his malicious eyes staring into my devastated ones.
“Now you need to listen and listen carefully. You leave town by morning and take them all with you. Or next time it will be your daughter and I will sell her to the highest bidder.”
The threat has a sob exploding from me, fear unlike anything I’ve ever known sinking into every fiber of my being because I know he’s capable of it. He’d do it.
He crushes his mouth against mine, hard and quick before leaving me with a shove against the truck.
“Let’s go!” he barks at Toder.
My legs quake beneath me, threatening to give out as I try to remain standing.
Rick barely spares me a glance. “Do yourself a favor and leave, Ryanne, before things get worse for you all.”
Once he climbs into the car and drives away, I fall to my knees, a desolate scream shredding my throat. It pierces the air around me and sends my heart crumbling into a pit of despair.