Chapter 32 #2
The sense of relief that floods me at that realization—not that they won’t hurt us but that they know where Cali is and want to make sure I find her—is massive, and it puts me a little at ease.
If they aren’t placing any serious urgency on running to her right this second, I’m confident in my belief that my daughter hasn’t gone anywhere with that cunt, and she’s unharmed.
For some reason, I know in my gut if either of those things were true, the two men behind me would have spoken up sooner and handled Butler so I could go after them.
What they’ve done might be illegal, but it’s not immoral, not if you ask me.
I guess that’s where the term morally gray comes from, and I shouldn’t be shocked to find myself sitting in that murky color with a couple of guys who have a good eleven bodies on me.
“Don’t know shit, huh, Craig?”
“No,” he yelps in pain. “I told her I could get her daughter back, but she didn’t tell me about her goddamn plans!”
“Speaking of plans…” I lift my other hand, placing that gun firmly against his temple while I lean down toward him.
“I know they didn’t make you take your clothes off, and since you confirmed you were here with my daughter at some point, I’d really love to fucking know what it was you were going to do with her dressed like that? ”
His terrified eyes move back and forth between mine, searching for what, I don’t know.
If he’s looking for mercy, he should know he’s not going to find it.
I haven’t hesitated to shoot him once, if he looks hard enough he’ll probably see how much I’m enjoying it.
I’ve clearly lost my mind by his standards, by the standards we were taught in Quantico, the same way we were taught there is no coming back from insanity at a certain point.
Which also means, trying to see if he can pinpoint my next move based on my expression is useless.
“That’s what I fucking thought.”
Before he can process what I’m doing, I get off of him and stand to my full height, then proceed to empty both of my guns right into the crotch of his old man boxer shorts.
I stare down at him for a few moments when I’m done, watching his breathing turn from panicked to literally fighting for his life. I’m not going to kill him, I told him I wouldn’t, but that didn’t mean I wasn’t going to bring him to the brink and let the Grim Reaper do the rest.
The Grim Reaper in the form of two men who’ve managed to earn my trust and respect in a matter of minutes.
“He’s all yours,” I say as I turn to face them and holster my weapons. “They’re in there?”
They both nod, and I give them one of my own, wanting to tell them they don’t need to worry about the FBI anymore because I’m officially off the case and intend to do everything I can to make sure no one else picks it up again, then reach down for the gun at my ankle before I start toward the door.
I grab the knob and turn it slowly, pushing it open a crack to see what’s behind it.
Another room like this one, something I already knew, but when I step in through the small space, I don’t see Tiffany.
I don’t see that fucking cunt anywhere.
I move quickly toward the bathroom, clearing it within seconds before I rip open the closet and start emptying the dresser.
If that bitch took my little girl, I’m going to—
“Daddy?”
All of the air whooshes from my lungs as I spin around, my body sagging in relief when I see Cali start squirming and wiggling out of her place under a large pile of pillows and blankets.
“Hey, baby girl,” I say softly, holstering my gun and walking right for her. I scoop her up in my arms once I’m close enough, and I hug her tighter than I think I ever have.
“Daddy, you’re going to smoosh me.”
I grin and loosen my hold, setting her on my hip so I can see her sweet face and make sure she’s really okay. “Ready to get out of here?”
She nods and pushes her hair out of her eyes with a yawn. “I don’t like Mr. Butler, Daddy.”
“Me either, honey.”
“He stinks.”
I chuckle, knowing damn well she means that literally, as I close the adjoining door then head for the one for this room. “You don’t have to worry about him anymore.”
No one ever has to worry about him again.
“He took me to see Tiffany.”
I cringe and grit my teeth then force myself to take a deep breath. “Did he? So, she was here?”
Cali nods and rests her head on my shoulder. “Yeah, she was. She looks like a skeleton.”
God, I love my kid.
“You don’t need to worry about her anymore, either, kiddo.” I’ll make damn sure of that if The Orphans don’t find her first.
“Good.” Cali worries her lip as I set her in the backseat of my SUV, and I know she’s not saying everything she wants to, but she will. Which has my hackles up all over again. “She hit me.”
I freeze as those words hang in the air between us, heavy and almost suffocating while I look over her angelic face and see the hint of a bruise forming around her split lip.
I can’t even respond to her, the way I’m seeing straight up fucking red has prevented me from thinking let alone speaking.
Which my daughter knows.
“She got mad because I told her that,” Cali says as she reaches out and cups my cheek. “I said she looked like a mean skeleton and I’m glad she’s not my mommy.”
I crack a smile and lean into her palm, inhaling her sweet little scent to help calm me down. “Did you, now?”
My daughter smiles and nods her head proudly. “I sure did, and after she hit me, I kicked her in the shin, pushed her down, then I kicked her again before I ran to the bed.”
“Nice,” is the only thing I manage to say in response.
I’m torn between laughing, and getting in the driver’s seat to start hunting that bitch down.
“Like you always say,” Cali grins and crosses her arms against her chest. “Don’t ever start a fight, but you better finish one you get dragged into.”
“Damn straight,” I say with a chuckle as I lean forward and press a kiss to her forehead, grateful to have my little girl back safe and sound. “Now, let’s get the hell out of here.”
Which is exactly what we do, and neither of us bother looking back.
Our future is way too bright to do anything other than look ahead.