Chapter 18 #2
She found directions to the gas station, then shoved her phone in her pocket.
Her gaze drifted to the door. Should she tell David and his buddies about the call?
But what if the guy on the phone found out.
He’d kill Zoey. No. She couldn’t take that chance.
She was on her own again. She slid the window open and slipped outside.
The cool coastal air slammed into her, stealing her breath. Her mind screamed to tell David, but her heart told her to keep moving. She only had thirty minutes.
Using the flashlight app on her phone so she didn’t trip, she raced around the corner of the house and jogged along the edge of the road.
Her body protested, but she couldn’t stop.
Tears stung her eyes at the ache flowing through her limbs.
She endured so much since all this had started, but she’d put aside the pain to save her daughter.
David’s face swam in her thoughts. The man had been there for her every step of the way. She’d overreacted about the tracker, she knew that deep down, but the betrayal lingered. Learning to trust was the lesson she’d yet to master. But if she allowed herself to trust anyone, it would be David.
Ten minutes later, the neon lights of the gas station glowed ahead. Her side ached and her muscles burned.
She slipped to the rear of the building and spotted a lone car. She tried the door, and it clicked open. Reaching under the front seat, she snagged the keys and stood. She lowered her battered body into the driver’s seat and leaned across the console to retrieve the address.
She stared in amazement. Zoey was only ten miles from here.
Turning the ignition, she pulled out of the parking lot and aimed the car toward her daughter and her worst nightmare.
Minutes later, she turned onto a dirt path.
The trees lining the road blocked the moonlight, casting an intense darkness over the long driveway.
A cabin loomed ahead, tucked into the middle of nowhere.
She had to trust David if she had any hope of surviving.
But how would he ever find her? She’d left without a word, another decision she’d regret for as long as she lived.
Which, under the circumstances, might not be long.
Jennie owed him an apology for overreacting.
She glanced at her phone. The screen toggled between no service and one bar. She shared her location then typed in a text message and hit send, praying the message would go through.
Leaving the phone on, she placed it in the console hoping the guys found her by using the GPS.
She rushed up the path to the rustic cabin ahead. Her footfalls crunched in the dry grass and leaves. Had the man already hurt Zoey? Did he have any intension of letting her daughter go?
God, please let my text go through.
“Ahhh, baby. Good to see you again.” Adam stood on the front porch, arms crossed with a sickening grin on his face.
The look on his face turned her blood cold. She straightened, determined not to show fear. “I’m here. Let Zoey go.”
“Not so fast, sweetheart. Come on in.” He turned and disappeared through the door.
She swallowed. All the times he’d come over and helped with Zoey, she should have realized he wasn’t as kind as he appeared. He had to have been aware of Kenny’s abuse and had done nothing to save her.
Could she step into the unknown?
She had to. Her daughter’s life was at stake.
She moved through the doorway. Her gaze landed on Zoey tied to a chair in the small living room.
Her daughter’s blue eyes flickered with fear.
“It’s going to be okay, honey. I’m here. Adam will let you go now.”
“Yeah, about that.” He stepped closer. His hot, rancid breath brushed her face. “She stays.”
Jennie’s jaw dropped. “You said…”
Without warning, he slapped her.
She cupped the stinging flesh.
“Time for you to realize who owns you. And whatever is yours is mine.” Adam chuckled.
Terror tore through her. She’d moved away from Indiana without a word to protect Zoey and herself. No notification to Brad’s friends or the police. No forwarding address. All for Zoey’s safety—and her own. And now her past had found her.
Adam grabbed her arm and yanked her toward him. “Time for a lesson.”
His fists found every injury on her and then some.
Jennie’s body had taken a lot of punishment over the past few days, and she didn’t have much left in her survival tank.
He threw her backward. Her spine hit the edge of the table, and she slumped forward, dropping to her knees. How had she missed Adam’s obsession with her?
She gritted her teeth and lifted her gaze, connecting with Zoey’s horrified look.
“Momma?”
“It’s okay, honey.”
Adam held a knife to Zoey’s throat. “Now, make me a sandwich like a good little woman, or the brat is dead.”
Jolts of pain zapped her body, but she moved to the kitchen and prepared a plate for him. Anything at this point to give her and Zoey time. While she spread mayo on the bread, she prayed David had received her text and was on the way.
She placed the meal on the table. “Here.”
Adam grabbed a chair and slammed the feet on the floor next to Zoey. “Sit.” He jerked her arm.
She bit back a cry and stumbled onto the chair.
“Don’t move.” His evil laugh sent chills racing down her spine. He swaggered to the table, flipped on the radio, and sat with his back to them. He sang to the song between bites in his off-key tone.
“Momma,” Zoey whispered.
“Shh.” Jennie shifted her gaze to Adam. The man ate his sandwich like beating a woman was just another day at the office. She returned her gaze to her daughter. “Stay strong. Don’t let him see you as weak,” she mouthed.
Zoey nodded, tears spilling down her cheeks.
Jennie scanned the room. The living room was connected to the kitchen that included a four-person table, and a small hallway presumably led to the bedroom and bathroom.
She sucked in a breath. White lights danced in her eyes and pain shot through her core. She took in small sips of air. Don’t do that again.
“Zoey, look at me,” she whispered.
Her daughter’s eyes met hers.
“If I give you an opportunity to escape, take it.”
“No. I’m not leaving you. He’ll kill you.”
Jennie knew that Zoey was probably right, but she had to get her daughter away from this man. Her daughter still wore the bracelet that David gave her. If the text hadn’t gone through, Zoey was the only hope of getting help.
“You’re our only hope of getting out of here. When the time comes, run. There’s a car parked at the end of this lane. My cell is in the console. Take it. Find service and call David—promise me.”
Zoey glanced in Adam’s direction then back at her and mouthed promise.
Now to figure out how to free Zoey. Adam hadn’t tied her to the chair. Most likely he figured she hurt too much to move, and he wasn’t wrong. But she had to find a way to untie Zoey and get her out of the cabin.
Jennie lowered her head, pretending she was in too much agony to move. If only it wasn’t the truth.
As she sat waiting for the opportunity to free Zoey, she forced herself to relax. She focused on a spot on the floor and prayed that David found them before it was too late.
“Momma,” Zoey whispered.
Not enough energy to respond, she raised her eyes.
“He’s in the bathroom.”
It was now or very literally maybe never. She clenched her teeth and moved toward her daughter. Her swollen limbs made it difficult to move let alone untie the ropes. But if there was ever a time to suck it up and move forward, this was it.
The ropes fell from Zoey’s wrists and the girl bolted from her seat. “I’ll get help. I promise.” Zoey ran straight through the front door and out into the night.
Jennie staggered to her chair and collapsed onto it. Tears trickled down her face. More pain was on the horizon, but at least her daughter was free.
“What did you do?” Adam stormed into the living room. “Why you little…” His fist landed hard across her cheekbone.
She fell to the floor and curled into a ball protecting herself.
Adam continued his abuse.
Her body went numb and darkness pulled her under. Glorious oblivion.