Chapter Twenty-Six
Brooklyn
I’m looking over my shoulder as I drive. I know. I know I shouldn’t be here. I should have called James or Will. I could even call Hawk right now, but I won’t.
It’s getting dark. I’m clutching the steering wheel so tight my knuckles are turning white. Adrenaline is pulsing through my veins.
I’m being reckless right now, but I don’t see any other options. When I snuck back to the abandoned house and left an envelope in the pillowcase, I had hoped it would find its way to my mom or my sister, but I never dreamed things would turn out like this.
I’d written everything in a letter, who I was and my contact information, and placed it in that pillowcase.
I got a call this morning from Daryl, my stepdad.
I nearly dropped the phone when I heard his voice.
I recognized it immediately even before he said his name.
It unlocked a wave of memories for me - none of them good.
I shiver a little and check over my shoulder again.
He said he’d give me information about my mother and sister, but he wanted money. Of course he did. I’m not surprised.
I hopped on a plane. I have a purse full of money. I’ve debated calling someone, but he said I have to come alone. If I tell anyone, he’ll kill them. I know he will.
I’m so terrified right now, but I have to save them. I’m the only one who can. I’m supposed to meet him back at the house tonight and bring him the money.
When I pull up to the house, I look at my phone for a second, and then I text James.
Me: I know you won’t understand. I know you’ll be angry with me, but I have no other choice. I love you.
I close my eyes and press send. I slip the phone in my back pocket and head toward the house. I shiver when I step out of the car – it’s grown so much colder and darker here in the evenings compared to the summer.
I knock on the door. I’m trying desperately to control my breathing. I don’t want him to know I'm terrified.
The door swings open, and Daryl is standing on the other side. I forget to breathe for a moment. All of the sudden, I’m seven again, and he’s locked me in my closet. He’s beating the shit out of my brother. I’m curled up in the back of the dark closet listening to the screams.
“Well, look who it is?” he smirks. “I knew you’d show up. You were never too bright.”
He grabs my arm, pulls me inside the house, and slams the door behind me. He’s smaller than I remembered. He’s thinner now than he was when I was younger too. His jeans hang off his frame. His hair has thinned too. His face looks gaunt. I wonder what drugs he’s addicted to now.
He steps closer to me and grabs my face with his hand. He's holding it too tight. I struggle, but his grip holds me in place. A smile slowly spreads across his face.
“You look like your fucking whore of a mother.” His hand squeezes my face even tighter.
“I have your money.” I don’t sound scared. How? I have no idea because I’m trembling on the inside.
He leans his head back and laughs. “Oh, you’re cute. And stupid.”
I scowl.
“I’m not after your money. I’m after you.”
My stomach drops.
He runs his fingers through my hair, and I shudder. “Do you have any idea what you’re worth? Adopted by the fucking President? A billionaire.”
He’s laughing again.
“Where’s Mom?”
“Far away from here.”
I try to lunge toward him, but he pins me against the wall, his hand wrapped around my neck.
“Feisty. That’s the way your mother was too when she was young. She’s boring now.”
He takes his hand and slowly moves it down from my neck until it’s covering one of my breasts. He squeezes – not gently. All the hairs on my arms stand up. “Get your fucking hands off me.”
“I bet you like it rough like she does.” I try to knee him in the balls, but he moves too fast. He’s laughing again. He calls over his shoulder to someone sitting at the table. “Told you she’d put up a fight.”
The other man gets up.
“Gary, help me tie her up.”
Gary walks over. I’m struggling to get free from Daryl’s grasp. Gary pulls me over to a chair. While Daryl is smaller than I remember, this Gary guy is huge, and he has a gun on his hip.
I’m fighting him as much as I can until Daryl pulls out a knife and holds it to my throat. “Brooklyn, sweetie, we can do this the easy way, or we can do it the hard way. Which do you want?”
I feel the knife digging into my skin, and I still my body.
“That’s a good girl. Just like your mother, she always gives in eventually.”
I’d like nothing more than to rip this guy's eyeballs out, but my hands are behind my back now.
God, James is going to kill me if they don’t.
“What’s the plan, boss?” Gary asks.
“We move her tomorrow, and then we let her rich fucking brothers know the price.”
I can’t help myself. “You’ll never get away with this. He’ll kill you.”
Daryl just laughs. “Oh don’t you worry about me, sweetheart. I’ve got a plan.”
“He’ll track you anywhere. Doesn’t matter where you run. He’ll find you and kill you.”
He slaps me hard across the face. “Shut your fucking mouth.”
“Where’s Mom?” I yell. He hit me so hard that my eyes are watering.
“I told you - far from here. You’ll never find her.”
“I will find her, and you’ll pay for everything you’ve done.”
“I told you she was stupid.” Daryl looks at Gary and shakes his head. “Stupid like her mother.”
Gary just laughs.
“I’m tired of listening to your fucking mouth.” Daryl walks over to me and covers my mouth with duct tape.
I close my eyes. My mind races. How am I going to get out of here?
My legs and arms are numb. I shift in the chair. They’ve tied the ropes so tight it’s cut off the circulation. Tears start to slide down my face. I told myself I wouldn’t cry in front of him, but I’m so tired. My body hurts. It’s freezing in here.
I try to speak.
Daryl walks over and rips the duct tape off my mouth. “What?”
“I have to pee.”
“Nice try.”
“I do.”
“Well, I guess you're about to get wet.”
“Fuck you.”
He raises his hand and slaps me again. It sends pain searing through my body. I feel a trickle of blood on the side of my mouth.
“Shut the fuck up unless you want me to really make you cry.”
I shut my mouth tight. He doesn’t return the tape to my mouth. I close my eyes and hang my head. I can’t see a way out of this. I’ve really messed up this time.
I’m actually starting to nod off when I hear a loud crash and then a shot rings in the air. My eyes jerk open, and I’m trying to figure out what’s just happened. My ears are buzzing as I look to the back of the room. Gary is down on the floor, blood pouring out of his chest.
I scan the rest of the room. Daryl is wrestling with someone. I feel hands on me, and I jump.
“We’ve got you, Ginger. Don’t worry.” I look up to see Hawk cutting the ropes on my hands. I focus again on Daryl, and then I realize it’s Kip he’s fighting with. Kip has him pinned against the wall. I see Daryl reach into his pocket.
“He has a knife,” I scream a little too late.
Daryl plunges the knife into Kip’s side, and I scream again.
Kip jerks to the side, but just as he does another shot rings out.
I snap my eyes shut but not soon enough.
The bullet tears through Daryl’s neck, sending blood everywhere. I can’t open my eyes. I can’t look.
Time passes. I’m not sure how long. I hear other voices. I don’t open my eyes. Someone leads me out of the house. I’m shaking so hard my teeth chatter.
Finally, I open my eyes when I hear Hawk’s voice. “Brooklyn, it’s okay. You’re safe now.”
“Kip,” I say as soon as I open my eyes. “Is he dead?”
I can’t breathe. Hawk squats down in front of me. He puts his hands on my shoulder. “Breathe.”
I feel like I'm suffocating.
“Just breathe. It’s okay,” he says.
I take a shaky breath.
“That’s better.” He’s rubbing my back. “Kip is fine.”
My eyes flash to his. “Fine?”
“Yes, it would take a lot more to take down that grumpy fucker.”
“But Daryl stabbed him.”
“He just nicked him. Doesn’t even need stitches - that lucky bastard.”
I lean forward. I think I might throw up.
“And Daryl?” I say.
“Dead. Both of them. They’re gone. Won’t bother you again.”
I throw up - just missing Hawk’s shoes by a centimeter. I wipe my mouth and sit up. “I’m sorry.”
“You’re not the first person to throw up on me, Ginger.”
I laugh.
“Wanna see Kip? The EMTs are bandaging him up.”
I nod. He takes my hand and leads me over to Kip. As soon as I see him, I burst into tears again.
“Come here,” he says, holding out his arms. I fall into him, burying my face in his chest. He pulls me tight into his body.
“It’s over.”
“How’s your cut?”
“I’ve had worse shaving.” He studies me. Although he’s keeping his voice light, his face is full of worry.
“I’m sorry,” I whisper.
“That was a stupid fucking thing to do.”
“I know. I’m sorry.”
Hawk holds up his phone. “Your brother wants to talk.”
I groan softly and take the phone. James is on Facetime. I brace myself.
“Brooklyn, are you okay?” he asks, gently. I thought he was going to yell at me.
“I’m fine,” I answer. Relief washes over his face. “James, I’m sorry.”
He curses under his breath and shakes his head. “That was as stupid fucking thing to do.”
“I know.”
“I’m glad you’re okay.”
I shake my head. I’m crying again.
“I’m sending a helicopter. Brooklyn, I want you to come home now,” he says.
“No.”
Hawk and Kip’s eyes widen. I think James might pop a blood vessel in his forehead.
“What?” He’s trying not to yell at me.
I cut my eyes to Kip. “I want to stay here. I want to stay with Kip.”
Kip’s face softens and so does James.
“That okay with you, Kip?” he asks.
“Yes, sir. She’ll be safe with me.”
“I’m sending two agents. Brooklyn, that’s non-negotiable.”
I nod. “Yes. Of course.”
“Let me talk to Hawk for a minute.” I hand the phone back to Hawk.
Kip runs his hands over my hair and then says, “Let’s go home.”