49. River
Chapter Forty-Nine
RIVER
Home sweet home.
We pulled up to the house and parked, but I didn’t move. It had been a long day—one full of amazing memories—and the idea of making dinner didn’t sound too appealing. I groaned with exhaustion.
“Want me to run and grab something from our favorite pizza place?” Lennon asked.
How the heck was my sixteen-year-old reading minds like my fiancé and all the other guys in our group? Were they showing him the ropes or did it just come naturally?
“I know you. That groan said it all.”
There it was again, this time making me laugh.
“Okay, Mr. Mind Reader, pizza sounds great.”
I turned my head and looked at Bre in the backseat. “Are you going with him or coming inside with me?”
She opened the back door. “You. Roxie probably misses me and needs to go out.”
My kids must be even more tired than I was. They had been with Lake when it all began and it was a lot for them. I smiled while thinking, My kids are troopers .
I followed suit and popped my door open to get out.
“The usual?” Lennon asked.
“Sounds good. Drive safe,” I told him.
Lennon’s face turned serious. “Lock everything up as soon as you’re inside.”
He was protecting me again and I got it. We didn’t know what, or I should say who, was still out there, but we had to carry on.
“We will.” I gave him an encouraging smile and shut the vehicle door.
Bre and I made our way to the house, both moving slowly. I unlocked the door and the alarm started beeping as Roxie came running, yapping excitedly. Lennon had waited until we were inside and then I heard his truck drive off.
My daughter clipped her dog's leash on as I keyed in the code so we could take Roxie potty, then we’d lock up.
When it was dark, I always insisted on going out with her if Huntley or Lennon weren’t home. I turned to the door as beeping alerted us that there was motion on the camera. Had Lennon come back?
I couldn’t explain why, but the hair on the back of my neck stood on end and my skin prickled with unease. In a rush and trusting my instincts, I tried shoving the door shut.
But it was too late.
Bre screamed as a dark figure threw me backward and shoved his way into the house. I went crashing to the floor, my butt hitting with a loud thunk, jarring me and shooting pain through my body. When I looked up into the man's face, revealed by the light in the entryway, I gasped.
I’d seen him in pictures—it was one of my client's narcissistic husbands.
And he was a very bad guy.
“Bre, get in your room, hurry!” I yelled as I scrambled to my feet .
My daughter, scared out of her mind, stood frozen in fear. Before I could get to her, the man grabbed her, pulling her back to his chest. I moved forward, but then stopped dead in my tracks, when the asshole pulled out a knife.
“It was you,” I muttered, recognition dawning.
This man had been the one that attacked me outside my office. It was all making sense now. My client didn’t show that day and I hadn’t heard from her until the following week. She had said she feared for her life and just needed to get away.
The guy's words from that day came back to me.
Mind your own fucking business, bitch and stop trying to get into other people’s heads, or you will be sorry.
After my client called me, why had I not put it together and told the guys? I kept fucking up and now my daughter’s life hung in the balance.
Tears dripped down my child’s terror-stricken face and Roxie barked frantically at her feet.
“Shut that fucking dog up before I kill it!” Spittle flew in every direction, the man’s glassy eyes full of rage.
“M-Mom,” Bre cried.
My pulse skyrocketed and I tried to slow it down so I could think. I had to talk our way out of this or stall somehow until help came. And I knew a whole lot of it was on the way. The cameras would have alerted all the guys.
Lennon included.
Please God, let my boy drive safely .
No doubt he was rushing back, probably kicking himself for leaving at all.
“Baby, let go of the leash, I’ll take Roxie.”
Holding the leash like a lifeline, my daughter struggled to do as I asked. She couldn’t go through this. Her life already had been filled with enough horrifying moments.
Right then, I didn’t care about me, but my daughter…
I had to save my girl .
“Come on baby, let her go. I promise it will be okay.”
When she did as I asked that time, the guy screamed for me to lock the dog in the bedroom and to not try anything stupid.
“If you try anything, I will kill her,” he said, his venomous tone slicing through the room.
Bre sobbed, thousands of tears rolling down her pretty face.
At that, my heart thrummed louder and louder, until it roared with anger bursting to be released. This is not happening. He was not going to hurt my child!
“Now!” he bellowed.
I rushed to the bedroom and shut Roxie in. The dog barked and scratched frantically at the door, wanting to get to her person. She knew Bre was in trouble, they’d bonded in a special way since my daughter got her when the dog was just eight weeks old.
Running back toward the front door, I tried using the skills I’d learned with my job.
“I’m sorry that you are having a hard time. Is there anything I can do?”
He stood there staring at me, his cold, hard eyes unsettling. The guy was on something and I knew firsthand how bad it could get.
“Do you want to talk about it? How about you let her go and we can sit down so you can tell me what’s going on?”
The knife moved to my daughter’s throat and I felt my world tilt on its axis.
“Don’t fucking try and psychoanalyze me, you fucking homewrecker. You already filled my wife’s head with bullshit, and now I can’t find her.” He snarled, frothy foam seeping out his mouth like a rabid dog. “I’ve been buying my time, waiting for you two to be alone and now I have you.”
I don’t know how he found us, but he must have followed me home at some point. As he said, just waiting for the right moment.
He was escalating. I had to get him away from Bre.
Oh my God, Bre. Tears still rolled down her cheeks, but she was lost. Her face was void of emotion, blank and yet she still trembled. I always talked about fight or flight mode, but there was a third. Freeze. And that was the place my daughter was at as I tried to get her attention and reassure her.
She couldn’t hear me and my heart broke.
“You took her away from me!” the monster screamed, the veins in his neck bulging. “Now I’m going to take something from you!”
That’s when I knew what mode I needed to be in.
Fight.
I would not let the fear of my past or my demons win. This was my fight, my child, and it was my time to win.
At the sound of police sirens, the bastard turned toward the door, dropping the knife away from Bre’s neck.
I lunged, closing the small distance between us, and caught him off guard when I slammed the heel of my hand into his nose. Thank you No Surrender for the few defense classes. Stunned, the metal in his hands dropped to the floor as blood spurted from his nostrils, I yanked Bre away, pushing her behind me.
“Run!” I screamed at her as I began fighting with all I had in me.
She didn’t move, and I pushed the fucker as hard as I could trying to put distance between him and my daughter. As he started to fall backward, his large hand caught my hair, gripping it tight in his hand, causing me to tumble outside with him.
My scalp was on fire, his unrelenting hold too powerful to break free from .
I’d hoped I'd broken his nose, but it still didn’t seem to be stopping him.
You could hear the cars kicking up gravel in the distance and the roar of their engines, as well as sirens closing in. The jackass got to his feet before me, my hair still wrapped around his fist. He landed a kick to my stomach that made me want to vomit.
I tried shielding my middle, but he got off another kick before I could. And then he began dragging me into the trees. Still fighting for all I was worth, I started to scream; he released my hair, but only to land another solid blow, this time to my face.
Stars began to swim in my vision and my body went numb as he pulled me further away from my home and the help that was so damn close.
Two thoughts crossed my mind.
At least my daughter’s safe.
Please find me Huntley.
And then darkness took over.
“Baby, can you hear me?”
Was I dreaming?
Huntley’s voice fluttered to my ears and I soaked in the sound.
“Come on, sweetheart, come back to me.”
I fought to find my way to him. My eyes felt heavy, like lead, but I willed them to open. I didn’t want to be dreaming. I needed to see him.
“Please let him be here,” I muttered.
“I’m right here, honey. Open those beautiful eyes of yours, please. ”
The plea in his tone had me slowly blinking and his face came into view.
“Not a dream,” I whispered.
His crystal, green eyes filled with tears. It made my heart ache to see him so sad. I reached out to touch his face, trying to catch the salty liquid as it dripped down his cheeks. He caught my hand, turned it, and pressed a kiss on my palm.
“God, baby.” His voice was full of anguish. “I’ve never been more scared in my life.”
My head was fuzzy, but everything began coming back to me in a flash and I tried lurching up from where I was lying as I called out to Bre frantically. Huntley gently stopped my motion, and I realized then I was on a stretcher in the back of an ambulance.
“Shh, she’s okay,” he soothed softly.
Everything hurt, even my scalp. That’s when I remembered the cruel bastard's hand in my hair.
“Mom. I’m h-here,” I heard Bre’s sweet, shaky voice from outside.
Movement to the right of me had me slowly turning my head. I realized an EMT had been there and I hadn’t even known.
“Who’s riding to the hospital with Miss Roberts?” the guy asked. “We need to get going.”
I hate that name.
I turned to look at Huntley and could see the struggle in his gaze. He lifted up and leaned over me. “She needs you. I’ll be right behind you the whole way.”
It was killing him to get out of the ambulance, but he did it for my daughter. Or more like, our daughter. She was becoming his as much as she was mine.
“I love you,” he whispered before kissing my forehead and making way for Bre to get in.
My daughter slid up next to me, eyes swimming with tears. “I was so s-scared. Not only when he had me but when I realized he’d taken you.”
Lifting my hand, I softly brushed her hair out of her face. “I know, sweet girl, but we’re okay.”
The back doors slammed shut and the vehicle began to move.
Bre held my hand in hers. “Lennon and Huntley were going out of their minds. Everything happened so fast, it’s a blur, and I still don’t know how they found you so quickly.”
I did.
With my other hand, I reached up and grabbed the necklace still around my neck. Thumbing the silver heart, I replied, “It was this.”
Realization dawned in her beautiful eyes. Bre knew about the necklace, but probably forgot about it with everything happening.
I made a mental note to ask the ladies about getting her one. Especially after what just happened, it would put my mind at ease.
“He really is Superman, mom. He saved you.” Then she swallowed, emotions flitting across her face. “And you saved me,” she whispered.
I squeezed my daughter’s hand. “I’ll always save you, sweet girl.”
Just as I knew Huntley would always do anything possible to save me, as well as the kids.
I’d been out cold and don’t know what happened there in the woods. But even with the worry and love in Huntley’s eyes, I still felt the rage burning from him. I would find out details later, but what I’d been awake for felt like enough to deal with at the moment. Right now, I knew both Bre and I would need to work through the ordeal.
And we’d do it together.
Wasn’t I just here earlier today?
I found myself back at the same hospital my sister was at.
The same sister that had burst into my room, not listening to a word her husband or nurses said, demanding to see me. Fire shot from her gaze when either tried coaxing her back to her own room.
We’d come a long way in our relationship and I was going to cherish every second we had together. I knew down to my bones, I’d be doing the same if the situations were reversed.
A tear slipped down her cheek as she sat next to my bed. “I was so scared when Bronson got the call and we couldn’t get to you.”
I had overheard the guys talking in the hall, their voices drifting in the room as they told my brother-in-law how things went down. All the guys had hauled ass to my place, not waiting for the police, and worked together to surround the bastard who was attempting to kidnap me.
As I’d suspected it had been the necklace that let them zero in on my location and then like a well-oiled team, they had saved me. The monster was in police custody and he was not only never going to hurt me or my daughter again, but his wife was now safe too.
The thought of what he would have done if he’d gotten away with me in tow, made me shudder. So, I was trying really hard to put it out of my mind. Because I was safe. And that’s what mattered.
I’d broken through my past and I refused to let something else stop me from moving forward with Huntley or my family and friends.
Seeing Lake upset after just having a baby—or any time for that matter—was killing me. “I’m okay. You were where you needed to be. It’s all over. ”
“But—”
I held up my hand, cutting off her rebuttal. “No buts. I’m the big sister here so you have to listen to me.”
Laughter rippled through me when she rolled her eyes. I winced at the streak of pain that rushed through me, but covered it up best I could and kept on.
“I said I was okay. You need to worry about that sweet boy there.” I motioned to baby Forrest, who was tucked in his father’s arms. “And my niece. No more worrying about me.”
Stormi wasn’t there, she had gone home with Jurnee earlier for a sleepover with her kids since Bronson refused to leave his wife’s side for the night after just giving birth.
By the time I’d got to the hospital it was late and all the kids were home in bed with their mothers. The men had followed us to the hospital, checked in, and then gone home to be with their families. However, that didn't stop the ladies from sneaking out one by one and rushing to check on me.
“Fine,” Lake mumbled. “But I’m only letting you play the big sister trump card because you're hurt.”
Taking a breath, I held back the giggle about to let loose because I did hurt like hell. Thankfully, there was no internal damage from the blows to my stomach, along with no broken bones—I was just banged up.
Sure, there would be bruises, but those would heal, and I was determined to make sure my mind did as well. I’d spent enough time letting darkness consume me, I wasn’t going back there.
I looked around the room at the last of the visitors. Lake and family, minus Stormi, Huntley, Ruby, my kids, and Val.
Val hadn’t blinked an eye about coming back to the hospital when Huntley called her to tell her what happened. She had been mothering me once again since she arrived.
And I was soaking it all up .
Then my eyes zeroed in on my children. Bre’s tears had finally subsided and she was tucked against her protective brother’s side. My daughter and I may have gone through hell together, but it was clear that Lennon was right there with us.
Huntley too.
They were both blaming themselves for not being there, especially my son. He held the weight of the world on his shoulders and I hated it.
“ I’m okay,” I mouthed, staring him straight in the eyes.
Huntley caught on and glanced back toward Lennon, who sat rigid in one of the chairs. I blew out a breath praying he would stop kicking himself sooner rather than later.
My man leaned down close. “I’ll talk to him. I promise he will be okay.”
Letting out a sigh, I relaxed a bit, knowing my fiancé would make things right. Just like with Bre, Huntley loved my boy too.
Just then, the door swung open and in walked…
Dr. Solace.
“Hello again,” he said to the room, but his gaze was on me. “I’m sorry to hear about the trouble you had and just wanted to check on you while I was making my rounds.”
Gemma had been right. The older man was a hottie. Not only that, but he also had a voice so smooth it could melt butter.
“How are you feeling, Miss Roberts?”
There it was again. That dreaded name.
Once again Huntley leaned down and whispered next to my ear. “Not for long,” he said, reading my mind. Again.
My belly fluttered as his words and warm breath washed over me.
“I’m doing okay, thank you,” I managed to respond to the good doctor even though my body was tingling from the effect my man had on me .
The doc nodded in reply. “Good to hear. Please don’t hesitate to have the nurses reach me if you need anything this evening.”
Wow, the man was nice too.
I felt my eyes drift over to Val. She was watching the exchange, her cheeks as rosy as they had been earlier today when she saw the man the first time.
“Well, I’ll get out of your way and let you guys finish talking, but you get some rest real soon, okay?”
Turning back to the doctor, I said, “I will, thank you.”
He began walking out of the room but turned back one last time. “It was good seeing you again,” he said.
Funny thing was, his gaze was on Val only. Desire and interest sparked in his eyes before he left the room.
When the door shut, Huntley said, “What the hell was that?”
Hurting or not, I couldn’t stop the giggle that time. “I told you.”
Lake let out a dreamy sigh, and I laughed again.
“Yup, the doctor has the hots for your mom,” I told my guy.
Huntley groaned, pinching the bridge of his nose.
“The man didn’t even acknowledge me,” Ruby said. “He only had eyes for Val.”
“Clearly I missed something,” Lake said. “You guys need to fill me in.”
“Let’s just say, our project, Set up Val, is in full effect,” Ruby told her.
Lake clapped, a lot like Alley had earlier, her eyes gleaming and ready to jump in.
Another groan had me turning to the love of my life beside me.
“Remember what I said earlier,” I told him.
His eyes glistened as he thought about our text. I could see the moment he realized just how much his mother deserved some happiness and love in her life too.
I looked over at Val. She was busy shaking her head. “You guys need to stop,” she said, with no gusto at all.
The woman was just as interested as the doctor was, I saw it with my own two eyes.
“Grandma, you need to go for it,” Bre said, and the room went quiet.
Val’s eyes widened and then tears gathered. “Grandma,” she whispered in awe. “I love that.”
Bre gave her a bright smile and my heart spilled over with love.
“He is a hottie,” Lake said, lightening the mood.
“Babe,” Bronson said in a mock warning, making her giggle.
God, I loved my life, I thought.
I looked up and met Huntley’s gaze.
“Love you,” I said softly.
Huntley leaned down and kissed me lightly. “My warrior,” he whispered.
Instead of denying it as I usually did, I looked up and smiled. “Your warrior.”
His satisfied grin lit up the room.