I leaned forward, touched her face, then kissed her softly.
“You are so strong. You did all of that on your own when you didn’t need to. But you’re not alone now. We’re going to find your son. We’re going to find Joshua. We’re going to make sure Adam never gets a chance to do this again, and then we’re going to think about futures and everything that you and I can do together. Because, Dakota? I’m not letting you do anything else on your own ever again. I’m always going to be here.”
I hadn’t meant to declare as much as I had, but I needed to. Dakota needed to know that she wasn’t alone.
But it hurt to think that I couldn’t do more than that. That I couldn’t help.
She was hurting, and there wasn’t much I could do.
“Macon m—”
“Dakota! Where the fuck are you?”
Dakota turned, looking at the window.
“Adam?”
“I’m going to get the cops in here.”
“Don’t fucking call the cops or he’s dead.”
I looked down at my phone, then at Dakota, and the two of us ran towards the back door, afraid of what we might see.
“Hey there, baby. Miss me?”
Chapter 18
Dakota
Bile rose up in my throat, and I felt on the edge of an abyss.
This couldn’t be happening.
Adam couldn’t be here.
Where.
Was.
My.
Son?
“Where’s Joshua?” I shouted as I stood on the back porch, Macon right beside me. He held his arm out, blocking me from moving forward.
I almost kicked at him, slapping at him to stop him from pushing me back, but then I saw the gun in Adam’s hand, and my entire world turned on its axis as I tried to take a deep breath and wonder what exactly was happening.
“Wherever the fuck we need him to be,” he singsonged, and I almost threw up.
He was high as a kite. That much was clear. I could practically see his dilated pupils from here.
And he was pointing a gun at us.
And I didn’t know where my son was.
Suddenly, my brain caught on a word he’d said. We. So, there were others with him. Others we couldn’t see. Were they with Joshua? Or surrounding the house?
I knew the authorities were near and would come at any moment—it was the only reason Macon had even let me out of the house onto the porch to begin with. But I needed them to get here soon.
I needed them to help me save my son.
“Where’s my son?” I asked.
“You mean my son?” Adam spat.
I hoped to hell the two plainclothes officers at the front of the house could hear this and would come forward soon.
I just didn’t know if they would. The forest dampened some of the sounds from my back yard, and they hadn’t been in the house. They had given us time to ourselves while everybody was out searching for Joshua.
And yet it seemed to me like could be close.
I was so fucking confused. I just wanted my boy.
“He’s fine. He’s just learning a few new tricks.”
My blood boiled, and I took a step forward, but Adam clicked his tongue.
“You should listen to the brute beside you and not move... You deserve this and so much more.”
“I’ve done nothing to you. Just leave me alone. Leave Joshua and me be.”
“You did everything, Dakota!” Adam screamed. “You sent me to jail. Sent some of my men to jail because you were a stupid fucking cunt and couldn’t keep your goddamn lips closed. Oh, you could spread your legs for anybody who came near, and yet as soon as you got knocked up, you decided you were too high and mighty for any of us. You didn’t like what you saw, so you went to the cops. We don’t fucking do that. You know the rules. You broke our laws, and now I’m going to break you.”
“You’re going to want to shut your mouth.”
I froze at Macon’s words, and Adam’s eyes narrowed to slits.
I knew this had to be traumatic for Macon—fuck, it was just as bad for me. Except for the fact that Macon had already been on this side of a gun before. I refused to let him get hurt again.
I couldn’t breathe. I could barely think. I just needed Joshua secure. I needed Macon safe.
“Is this the new dick you’re with? Well, it seems like the ‘roids are doing their job on those muscles of his. Must have a tiny little dick for you, though. Don’t worry, baby. You’ll come back to me. And you’ll get all the fucking cock you want.”
Bile filled my throat, and I nearly threw up.
“Don’t look at me like that. You fucking sent me to prison. You deserve what you’re going to get and more.”
“Adam,” I said calmly, as calmly as I could anyway. “You know that there are detectives all around. They might not be able to see you now, but they will. They’re going to be in my house at any moment because they’re out searching for Joshua. I’m honestly surprised they haven’t found you yet.”
Adam rolled his eyes.
“We took care of the two out front. We’ll get the rest.”
Shock slid through me, mixing with revulsion.
He had taken care of them?
I looked at the gun in his hands, then at his eyes, and knew. He’d killed the two police officers out front, what else did he plan to do?
“Let me see Joshua,” I said.
“No, I don’t think I will.”
And then Adam shot.
I froze, fear like an icy wave washed over me, and then Macon was on top of me, pushing me out of the way.
“Macon!”
“Are you hurt? Are you hit?”
“I’m fine,” I answered, not knowing if it was true. I was too numb to feel anything.
“What about you?”
“He didn’t get me. Has fucking shitty aim.”
Footsteps sounded around us, and then someone pulled Macon off me. At least six guys were on top of him then, pummeling and kicking, but Macon was faster,
