by Joy Wild
“Mark Owens, Louisiana State Police,” Mark said as he turned to look at the driver and was shocked to see Jack Black.
“So, your girl took off in a hurricane? Is she nuts or trying to get away from you?” Jack laughed.
“What the hell are you doing here? You’re a long way from Fort Stockton,” Mark said, ignoring Jack’s questions.
“Helping out here. Gene called and said you needed help again.” Jack laughed.
“Well yeah, we do,” Mark said. “Autumn took off, headed to Baton Rouge. She is in serious trouble but doesn’t want our help.”
“Autumn? What is it with you guys and seasons? Hey Steve, how is Spring doing?”
“Great, thanks to you guys,” Steve said. “We are married now and have a baby girl.”
“Congratulations, man!”
“Thanks. Now can we rescue this asshole’s woman?” Steve laughed.
“Yes, we can,” Jack laughed. “What route do you think she took, and what is she driving?”
“I’m guessing she took Highway LA 1 straight north to try and get ahead of the hurricane. She’s driving an ambulance unless she stole a car.”
“An ambulance? In this wind? She isn’t going to make it far. That wind will blow that ambulance right over,” Jack said. Mark saw him tighten his grip on the steering wheel. Even in a police car, the wind was blowing them around. The lightning was still flashing almost constantly. That helped them to see some, but the rain was pouring down. Mark wasn’t a praying man, but he couldn’t help praying Autumn was okay.
“We’ve been on the road for almost an hour and haven’t seen her. She must have gotten through this,” Steve remarked.
“Not quite. Look,” Jack said and pointed toward the woods. Lightning flashed, and there was a clear view of an ambulance on its side.
“Fuck,” Mark yelled, scrambling to get the seatbelt off.
“Slow the fuck down, Mark, or you are going to get killed out here,” Steve said. “We will get her.”
Mark paused. He knew Steve was right. They needed to gear up for safety. But damn, now he knew how Steve felt. It was at that moment; Mark realized he was in love with Autumn. It was like a bolt of lightning hit him directly. That was why he checked for her on scenes, why he thought about her all the time, and why he was so determined to get that bastard Blake out of her life.
Her green eyes flashed before him, and he knew he had to get to her.
“I’m going in. I’ll let you know what’s up,” Mark said and got out of the car, forcing the door back shut.
Lightning was flashing so brightly that he could see without a flashlight. She had to have rolled several times based on her location from the road and the mess in the mud.
“Autumn!” Mark screamed. He was sliding in the mud, but his only thought was Autumn. It was still pouring down rain, and the unit was on the driver’s side. He tried the back door, and it was locked. He was going to have to climb up and pray the passenger door was unlocked. He kept losing his grip because of the rain. It felt like it took forever to get to the door, but when he tried it, it was unlocked. He expected to find Autumn unconscious or dead in the driver’s seat, but no one was in the ambulance.
17
“What the hell?” he asked no one.
“Asshole, is she okay?” Steve yelled.
“She’s not in here,” Mark yelled back.
“Where the hell could she be?” Steve asked.
“Either someone has her, or she got out and tried to go for help. There’s some blood in here, but not enough to suggest severe injury.”
“Well, get your ass down here and let’s find her,” Steve said.
“I thought I’d just hang around here, dumb ass,” Mark said sarcastically.
“You would, just to be lazy,” Steve laughed.
Mark made it back to the ground, and they headed back to Jack’s car. They climbed in, soaking wet.
“You’re going to be cleaning my car,” Jack said, shaking his head.
“Your car is the least of my worries. Hell, Gene will probably buy a new one at this point,” Mark said. “Appears the storm is letting up. We must be getting into the eye.”
“Yep, so let’s find your girl,” Jack smirked.
“She’s not my girl. She is a friend,” Mark clarified.
“Uh-huh,” Steve mumbled from the backseat.
Jack laughed. “Sure, she’s a friend.”
“What is it with our women that they all seem to think they need to run?” Steve asked.
“Your woman ran. Autumn is not my woman.” Mark said. But even he knew he wanted Autumn to be his woman. He’d never desired any woman since Renee. After his wife left him, he hadn’t planned to trust any woman again. Yea, he had a few flings here and there, but he hadn’t cared about any of them. Then he met Autumn. Her green eyes seem to call to him. Shaking his head, he heard Steve laugh.
“What are you laughing at, asshole?” Mark asked.
“I’ve been talking to you, but you didn’t even hear me. You were lost in thought about her. I bet it is those green eyes,” Steve goaded him.
“Fuck you. Let’s just find her. She has a daughter to get home to,” Mark said. His phone rang.
“Owens.”
“Any luck yet?” Gene asked.
“No. We found the ambulance on its side. No sign of Autumn anywhere.”
“Fuck.” The phone went dead.
“I hate when he does that,” Mark said. “One day, I am going to meet him and tell him that.”
“Wait, you guys have never met your boss?” Jack asked.
“Nope. We were hired, and that was that. Gene pays well and keeps us busy. We don’t ask a lot of questions.”
“That’s messed up. You should know who you work for.”
“Gene takes care of us. Not to mention he has connections everywhere. Finds out shit we couldn’t find out,” Steve chimed in.
“Well, I guess that helps, but it would bother me not knowing who I work for,” Jack said.
“Stop!” Mark yelled, opening his door before Jack could come to a complete stop.
“Autumn!” he yelled as he jumped out of the car.
“Mark!” he heard her yell.
“I’m coming; hold on.”
He made it to her before Steve got out of the car.
“Honey, what happened?” Mark said, grabbing her. “Are you hurt?”
“It’s my ankle. I think I twisted it.”
“What the hell were you thinking?” He fussed at her as he picked her up.
Sliding around in the mud, he slowly headed back to the car. Steve met him halfway with a blanket.
“Autumn, dammit woman, what were you thinking?” Steve berated her.
“I need to get to my daughter before they do.”
“Who?” Mark asked her. He slid her into the backseat of the car and climbed in with her; leaving Steve to get in the front.
“Diego,” Autumn said.
“How in the hell do you know the most notorious drug dealer in the country?” Mark asked.
“I don’t.”
“Then how do you know he is after you?” Steve asked.
Autumn proceeded to tell them about the man who had grabbed her at the shelter and what he said.
“Holy fuck,” Mark said. He grabbed his phone and dialed Gene.
“What?” Gene answered.
“We’ve got her. Besides a twisted ankle, she is okay,” Mark told Gene.
“Thank God,” Gene said.
“We have a problem.”
“What? You got your woman,” Gene said.
“She’s not my woman. Diego wants her dead.”
“How the fuck do you know that? Why would Diego want her dead?” Gene bellowed.
“Blake and money.” Mark filled Gene in on what Autumn told him.
“Fuck, fuck, fuck. This changes things. The storm is letting up. I’m getting Sam to head back with the girls. You guys get Abby and get to your house. Keep them there
until we find out more.” The phone went dead.
“Jack, can you get us back to Baton Rouge? We need to get Abby and then get to my house,” Mark questioned.
“Yep. Tell me where to go.”
Autumn gave Jack the address where Abby was. They were still an hour away.
She closed her eyes and leaned against Mark. Autumn needed the warmth and security he offered. Mark didn’t want her, and she knew that. He told someone on the phone that she is not his woman. She assumed it was Gene that he was talking with. She knew Gene was his boss and knew that Gene had helped them save Spring and Summer both. He made it clear that she was just a job to him. Abby was the most important thing to her, and no one was getting in that way. Damn sure not this Diego asshole. She shivered.
“It’s okay, honey, I got you,” Mark whispered. She felt him wrap the blanket tighter around her. She closed her eyes and snuggled into him. Well, for now, he was her safety. She knew that she could count on them to get Abby. With his arms wrapped around her, she drifted off to sleep.
18
Mark felt Autumn relax in his arms and knew she was asleep. Poor thing is exhausted. “I’ll protect you,” he whispered.
He saw Jack watching him in the rearview mirror.
“We need to get her to the hospital and have them check her ankle,” Jack said quietly.
“Let’s get Abby first. Then she might not fight us so much,” Mark said.
Jack nodded and continued driving.
“Is Spring okay?” Mark asked Steve. He knew Steve was texting her. Mark could see the light from his phone.
“Yeah, she’s okay but scared. I want to get her to your house, so we are all together.”
“That’s fine. When we get back, go get her and Lizzie, then meet at my house.”
“Thanks, man,” Steve said. Mark could hear the relief in his voice.
“I get it, man. I finally got it,” Mark said quietly.
Mark sat holding Autumn, and it felt right to him. I wish you would trust me, baby.
“Did you really think you could run from me bitch?” Autumn shrunk in fear.
“I wasn’t running from you, Blake,” Autumn cried.
“You lying, conniving, little bitch. I gave you everything. You lived in luxury. Now you are going to solve everything for me. You see, Diego here wants you. I told him he could have you and Abby too. You’re useless to me. Even sex with you sucks. No one will ever love you. So now you are going to disappear with Diego. You two can be his sex slaves for all I care. As for the world, well, they will believe you are both dead. I get to go back to living high on the hog.”
“No, Blake, don’t do this,” Autumn was nearing hysterics. “Not Abby. She doesn’t deserve this.”
“Do you think I care about either one of you? I mean, seriously bitch, you were nothing to me. You were someone to take my frustrations out on.”
“Blake, you have beaten me and raped me, and I kept my mouth shut to protect you. Why are you doing this?”
“Because I need the fucking life insurance money. You are worth more dead than alive—both of you. I don’t care about Abby. I never did.”
“Daddy!” Abby cried out.
“Abby, come here!” Autumn cried out.
“Don’t do this, Blake!” Autumn watched as he grabbed Abby and handed her to a smiling Diego. She couldn’t see Diego’s face, only his bright white teeth.
“No!” Autumn screamed. “Abby!”
She heard Diego laugh as he turned and left with her baby. Blake laughed as he grabbed her by the throat.
“Now, let’s have fun one more time before you become his bitch.” Blake slammed her up against the wall.
“Abby!” she screamed.
“Autumn, wake up,” a voice called out.
“Autumn!” the voice said again.
She slowly opened her eyes and looked around, terrified she was in Diego’s prison.
She saw Mark gazing down at her. Her racing heart rate began to slow. She could feel her whole body trembling.
“Baby, are you okay?” he asked.
“Bad dream,” she said as she began to sit up.
“No, lay right here. I’ve got you.”
“I need Abby,” Autumn said. She began to cry. She let go and cried for everything from the last six years, for her daughter, for all the fear she has held inside for so long. She cried for what seemed like ever; Mark did nothing but hold her and let her cry. Finally, the sobs subsided. She took the handkerchief he offered her. She wiped her eyes and blew her nose. Wow, this is attractive. Autumn shook her head.
“I’m sorry, you must think I’m such a baby,” she said, bowing her head.
He put a finger under her chin and lifted her head until her eyes met his.
“You are not a baby. You are the strongest, most stubborn, most protective mother that I have ever met. I admire you,” Mark told her.
“Admire me? Why? I live in fear every day. I wonder if every day is my last day with my daughter or if I will live through the day. How can that be admirable?” Autumn asked him.
“Woman, you have been through more than anyone can imagine. You live through nightmares I can’t imagine, and yet you put your daughter first. You always put on a happy face to let everyone think you are okay. That tells me how strong you are. Now you are going to let me, and the guys handle this from here. From this moment on you will do as I say when I say for your safety, or I cannot protect you. I will not, ever hurt you. Not intentionally anyway. And I promise you, I will not ever lay a hand on you,” He assured her. “Well, I will put my hands all over you when we make love,” he whispered in her ear.
She shivered and felt herself blushing. The thoughts of his hands on her body had her girly parts singing. He must have seen that in her eyes because he smiled, and he slowly brought his lips to hers. He paused, she knew that he was giving her the chance to pull away, but she couldn’t. She wanted his kiss. Then his lips met hers, and Autumn was pretty sure that fireworks were going off. Her heart started beating fast for an entirely different reason. She put her hand behind his neck and pulled him into her. The kiss deepened until she felt like she was walking into a bright light. Mmm, if this is death, I’ll take it. She didn’t know how long the kiss lasted, but for the first time in a very long time, she was happy. When Mark slowly broke the kiss, she immediately felt the loss. She opened her eyes and stared into his. He smiled, and somehow she knew it was going to be okay.
“How long till we get there?” she asked.
“About twenty minutes. The weather is holding up now, but we need to move quickly. The worst is still yet to come,” the driver said.
Autumn tensed up. She flashed her eyes to Mark. “Who is that?”
“I’m sorry, honey, this is Jack Black. He is one of the officers in Fort Stockton that helped us rescue Spring.”
“Oh,” she mumbled.
“It’s nice to meet you, Autumn. Let’s get your daughter and get you guys to safety. We also need to get your ankle checked out,” Jack said.
Autumn had forgotten about her ankle, but now she could feel it throbbing.
“I don’t care about my ankle. I just want my daughter.”
“We’ll get her first, then get you checked out,” Mark reassured her.
They slowly turned into Ms. Lela’s neighborhood. It was total devastation. Autumn’s heart started pounding, and she choked on tears.
“Oh my God,” she cried. “Lela’s house is gone.” She was trying to get out of the car, but Mark held on to her.
“Let me go!”
“No, Autumn. Calm down. We will look for her; you stay here.”
“You don’t even know what she looks like, Mark.”
“I bet she looks like you. You can’t walk on that ankle.”
Autumn was glancing around. “Mark, do you see that concrete tower right there?” Mark asked as she pointed.
“Yes, honey,” he said.
“That’s where she was supposed to go if any
thing happened. But she won’t unlock the door unless she hears my voice. That was the rule we set up.”
“Okay, well then we will help you walk. She needs to know you are okay too.”
It was a slow and painful trek to the concrete tower. It was a small room that Ms. Lela had installed as a storm shelter. Abby had been taught to go to that room if anything seemed wrong and not open it until she heard Autumn say the magic words. Autumn ignored everything to get to the room. Finally, they made it to the door.
“Abby! Rainbows and unicorns!” Autumn shouted while knocking on the door.
They heard the door unlock. Autumn expected to see a frantic Abby and a terrified Ms. Lela, but Abby was the only one in the little room.
“Mommy!” Abby cried and jumped into her arms. Mark caught her, so she didn’t fall.
“Abby!” Autumn hugged her daughter as tight as she could.
“I was so scared, Mommy. Men showed up and started yelling at Ms. Lela. I ran to the room. Mommy, I don’t know where Ms. Lela is,” Abby cried hysterically.
“Abby, sweetie, calm down. We will find her.” Autumn turned to Mark just in time to see Steve shake his head at Mark. Steve was standing over what she guessed was Ms. Lela’s body. Autumn tried to maintain her composure for Abby, but she was close to losing it.
“Let’s get you out of here,” Mark said, eyeing the ground around them. “Let me carry Abby.”
“I’ve got her,” Autumn said, clutching her daughter.
“Baby, I know you can carry her, but with your ankle and all this debris, it would be easier and quicker for me to carry her. I will not leave your side. I promise,” Mark told her.
She hesitated for a moment, but she knew from this point on she had to trust Mark with their lives. She began handing Abby over to Mark, but Abby screamed and grabbed onto Autumn.
“Sweetie, listen to me,” Autumn said to Abby. “Mr. Mark is going to carry you for me because Mommy did a dumb thing and hurt her ankle.”
“Did Daddy hurt you again?” Abby said, tears running down her little cheeks.
