Precious Embrace (Embrace Series)

by Dana Mason

  “Yes, we heard everything until you lost the signal. “Brian and I are tailing you. We’re about an hour behind you. We’ve got the address to the house. Ali, tell me if he hurt you?”

  “He took Micah,” she said trying to talk clearly.

  “What?”

  “We’re at a gas station and he took Micah inside with him and left me in the car.”

  “What was his mood like, was he agitated?”

  “Yes! Johnny, he’s crazy! I mean he has completely lost his mind. If Micah wakes up screaming while they’re in there—”

  “A public place is probably the safest place for Micah right now. He can’t hurt the baby with an audience.”

  That was probably true, but she still couldn’t relax.

  “Ali, are you okay?”

  “Yeah.” She touched the bruises on her face and winced. “He hit me a couple of times.” Her eyes welled up again and she said, “He threatened to kill Micah if I don’t do what he says.

  “Fuck! Okay, listen, sweetheart, I have to talk fast before I lose my cell signal too. You need to cooperate. You have to stop pissing him off so he’ll relax and trust you. Please just go along with him as much as you can until we get there.”

  “He’s not himself. I don’t know what he’s going to do next.”

  “You need to protect yourself, but don’t aggravate him either.” Johnny took a deep breath and exhaled through the speaker. “Ali, sweetheart, I’m comin’ to get you, I promise. I love you.”

  “He’s coming!” she said in a whispered gasp. “I gotta go. I love you.” She hit the off button and stuffed the phone into her pocket.

  When Carl approached the car he smiled at her and held up a cup of coffee. She rolled down her window and took the cup from him.

  “Here, honey, coffee. They didn’t have espresso, but I thought this would do for now. I also got some bottled water and diet coke for the house.” He put everything in the trunk before hooking Micah back into the backseat. When he slid back into the driver’s seat. Ali ignored him, leaning back to check on Micah, who was still sleeping in the car seat. “I bought us some sandwiches for dinner and eggs. I’ll make you breakfast in the morning.” He rattled on as she stared down at Micah.

  “Thank you,” she mumbled, trying to hide her red eyes.

  “How’s the coffee?”

  “Too hot, I’ll drink it when it cools,” she said putting it down in the cup holder.

  Carl angled the car into the long driveway and slowly approached the house.

  Ali stretched and unbuckled her seatbelt, anxious to get out of the cramped car. “Thank god,” she said. “I really need to use the bathroom.”

  “Go ahead inside.” Carl handed her the house keys. “Take the baby, I’ll unload the car.” He smiled at her and it made Ali want to cry.

  She stared at his face. What happened to the man she once loved? Carl had been this sweet once…but that seemed like a lifetime ago. Was she the reason he had lost his grip on sanity?

  She took the keys and tried to smile back at him. “Thanks,” she said, opening the back door and unhooking the car seat. She went inside and locked herself in the bathroom with Micah still sleeping in his car seat. She dialed Johnny’s number.

  “Ali?”

  “We’re here,” she whispered. “I’m locked in the bathroom with Micah. Carl is unloading the car. I have to hurry.”

  “Don’t get caught with the phone. I don’t want to give him a reason to hurt you or Micah.”

  “Johnny, hurry up, please.” She started crying again and said, “I’m scared.”

  “Hold on a little longer, sweetheart. I’ll be there soon. Try to keep your distance and don’t fight with him.”

  “Okay—I hear him coming. I have to go—I love you!”

  Ali quickly looked around the bathroom for a place to hide the phone. She pulled the bag out of the empty garbage can and put the phone in it then replaced the bag. After washing her face and hands she stepped out of the bathroom and almost right into Carl. “H-Hi,” she stammered.

  “I got the groceries in,” he said. Ali couldn’t believe how normal he was acting. As if he didn’t just threaten her son’s life. God he really believed they were on vacation. All she wanted was to go home. “Here’s your coffee, honey,” he said handing her the cup. “You left it in the car.”

  “Thank you, I need to change Micah.” She took the coffee and sipped it, then stepped around him to go into the family room. Carefully, she picked up the sleeping baby and rocked him, thankful they’d made it this far without incident.

  Micah was soaking wet from his diaper and from sweating in his car seat. She changed his clothes and diaper then rushed to make him a fresh bottle while he whimpered and whined. She prayed Carl didn’t start screaming at her or the baby, but he seemed so relaxed since they’d arrived.

  The baby ate frantically, his eyes wide as he sucked on the bottle. Ali stared at him, praying she could keep him safe until Johnny arrived. Her adrenalin had settled slightly but she felt zapped from the crazy day. She grabbed the coffee and drank to ward off the adrenalin crash.

  Micah finished the bottle and dropped back off to sleep. She glanced around for a place to lay him down and remembered the portable crib was still in her truck from sleeping at Johnny’s house. “Carl, in my trunk is a blue portable crib—it looks like a playpen. Will you get it for Micah?”

  “Of course, honey.” Carl smiled and went back to the car.

  Ali picked up the cooling coffee and took several more drinks then rested her head back, loopy and confused as the room went fuzzy. When Carl came back inside, she slurred, “God, I’m so tired all of a sudden. I don’t know what’s wrong with me.”

  “Here, let me lay Micah down.” Carl offered, reaching his hands out. “He’s back to sleep and his bottle is gone.”

  Ali gripped the baby to her chest, but Carl easily snatched him up. “No…my ba…baby.” She couldn’t lift her arms, or reach out for him. Her limbs were too heavy and her head too fuzzy to focus on where Carl was taking him. “Please…don’t, Carl…” she said fighting to get out of the chair.

  “Here, Alison, let me help you lie down.” He sounded like he was underwater. He tucked his hands around her waist and lifted her out of the chair.

  “Micah…” she slurred, her eyes scanning the room.

  Carl turned her and the room spun. “Look there, sweetheart. He’s sleeping in his little crib. The blue from the portable crib caught her eye and she leaned in, trying to focus on the sleeping form inside. “Thank you,” she said, falling against him.

  He held her close as they stumbled down the hall. When he pushed the bedroom door open, she nearly fell over trying to reach the bed. Carl slipped off her shoes and cupped her cheek. His face blurred in her vision. “I feel really…where are we?”

  “We’re on vacation, darling. Don’t you remember?” Carl slid his hand up her leg to her hip then to her breast. “Alison, I missed you so much.” He leaned over and kissed her, slowly, tenderly, and she relaxed into the comfortable bed as he caressed further. “I want to make love to you.” His hand drifted under her shirt and carefully caressed her breast as she moved underneath him. “It’s okay, honey, relax and let me help you.”

  She wanted to push his hands off her, but she couldn’t do anything but lay there with her eyes closed to stop the room from spinning. “Carl…I’m…no…stop…” Her mouth wouldn’t form like it should. She tried harder to concentrate on a coherent thought.

  “Just relax. I’m going to help you get undressed.” He unbuttoned her shirt, and then unhooked her slacks. “Alison, I’ll take care of you.”

  “There’s her car,” Johnny said pointing to the driveway. Brian pulled his car over and parked across the road and turned the engine off.

 
“Where’s Peters’ team?”

  Johnny tugged on the door handle. “I don’t care, I’m not waiting.”

  “Wait, man!” Brian grabbed his arm. “We don’t want to set him off and have a hostage situation on our hands.”

  “He doesn’t even suspect that we’re on to him—and I don’t plan to knock on the door.” Johnny jerked his arm free and gently closed the car door.

  “Wait!” Brian whispered. “Then let’s do this right.” He pointed to the house. “I’ll take the front—you go around to the back.”

  After crossing the street, Johnny unsnapped his holster and pulled out his gun. He gripped the cold steel handle and took a deep breath before saying a silent prayer as he inched around the large house. He slowly moved toward the back of the house, peeking in the windows as he went. He couldn’t see any signs of Ali or Carl, but as he crept around the corner, the portable crib came into view with Micah lying inside. He stepped up on the large deck and peered through the open sliding glass door, training his eyes from the empty room, around the porch, and toward the beach. Nobody was in sight.

  Johnny slipped in and looked around the empty room. It seemed fairly untouched except for the various baby items lying around. He glided to the front door and inched it open for Brian. Brian slipped in as Johnny peeked into the portable crib to check on Micah. Micah lay fast asleep and perfectly content. Johnny smiled at him then looked around for Ali, she wouldn’t have moved too far away from Micah unless forced to.

  He looked up at Brian, and Brian lifted his eyebrows in question. “Something’s wrong, she wouldn’t leave him alone,” Johnny whispered.

  Brian nodded, “Did you see them outside?”

  Johnny shook his head and pointed to the first door down the hall. Brian moved toward it and peered in, then shook his head. “Bathroom,” he mouthed to Johnny, as Johnny stood ready with his gun pointing at the door.

  Brian carefully toed open the next door and looked in. Johnny held his breath until Brian shook his head. The door directly across the hall had been pulled tight so Brian held his ear to the door to listen. He shook his head and whispered, “Nothing.” He frowned at Johnny and carefully gripped the door handle before twisting it. The door inched open and Brian’s expression hardened as he threw it open and extended his gun.

  Chapter Forty

  “Don’t fucking move, Hayes!” Brian shouted.

  Johnny turned into the room, gun extended at a shirtless Carl, who was kneeling over Ali’s naked body. His chest tightened and blood red surged his vision. She lay completely still, likely unconscious. The sight of her helplessness spiked his pulse painfully.

  “You mother fucker!” Johnny lunged at him, gripping his throat and sending him to the ground. “I’ll fucking kill you!”

  “Bennett! Bennett!” Brian plowed into him, shoulder first to knock him from Carl’s limp body then Brian spun him toward Ali. “Take care of Ali. I’ve got Hayes.”

  Johnny aimed a hard kick to Carl’s ribs before turning toward the bed. “Ali, baby…” Her glazed eyes opened, but looked unfocused and she lay completely limp. “Sweetheart, look at me. Can you see me?” He reached over and grabbed the throw blanket to cover her.

  “Johnny…” she whispered.

  “That’s right, sweetheart, I’m here.” He gritted his teeth and said, “What did you give her, Hayes?” He glanced at Brian. “She’s been drugged.”

  Brian walked over to the bed with his phone to his ear. He took her chin and shifted her face toward him. “Al…can you hear me?” Brian said in a raised voice.

  Ali’s slightly crossed eyes tried to focus on Brian’s face. “Yeah,” she slurred.

  “Do you know what he gave you? Did he make you take a pill?”

  “Who?” she asked and her eyes batted closed again. “Johnny?”

  “It’s okay, I’m right here, sweetheart. Can you tell me if you drank something?” He grabbed her wrist to check her pulse.

  “I don’t…know.” She closed her eyes. “I’m tired.”

  Johnny cupped her head and leaned down to rest his cheek against hers. Minutes…just a few more minutes and they would’ve been too late. “Don’t sleep, sweetheart, we need to find out what he gave you first. Can you stay awake for me?”

  When Ali woke up she thought maybe her head had been detached from her body. She reached up and touched her temple to make sure it was still there.

  “Hey, beautiful.”

  One of her eyes crept open and looked up into Johnny’s smiling face. “What happened…” She jerked up quickly. “Where’s Micah!”

  “He’s right here, sweetheart.” He brushed a hand down the length of her hair. “He just had a bottle.”

  “Where—I want to see him.”

  Johnny turned her to face the portable crib. “See, he’s right there.”

  Ali’s eyes scanned the hospital room. “What happened?” She looked down at herself. Her clothes had been replaced with a hospital gown. “Am I hurt?” she asked, crossing her arms over her stomach. How had she gotten here?

  “A few scrapes and bruises, but you’ll be alright,” he drawled.

  She braced her face with both hands. Why the hell couldn’t she remember anything? Her head hurt like hell, but she tried to think back, one step at a time. Carl had driven her to the Hayes’ beach house…she remembered talking to Johnny on the phone in the bathroom, but that was it. “I don’t remember anything after talking to you in the bathroom. How long have I been here?”

  “You’re in the Mendocino County Hospital. Carl drugged you. He put something in your coffee.” Johnny’s voice was so controlled it scared her. He sounded like a cop.

  She looked at him, meeting his eyes. If he was trying this hard to detach himself from the situation, it had to be bad.

  “Do you remember drinking coffee?”

  “He bought one at the store for me.” She narrowed her eyes, trying to focus her thoughts. Why was it so hard to concentrate? She pressed her temples with her fingers hoping to ease the headache.

  “When we got to the house you were barely conscious.”

  Ali closed her eyes and tried not to lose it. She couldn’t believe what she was hearing. “He put something in my coffee…” She let out a shaky exhale. “What was it?”

  “He gave you a Rophy, that’s why you don’t remember anything.”

  She dropped her hands and opened her eyes. “A Rophy—oh God!” She crossed her arms over her chest, overcome with the feeling of filth. Johnny rested a hand on her shoulder. “Oh my God…” Her voice pitched and she couldn’t breathe, gasping in and out, fighting for air and fighting hyperventilation.

  “No—no, sweetheart.” He cupped her face and forced her to focus on him. “We got there in time. We stopped him.”

  “A…are you sure?” She stuttered, throwing her hands over her mouth to help control her breathing. “How—how do you know?”

  “Baby, he still had his pants on when Brian and I got there. You’ve been completely check out, you’re fine, he didn’t…” Johnny closed his eyes. “He didn’t rape you.”

  “But he planned too, didn’t he? Where did you find me?”

  “It doesn’t matter.”

  “Yes, it does!”

  He held out a hand in an attempt to calm her. “He had your clothes off… sweetheart, but we got there in time.”

  “Ewe God!” Ali covered her face with her hands again. “That spineless disgusting pig,” she sobbed. “I didn’t have a chance at fighting him while drugged.”

  Johnny leaned over her and held her against his chest. “And that’s what he wanted. You without the fight. Typical for a creep like him, but it didn’t happen. I promise you’re okay, and he can’t hurt you again.” He rested his cheek on the top of her head. “I’m sorry we didn’t get there soon
er.”

  Ali gasped, her entire body aching as she sobbed. “But if you would have been a minute later…”

  “Don’t think about that,” he whispered. “It didn’t happen and now he can’t hurt you or Micah ever again.”

  “He cornered me in the parking lot after lunch,” she said through trembling lips.

  “Sweetheart, try to calm down. You’re just going to make your head hurt worse.”

  Ali took a deep breath and clung to him tighter, inhaling his scent and closing her eyes, letting his calmness settle in. After several deep breaths, she leaned back against her pillow and wiped her face of tears.

  “Melissa and your code talk—Dr. North and the alarm code—you were brilliant.” He tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “And calling us…that was so smart.”

  “And Carl is so stupid,” she said. “He reached over to hit me then swerved the car. I grabbed the phone when he looked back at the road. I didn’t know if you could hear or not, but I tried to keep him talking anyway.”

  “We heard almost everything,” he said stroking her hair. “Maybe you should think about being a cop instead of a lawyer.”

  “No thanks,” she said. “That was enough of an adventure to last me a lifetime.”

  “Before Melissa called us…we received an update from Peters.” Johnny said, then he propped himself up on the bed next to her.

  “And?”

  “They caught the woman who snatched Micah, and the driver.”

  “They did?” She scooted over to make room for him.

  “Yeah, and she talked. Told us who planned the entire thing.”

  She closed her eyes and said, “It was Carl.”

  “Did he tell you?”

  “Not in so many words, but I could tell by the way he was talking.”

  “I’m sorry…I know you didn’t want to believe he would do something like that.”

  “Don’t be, you were right about him all along.”