by Jordan Ford
“Let’s go.” Kade’s jaw is clenched so tight he can barely get out the words.
The rifle bumps against his back as we run down the hill. I’m going so fast I won’t be surprised if I end up tumbling down to the bottom. Using my arms for balance, I keep careening down the hill and use that momentum to get me up the next.
“Julienne!” Kade shouts when we reach the next ridge. The army of trees absorbs his voice, sucking it away from us.
I can practically taste the fear pulsing out of him. I get it. I’m afraid too, but Kade looks on the verge of breaking. If we do find Antonio, I’m worried what he might do.
“Where the fuck do we go now?” he snaps.
I scan the ground, looking for even the smallest clue. Crouching down, I brush my fingers over the dirt and leaves and look down the hill. That’s when I spot it. A flash of pale pink that doesn’t belong in the woods.
“What’s that?” I point to the spot and run ahead of Kade.
We reach a thick clump of trees and I snatch the pink material off the ground.
“That’s Ellie’s carrier.” Kade grabs it off me, his jaw trembling as he opens his mouth and roars, “JULIENNE!”
It’s a loud, desperate cry that scatters the birds. Wings whip above us as they make their escape.
I scan the area below my feet, desperate for footprints and clues. Bending low, I notice a few indentations heading through the trees to my right, but then I see others heading left.
Which do we follow?
Which—?
A scream rents the air.
Kade flinches and spins towards the sound.
I jump to my feet as Kade rips the rifle off his shoulder and holds it in front of him.
“That way,” I point, racing northeast as that terrified scream whistles through me. I’m tortured by the idea of Caitlin in pain, fighting off that creep.
She would.
She’d scrap with her teeth and nails if she had to. I know it.
I can’t imagine her screaming though. But I’ve never seen her hurt or scared for her life.
Shit!
Panic sizzles through me. The idea of her bruised and bleeding slices me in half, igniting my limbs as I chase the sound that alerted us.
Kade catches up and overtakes me, weaving through the trees like a freaking ninja. I follow his steps as we haul ass up the next hill. We reach the top and Kade whispers a string of curses. I look over his shoulder and see what the hell he’s swearing about.
Antonio is straddling Jules. Her thin legs are kicking beneath him, but he’s too heavy.
I can’t see his face or what he’s trying to do to her, but anger smashes through me when he lifts his fist and drives it into her face.
Her yelp is soft but we still hear it.
The look of rage on Kade’s face scares me, but no more than what he does next.
Lifting the rifle, he nestles it into his shoulder and gets ready to fire.
“Stop,” I bark. “You can’t kill him!”
“I’m gonna fucking try.” Kade lines up the shot and squeezes one eye closed.
I place my hand on the barrel of the rifle. “Don’t be an idiot.”
“We can bury his body in the woods. No one will know.”
With as much force as I can, I shove the gun away and run down the hill. “Antonio!” I thunder. “Get off her!”
Kade follows my cue, racing down the hill and charging right past me.
Antonio whips around just in time to see him coming, but there’s nothing he can do to stop the torpedo.
The gun is still in Kade’s hands. Rather than firing, he turns it into a club, bashing it across Antonio’s face.
He falls back onto the ground with an indignant roar.
Jules, her fat lip split and a dark bruise already forming on her swollen cheekbone, scrambles away from Antonio, giving Kade room to go to town.
I run forward and help Jules up. She’s a quaking mess. There are pine needles in her hair and red finger marks around her neck. She coughs against me, her small body convulsing
Kade is going for it, grabbing Antonio when he tries to scuttle away. He pins him to the ground and starts punching, his arm like a piston. I’m inclined to let him keep going, but last time he put Antonio in a coma, and who knows what the hell he’ll do now.
Lurching forward, I leave Jules to wobble and then flop to the ground. She lands on her butt with a whimper while I grip Kade’s shoulders and pull him off.
Antonio’s face is a bloody mess. There’s a cut on his broken nose and blood streaming from his mouth. He looks dazed but is still capable of standing and snarling like a wounded predator.
Kade curls his fists, ready for round two. But when he steps forward to make a move, Antonio bolts the other way. Considering how smashed in his face is, he’s moving at a good clip.
“Leave him.” I snatch Kade’s jacket. “We’ve still got the girls to think about.”
My words shock Kade into action. Whipping around, he finds Jules whimpering on the ground. He drops to his knees in front of her and gently pulls her onto his lap. “Aw, babe,” he murmurs, “are you okay? Are you all right?” He holds her face, checking her out before pulling her against him. Kissing her head, he throws me an agonized look—a mixture of quelled rage, horror and heartache. I swear his eyes are gleaming like he wants to cry.
I swallow and crouch down beside them. “Jules, where’s Caity? Where’s…the baby?”
Jules sniffs, then starts blubbering into Kade’s jacket. “I told her to take Ellie and run. He was going to kill her.”
“It’s okay,” I whisper. “He’s not going to touch her. Caitlin will look after her, okay? But we need to find them now.” It’s hard to keep the tremor from my voice. Images of wild animals and pitfalls are scarring my vision. What if they get lost on the way back to the cabin? I’m not used to my brain malfunctioning into panic mode like this but after the day I’m having, it’s a struggle to think logically. Emotions are clogging my air pipe. It’s a battle to stay calm.
“Babe, can you remember which way they went?” Kade asks softly. His voice is a quaking mess too. We’re all wrecks. This is insane.
She pulls in a ragged breath and peers over her shoulder. “We split at the clump of trees over that hill. She was going to circle back around to the cabin.”
“Okay, good. That’s good.” Kade holds Jules steady while he gets to his feet. He makes a move to pick her up but she shakes her head. “I can walk.”
She’s still shaky, but with an erratic head bob she takes off, heading up the hill. Fear for her baby is no doubt driving her forward as we make our way back to the cabin and hope like hell Antonio doesn’t head there too.
Running up the hill, I move swiftly down the other side, glancing at Jules as I go.
We don’t really have time to talk about it, but as we reach the clump of trees, ready to split and start our hunt, I can’t help asking, “How’d he find you, anyway?”
Jules freezes, her breath on hold as she gives me a look of pure remorse.
I can’t read minds or anything, but I wonder if it has anything to do with the phone Caitlin got her.
Kade looks between us. “Everything okay?”
I nod. “Yeah, I’m gonna take this route back. I’ll meet you guys at the cabin.”
Jules slips her hand into Kade’s and they head up the hill while I start running the path I think Caitlin might have taken. It runs parallel to the main track and, knowing her, she would have kept the track in sight while dodging through the trees.
From what I can tell, Antonio was working alone. We haven’t necessarily gotten rid of him, but we’ve slowed him down, which is enough for now. Caitlin’s a smart girl. She’s no doubt already back at the cabin trying to settle Ellie. The quicker we all get back, the better.
Picking up my pace, I scan the area as I go, but only for precaution. Logic is telling me that Caitlin and Ellie are okay. So, the panic inside of me starts to settle,
making way for thoughts.
Unbidden thoughts.
Unbidden memories that turn my mind to mush and my limbs to lead.
#29:
Shell Shock
Caitlin
By some miracle I make it back to the cabin unscathed. Ellie is screaming now. It’s pitiful, painful…enough to make me want to start crying as well.
“It’s okay, Ellie,” I murmur, kissing her head and running up the back steps.
As I open the door, I hear footsteps in the house and immediately freeze. I’m about ready to turn and run when someone calls my name.
“Caitlin?”
“Trey?” I pop my head back through the door and tense. He’s standing at the end of the hallway—a strong protector we can hide behind. A strong protector who will be livid when he finds out what I’ve caused.
“What the hell is going on?” He takes Ellie from me and nestles her against his shoulder. “Why is she screaming? Where’s Jules?”
“It’s…” My voice wobbles and my nose starts to tingle with the onset of tears. Of all the frickin’ times for courage to fail me. I should be sending him out the door to race after Jules and protect her, but instead I stupidly shake my head and brush past him. “I think she’s hungry.”
I head to the kitchen, dodging glass shards, and yank the fridge door open.
“Is everything okay?” Ana walks in with a broom and paper bag.
She looks pale, her eyes puffy from crying.
I stop and we share a sad look for a second but Ellie’s screams rip me back into action. “Does Jules ever pump? Tia used to. She’d have little bottles of breast milk in the fridge.” My voice is fast and wired as I hunt through each shelf and come up empty. Running a hand through my hair, I stare at Trey who’s bobbing around the living room, trying to calm his niece.
“I’ve never heard her like this before.” Ana walks over to them and starts rubbing Ellie’s back. “Hey, baby. What’s the matter, sweetheart?”
Closing my eyes, I ward off images of the wild look in Antonio’s eyes as he chased us. I glance to the floor. The shattered glass sends chills rippling down my back. What if he’s caught Jules? Shit!
Open your mouth and tell the truth, you idiot!
Grabbing the broom Ana abandoned, I begin the cleanup, sweeping glass and water into a pile in the middle of the floor. I’m shaking. The truth is brewing in my chest, rising to the surface, but thoughts of Trey’s reaction is bullying them back into my stomach.
“What about her pacifier?” Trey asks.
“I know Jules only likes her to have it when she’s in the crib, but maybe…”
Ana disappears to get the pacifier. Trey’s eyes remain on me, swirling with questions I don’t want to answer. I dip my head and focus on the glass.
Does he know about the phone yet?
Does he know I’m responsible!
My fingers tremble as I bend down and gently lay the larger pieces of glass into the bag.
“Here you go, sweetie.” Ana returns, popping the pacifier into Ellie’s mouth. The baby goes quiet for a second, sucking hungrily before spitting it out and bellowing again.
Ana manages to catch it before it hits the floor while Trey winces at the high-pitched wail in his ear.
“She needs her mother! Where is Jules?”
“She’s…” I pat my chest. Confessing to Trey that I helped bring all hellfire up to his safe little cabin is turning into an impossible task. “Um…”
Ana catches my eye and I give her a panicked glance before looking to the floor.
Just do it, Caitlin!
“Jules called her mom and um, Ellie’s fa…sperm donor found out about it and came up to…I don’t know, kill them maybe?”
Trey’s eyes bulge wide while Ana gasps, “Holy shit!”
“And you’re only just telling us this now?” Trey thunders.
Ana acts like her boyfriend’s not morphing into the Hulk and glares at me. “How did he even know where she was?”
I grimace. “Apparently she told her mom. She doesn’t remember saying it, but it must have slipped out because Antonio knew to come to Legacy and then he…” Tears sting my eyes and I have to blink really hard to stop them from falling. “He followed me up here. He must have parked his car in the woods and snuck up to the cabin. I’m so sorry, you guys.”
Trey’s face bubbles with anger as he storms towards me. I stand and walk back until I hit the sliding door. “Where’s Jules?”
“He chased us into the woods. She gave me Ellie and told me to get her someplace safe. She was going to lead him away.”
“Are you fucking kidding me?” he mumbles under his breath, passing the baby to Ana.
Cradling her in her arms, Ana tries to calm Ellie, who is now bright red. “You sure you don’t want this?” She sounds kind of desperate as she pops the pacifier in Ellie’s mouth and starts rocking her.
Trey clenches his jaw and grits out, “Which way did she go?”
“Out the back.” I point to the hallway. “Up the southern hillside towards Burly Ridge.”
Trey huffs and makes a move for the hallway when we hear the back door slam.
“I’m here!” Jules comes running in, making a beeline for Ana and the baby.
“Holy crap,” Ana mutters, handing the baby over.
Jules’s face is a mess—split bottom lip, a swollen bruise on her cheek. She doesn’t even seem to notice as she croons over her baby and walks for the couch. “It’s okay, bean. I’m sorry. I’m sorry.” Sitting down, she quickly starts nursing. The headache-inducing crying changes to whimpers and then disappears as Ellie guzzles her food.
Kade thumps down the hallway, a wet washcloth in his hands. Riley walks in behind him and shares a look with Trey.
“He ran off. Kade beat him pretty good. Hopefully it’ll be enough to keep him away,” Riley mumbles and slides his hands into his pockets.
He’s not wearing his glasses anymore. He looks so different without them. His gaze tracks from me over to the couch.
Kade’s sitting down by Jules. He gently rubs his hand down Ellie’s back. “Hey, pretty girl,” he murmurs before focusing on his girlfriend’s face. With a slow tenderness he starts dabbing at Julienne’s wounds, picking pine needles out of her hair and looking after her the way she deserves.
“I’m okay,” she whispers. “Really. It probably looks worse than it is.”
Kade murmurs something I can’t hear. Jules’s expression crumples and she closes her eyes, pressing her forehead against Kade’s cheek.
Working my jaw to the side, I crouch down to the floor and continue my cleanup.
The responsibility I’m carrying is so freaking heavy I won’t be surprised if I sink right through the floorboards.
No one’s saying anything. Everyone seems to be muted by the shock of it all.
I can feel Riley’s gaze on me but I’m too afraid to look up at him. If he was pissed about the phone thing before, he’ll be even more annoyed now.
I have to make this right.
Sweeping up the last of the glass as quickly as I can, I roll up the paper bag and stand.
It takes all my courage, but I clear my throat and speak first. “I need to go and see my uncle. He’s the sheriff. He should have to deal with Antonio.”
No one responds.
I focus on the bag in my hands and wonder if anyone’s even heard me.
Kade’s still fussing over Jules and Ellie. I can only see his profile, but he looks a mixture of wounded and relieved. Ana’s staring out the window, no doubt thinking about her mother. I’m desperate to find out how that went. Trey reaches across the table, taking her hand and rubbing his thumb over her knuckles. She gives him a sad, brave smile, then starts picking at a dent in the table.
Soft footsteps approach me and I glance in Riley’s direction.
He waits until he’s standing right beside me before quietly asking, “Are you hurt?”
I shake my head, my throat too thick to s
peak.
Tucking the hair behind my ear, he runs his hand down to the ends and gives my lower back a rub.
“I’m sorry.” My voice wobbles.
“Don’t be,” he whispers. “It’s not your fault.”
“It’s partly my fault. I caused this. I bought the phone. I led him up here.”
“Fuck, you called too?” Kade’s whisper is more surprised disappointment than anger. “What is wrong with you girls? Did you not understand the potential risks?”
Jules sucks in a shaky breath, a new wave of tears forming on her lashes. “I thought it’d be safe enough. I didn’t think Antonio would have made friends with my mom.”
She lifts Ellie onto her shoulder so she can burp her. Tears are streaming down her face, silent and guilty.
“Well, he obviously has,” Trey snaps.
“He said something about working for an agent who was looking for Christiana.” I catch Ana’s eye, taking the heat off Jules and throwing it straight onto me.
“She knows everything.” Riley points his thumb at me. “She figured it out and I just couldn’t deny it.”
Ana’s lips part, her face paling even more than it already is. “Who gives a shit that she knows? I’m more worried about Agent Rybeck.”
“Rybeck,” Kade mutters and shares a look with his brothers. “The guy just doesn’t know when to quit.”
“He doesn’t know Antonio’s up here.” The bag of glass clinks as I lay it on the dining room table. “Antonio said he gave the guy the slip.”
“But he was using him to find us.” Riley shakes his head. “He obviously figured Jules was connected with Kade.”
“And then when Antonio woke up and identified me, Rybeck went after him.” Kade swears under his breath.
“It’s kind of clever,” Riley mumbles, soft enough so that only I can hear.
“It’s devious,” I mutter back. “But he must be desperate to find Ana. What do you think his motivation is?”
Riley shrugs. “We’re still not one hundred percent sure. When he and Kade met in Reno, he went on about justice and never losing a witness. Maybe he’s embarrassed. Maybe he’s lying.”
