Ignite

by Emma Renshaw

  “I hope she has your eyes,” Ridge whispered against my ear.

  “Think it will be a girl?” I asked.

  He shrugged. “It’s what I imagine, but I’d be happy no matter what.”

  “Me too,” I said.

  The technician printed off some photos and gave us a CD with the recording of our baby’s heartbeat. Ridge took the offered towel and wiped my belly to remove the gel. “Congratulations, you two. You can check out at the front desk.”

  Ridge helped me from the table and grabbed my hand as he led us to the front of the office to pay. I clutched the pictures and CD in my hand, unable to take my eyes off of them. I pressed my hand to my belly and felt the first real connection with our little bean.

  The sun was bright as we walked outside, hand in hand, toward Ridge’s truck. “Hold on, clover, Avery is calling.” Ridge let go of my hand to answer his phone.

  “Hey, Avery.” He smiled and pressed one hand to his ear. “Say that again, I couldn’t hear you, the kitchen is loud.”

  I walked a few more steps and turned around to wait for Ridge. He took the phone from his ear, glancing down at it. Occasionally the cell service got spotty in this area, so I wasn’t surprised that he couldn’t hear Avery. “Avery? Can I call you back?”

  He took his eyes off me and walked a few steps, repeating himself. I heard an engine rumbling in the parking lot behind me. Tires squealed to a stop and a door opened next to me. An arm shot out from the black lifted truck, a hand wrapped around my bicep and yanked me up.

  I screamed as my feet left the ground and I was dragged into the cab of the truck, over the body of the driver. He sped off before the shutting the door. I reached out for the other door to open it and jump, to get away, but a hand fisted in my hair.

  “Don’t even think about it, Zoe,” Jesse said. His tone was harsh, and I looked over my shoulder, confirming that it was his voice I’d recognized.

  “Jesse?”

  “You’re pregnant?” he screamed. His hair was sticking up in all directions, and his eyes were furious and cold. I’d never seen him look so enraged. “You let that small-town fucker get you pregnant?”

  He pulled a gun from the side of his door and pointed it at my stomach. “Don’t fucking move. If you touch that door handle, I’ll shoot you in the stomach.”

  I lifted my legs, curling into a ball on the seat. I didn’t know where Jesse was taking me or why. I only knew I wouldn’t touch that door handle. I had to protect the little bean growing inside me.

  37

  Ridge

  I turned as tires screeched in the parking lot. Zoe’s legs dangled from the driver’s side, and an arm was wrapped around her waist, dragging her into the huge black truck. I sprinted after it and yelled her name. “Zoe! Zoe! Fuck!”

  The truck whipped out of the parking lot. There wasn’t a fucking license plate to memorize. I ran to my truck, keeping my eyes on the one that had taken Zoe for as long as I could. I hung up on Avery, somewhere along the way, and peeled out of the parking lot, They weren’t far ahead of me, but I couldn’t spot them over the hills.

  Fuck!

  Dammit!

  They must’ve turned somewhere. I pressed harder on the gas, revving my truck to go faster. I glanced at my phone and dialed Kiernan’s number; then I dropped my phone into the cup holder and it connected to my car. He picked up after one ring. “Tell me who’s the best,” Kiernan said. I could hear the smile in his voice and could imagine him sitting in front of his computer with his legs up and a cocky grin on his face.

  “Tell me fucking everything. Do you know who it was? Someone just took Zoe.”

  “What?” Kiernan said. His voice instantly became more serious, and I heard his fingers flying over a keyboard.

  “We were at an ultrasound appointment and someone took her from the parking lot afterward. Goddammit! Right in front of me!”

  My body shook with rage. It had happened right fucking next to me while my back was turned and I was distracted. I pounded on the steering wheel and yelled in frustration. I’d sworn I’d keep her safe. She’d been with me for five damn days since she’d returned, and I’d already fucked up and gone back on my word. I never should have turned my back, not for anything. I shouldn’t have felt safe in the parking lot or let my happiness about the baby let me forget that it wasn’t safe for her right now.

  Fuck. The baby.

  I closed my eyes for the briefest second before focusing on the road in front of me, pushing my truck to go even faster. I had to find her. My gaze whipped back and forth with every street, dirt road, and trail I passed. It was a huge fucking truck; how couldn’t I fucking see it? Where the fuck did they go?

  “Then when the asshole turned on the phone, I was able to trace it and find him. He hid pretty well behind a VPN, but I was able to crack through. It’s someone named Jesse Freeman. He grew up in Hawk Valley but currently lives in Denver. Very close to Zoe. His grandmother is in the nursing home where Zoe works.”

  “Where is he now?”

  Kiernan hesitated for a moment. “The cell has been turned off again, but it last pinged on County Road 58. Jesse owns two properties in Hawk Valley. A warehouse on the outskirts of town that is currently used as a slaughterhouse and an empty piece of land. Closest intersection is Grady Road and County Road 14. My guess would be the warehouse. It’s usually where sick fucks like to go.”

  I sucked in a breath. “He’s taking her to the field,” I muttered and whipped my truck into a U-turn. I hung up on Kiernan. That was all the information I needed from him now. He was too far away for anything else. I dialed Colt.

  “Moreland,” he answered gruffly.

  “Jesse Freeman kidnapped Zoe from the parking lot at the ob-gyn. He’s taking her to the field where the fire happened. He must have purchased it in the past few years. He fucking owns that damn field.”

  “On my way,” Colt said. “Hold off until I get there.”

  I hung up the phone. I wouldn’t hold off or wait for him. I couldn’t do that. I had to get to her and save her any way I could. Save our baby. I couldn’t breathe thinking about the trouble they might be in or why he would’ve taken her to that field. Did he think she’d caused the fire? Had he lost someone?

  Zoe had mentioned Jesse after he dropped in for a quick visit, but I didn’t know anything about him. She’d never spoken of him again.

  Hang on for me, clover. I’m coming.

  I beat my fist against the steering wheel, going through a stop sign at full speed and turning to the right. I was forcing my truck to go as fast as it could, but it wasn’t fast enough. My heart beat erratically in my chest, and I couldn’t think about what might happen to Zoe.

  “Fuck!” I roared.

  I took the last turn and barreled down the road, scanning the field and looking between the trees for any sign of Zoe. I slammed on my brakes, the bed of the truck fishtailing from the force, and jerked my wheel toward the side of the road. I slammed it into park and jumped out, running across the field, where I saw flames and the black truck, parked haphazardly in in the grass.

  The markers representing the dead were piled on top of each other and blazing in a small bonfire. Jesse held Zoe on her knees by the back of her hair, and he was screaming in her face. I saw red, and rage like I’d never felt before flowed through me as I pumped my legs faster across the field.

  Jesse turned around and grinned when he saw me. “Baby daddy comes to join the party.”

  “Get the fuck away from her, Jesse,” I roared, taking another step toward her. He threw Zoe to the ground, on her back, and crouched low while keeping his eyes on me. He was smiling like a maniac and huffing like he was holding back laughter.

  Jesse revealed a gun. I prowled toward him. He could shoot me for all I fucking cared; I was going to get Zoe out of this situation. “If you take one more step, I’ll shoot.”

  I stopped cold. He was pointing the gun a few inches away from her stomach. Zoe’s eyes connected with mine.
Tears were streaming down her face, and her bright green eyes were terrified. A bruise was forming around her eye, and her lip was busted and trickling blood. I growled and lifted my foot to take a step forward, stopping when he cocked the gun.

  “Ridge,” Zoe cried.

  “It’s going to be okay, clover. I swear.”

  Somehow, someway, I’d get her out of this. I’d walk through a hailstorm of bullets to get to her and unleash hell on anyone who threatened my family.

  38

  Zoe

  “Don’t move,” Jesse screamed as Ridge growled. Ridge’s hands fisted at his sides, and his shoulders moved with every breath he took. His teeth were clenched and his jaw hard. His eyes scanned me and moved back to Jesse, who growled again.

  I wanted to be wrapped up with Ridge in our bed more than anything in the world. I closed my eyes, imagining us there and then picturing the little bean we had just seen for the first time. My hand went to my stomach and I shivered, even with the heat of the fire next to me and summer approaching. I shivered in the heat. Icy cold fear seeped through me.

  “Why are you doing this, Jesse?” I asked. It wasn’t the first time I’d asked since he’d taken me. I’d asked over and over, but he’d ignored me as he’d driven us to the field and dragged me from the truck kicking and screaming. He’d kicked and punched me when I tried to run. Even while he pulled the markers from the ground, he dragged me behind him. Then he kept the gun pointed at my stomach as he built the small fire.

  Every question I fired at him while he did this went unanswered. He muttered quietly to himself. He looked manic. I knew Ridge would find me and come for me, but I hoped it wouldn’t be too late for the baby. I protected my stomach as much as I could.

  I felt relief when Ridge sprinted toward me, but then dread. I didn’t want him to be in danger or to lose him before we could really even begin. It was only the start of us, and I couldn’t imagine if something happened to him. There had to be a way to keep Ridge and the baby safe.

  I didn’t understand why Jesse was doing this and why he’d brought me here of all places. He hadn’t even been at the bonfire on graduation night. He hadn’t had any friends. No one he’d loved had died. He’d hated this town and the people in it, but he’d gotten out. Why was he doing this?

  “Why, Jesse?” I asked again. I looked from him to Ridge and back to Jesse.

  Jesse looked at me and then threw his head back, cackling. “Why? You fucking ask me why? This is all because of you, Zoe. You ruined everything.”

  “How?” I asked.

  Ridge inched forward while Jesse was focused on me, and Jesse’s eyes snapped back to Ridge and he pointed the gun at him. “I said don’t move. Don’t fucking move. How is that so fucking hard to understand? Why doesn’t anyone listen to me?”

  Jesse screamed and waved the gun. He fired off a shot at Ridge, hitting him in the shoulder. Ridge grunted and a flash of pain came over his features, but he stayed standing. His hands were still fisted, and his chest puffed up as rage filled him.

  “No!” I screamed. “Please don’t hurt him! He’s not part of this! Please. Please don’t hurt him, Jesse.”

  Jesse backhanded me. My face turned with the force, and warm blood slithered down the side of my head. I turned my eyes back to Jesse. “Please,” I whispered.

  Ridge was yelling obscenities, but he stayed where he was when the gun went back to my stomach. He was a couple of feet closer to me though. I found his gaze and closed my eyes, soaking it in, when he mouthed, I love you.

  Jesse was furious. “Not part of this? Not part of this? He got you pregnant!” he roared. “You shouldn’t have whored yourself out, Zoe. I had you right where I wanted you, and I would’ve gotten you if you hadn’t come back to this town. I was going to settle for you. My consolation prize for the first plan not working.”

  “What plan?” I asked quietly.

  Ridge scanned the tree line and moved toward me. I could see the anger and fear swirling in his eyes. I wanted more than anything to go to him and be with him, but the barrel of the gun pressing against my stomach stopped both of us.

  Blood was staining Ridge’s shirt on his shoulder, but it seemed as if he didn’t even notice there was a bullet hole in his body. Every opportunity he got, he decreased the distance between us by about a centimeter, so little it wasn’t noticeable at first.

  “All of you should’ve died that night,” Jesse seethed. “That stupid fucking bonfire. It should’ve killed all of you! I was there with my camera waiting. I wanted to be able to relive every moment. That’s how I had those pictures of you at the fire. Everyone in this fucking town made my life a living hell, and I was going to get my revenge for every shove, every taunt. All of it! But somehow, too many people survived.”

  I stared into his eyes as tears ran down my face. I didn’t even remember him from high school. I didn’t deny that his life hadn’t been easy. Teenagers could be mercilessly cruel, but that didn’t mean they deserved death.

  Jesse laughed and his eyes darkened. “After those stupid fucks built the bonfire, I sawed through some of the logs and branches. I knew it would crumble to the ground as it was engulfed in flames. I stood in the trees to watch. I saw you and your stupid friends throwing crap in. Then when you threw in that picture, it happened. Just as I’d imagined.” He stared off into space for a second as if he was picturing it. He smiled. My mind flashed back to that night. The smiles of my friends. The promises for the future. Throwing in the framed portrait. The snap of the branches. Screams. Burning flesh. Death. Destruction. Ruined lives. A town changed forever.

  Those memories could never bring a smile to my face.

  The fire hadn’t been an accident. Jesse had intended for the blaze to happen and for people to die. He did this. He caused this. It wasn’t me. Anger mixed with fear. And memories of Jesse telling me it was my fault and agreeing with me that I should never return to Hawk Valley. He’d fed the worst thoughts circling in my mind. He was still playing games even years later.

  Fear coiled in my stomach, watching Jesse’s expression. He was like a child on Christmas morning imagining all the death that had happened that night, and it still wasn’t enough for him.

  He grimaced. “Not everyone died though. I wanted you all dead. All of you!”

  “Back the fuck up,” Ridge yelled.

  Jesse laughed. He had gotten closer to me during his diatribe and moved even closer now. I could smell his sweat and the minty gum on his breath. “I’m in control here,” Jesse said. “You could have me and you choose this idiot?” He pointed the gun back at Ridge.

  “I’d choose anyone over you,” I hissed and spat in his face to take his attention off Ridge. It worked. The gun and Jesse’s gaze came back to me. I sighed in relief and glanced at Ridge. His features were set in agony as he looked at me. I wanted to console him and, if we made it through this, I would. I’d never leave his side again, and I’d prove to him every day that I’d never walk away from him. He’d already had too many people in his life disappoint him. I wanted to fill the rest of his days with love. This baby growing inside me and I would love him fiercely for the rest of our days.

  39

  Ridge

  I scanned the tree line quickly. Where the fuck was Colt? He should’ve been here by now. My gaze whipped back to Zoe at her words. I stepped forward, and Jesse’s hand swung back and he hit her again. Then he aimed the gun at me and fired. This time he missed.

  I smiled, and Jesse gritted his teeth and yelled in anger. I couldn’t believe that he had rigged the bonfire pile so it would collapse. It had been over. High school had been over for him, and he could’ve moved on and never looked back. It’s what he did anyway until he found Zoe. I still didn’t understand how she’d ended up in his grasp.

  “Why Zoe?” I asked. The longer I could keep him talking, the more time it gave Colt to arrive. And the less he would harm Zoe. He didn’t notice that I had been closing the space between us and now there were only a fe
w feet separating us. When the time was right, I would get him. I wouldn’t let him touch Zoe again.

  I glanced at her. Her clover-green eyes met mine, and more determination steeled my spine. I’d do anything to get her out of here. When this was through, I was taking her straight to a courthouse. I wanted her to be my wife. I’d never let her go. Every security measure I had planned with Roman and Kiernan was going to triple. Our place was going to be so fucking wired that nothing would ever happen to her again.

  Anyone who even put a frown on her face would have to deal with me. Zoe would live the rest of her life happy.

  I gritted my teeth as my shoulder burned. The bullet that had torn through the muscle felt like an iron brand scalding my skin, but I pushed back the pain. It wasn’t enough blood to make me pass out.

  “I wanted to come back and take care of the survivors. I wanted every last one of you dead,” Jesse hissed as he stared at Zoe. I had asked the question, but he was speaking to her. Every other second, his attention would return to me, checking to make sure I was still in the same place. The gun he was pointing at her was pressed deep into her stomach. “Then, by chance, I found you in Colorado. You gave me attention, trusted me. And that felt like revenge too. I was going to make you mine and torture you for the rest of your life. One of the most popular girls falling for the school loser.”

  Jesse laughed and shook his head. “I was so nice to you. So sweet. It was only a matter of time before you fell for me, and I’d play it cool for a while and then torture you. And it’d be sweet revenge until I got my hands on the rest of you,” he hissed. He shook his head sadly. “Then you had to spread your legs like a whore and get knocked up.”