Saving Me (Finding You #3)

by Amanda Mackey

  All I could think about was Dakota. What had that scumbag John put her through? I already knew some of the violence that had occurred during their marriage. Dakota had shared some of what went on behind closed doors, although I was certain there was still a lot she hadn’t told me. Things that were just too painful. I could understand that. I wasn’t a violent person but right now I wanted to take that fucker out. My way. One on one. No cops. No weapons. Just him and I.

  Pushing my foot harder on the gas pedal, outrage rolled through me. I was so angry at myself for letting her out of my sight in the first place. I shouldn’t have let her go. It was the second time I’d done that when I shouldn’t have. I should have left her at the house and gone for the necklace myself but then again, who’s to say John wouldn’t have devised a plan to take her from the beach house while I was absent? He’d obviously been watching and waiting.

  My fingers seized the steering wheel. Just the very thought of him touching her made me feel queasy. Beads of sweat broke out on my forehead, so I switched on the air conditioner.

  I was grateful Daniel was safely out of the picture. The last thing he needed was to see Dakota in whatever state she would be found in. Mom and Dad had offered to drive Daniel to and from school to try and keep things as normal as possible, even though things were far from that.

  No one would rest until John was either behind bars or dead. I was hoping it would be the latter because only then would I know that Dakota would truly be free.

  I was so focused on my thoughts that I didn’t realize the speedometer had clocked 90 mph. It was only when I heard a siren behind me and checked the rear mirror I discovered a police car on my tail.

  “Fuck it!” I ran a hand through my hair and signaled left to turn onto the emergency lane at the edge of the highway.

  The police car pulled up neatly behind me before an officer stepped out and walked to the driver’s window where he waited for it to be wound down, eyeing the car up.

  “Sorry, Officer. I realize I was speeding. I really need to get to Big Bear Lake.” Might as well play the honesty card. Maybe I could talk my way out of it.

  “Driver’s license, please?” The officer stood with his hat and sunglasses on, hand outstretched.”

  I pulled my wallet out of my jeans back pocket and handed my license to the cop.

  “You do realize you were in a 70 mph zone?”

  “Yes sir.”

  “And you do realize you were doing 90?”

  “Not until moments before you pulled me over, sir.”

  The officer handed my license back. “Well, is there any good reason you were going so fast or were you just out for a joy ride?” He looked down the length of the car and back. “This is a pretty powerful car you’ve got here.”

  “I’m on my way to Big Bear Lake because my fiancé has been kidnapped by her ex-husband. I’ve just got word that she’s been sighted there. I need to get to her as soon as I can.” It sounded crazy, like some script from a movie, not real life.

  The officer removed his sunglasses, his eyes narrowed with skepticism. He studied me closely. Finally he spoke. “You look familiar. You on the television?”

  “No sir. Movies.”

  “Huh. I thought I recognized your face. Just wait here for a minute, Kyle Rutherford. I need to radio this one through.”

  When the officer disappeared, I banged my head a few times on the steering wheel in frustration. At this rate I would never get to Dakota.

  This weekend had been intensely stressful. Knowing she was in danger and not being able to do a damn thing about it had almost killed me. I’d tried to remain calm for Daniel’s sake but inside I felt like a truck wreck.

  Pulling open the glove compartment, I clenched the packet of antacid stashed there and threw one in my mouth to help the burn in my esophagus. It felt like the start of a stomach ulcer.

  Looking in my rear mirror, I watched the officer talk into his two-way radio. They were probably running a vehicle check and trying to verify the story.

  It was all the truth. He wouldn’t find any dirt on me. No prior speeding tickets or convictions. Clean as a whistle. So what was taking so long?

  After what felt like an hour, the officer slowly sauntered over to my open window. “Seems like you were telling the truth. I’ve just been notified about the situation up at Big Bear Lake. I’ve been advised to give you an escort. That way we’ll get you there safely and you won’t have anyone else pulling you over.”

  My body wilted with only minor relief. On one hand I was glad of the escort because we would have a clear path all the way, but on the other hand, I was now going to have to stick to the speed the officer saw fit. Either way it would be close to dark when we arrived. “Thank you, Officer. I appreciate it.” I was grateful the cop let the ticket go and walked back to his car with just a nod of his head.

  Turning his siren on, he waited for traffic to heed his flashing lights and pull over, giving us a clear path.

  I’m coming baby. Hang on, please!

  Chapter

  Twenty-One

  Kyle

  I made it to Big Bear Lake cabins without further incident thanks to the police escort. We pulled into the office and were given directions. We were losing some light, so easing into a break in the trees not far from the cabin, the officer put his bike into park and I followed suit beside him with the car.

  “Sheriff McQuade and Officers Bennett and Kransky are already at the cabin. I’m sure they could use my help. You’ll have to stay well back, though. Is that clear? I’m talking in the trees, clear.”

  I nodded, even though I had no intention of standing back and watching while Dakota was inside with an insane criminal.

  We walked along the bumpy road to the cabin. Neither of us spoke. There was too much tension in the air.

  After a few minutes of long strides, the chunky timber structure appeared.

  We both stopped about twenty feet from the front door.

  “This looks like the place. Black SUV parked out front.” The officer drew a piece of paper from his shirt pocket. “Registration matches.” He looked at me. “You stay here. I’m going around back to check things over.”

  “Yes, sir!” I leaned back against a tree, hidden from view until he’d disappeared around the back before stepping out and ducking down as low as I could to make my way towards the front door. I wasn’t going to go through the front door but merely listen to see if there was any sound from inside.

  I was so close to Dakota and yet a million miles away. All I wanted to do was charge in and rescue her from any more trauma. Each second that passed was too long. What were the police doing? Didn’t they have the situation under control yet? Why was it so quiet?

  With my ear to the door, I was met with silence. Damn, it was so frustrating! Four policemen and one psycho. Was John that crazed that he’d outwitted all of them?

  At that point I wasn’t sure what to do so I headed around the back where my police escort had gone. I’d only made it around the corner of the cabin when someone jumped out from behind a tree, gun pointed. “Stop! Put your hands in the air! Don’t come any closer or I’ll shoot!”

  I froze, raising my hands, looking to see who was there.

  A stocky cop with a scowl was ready to shoot.

  “I’m Kyle Rutherford. I’m the fiancé of the woman inside. I traveled up here with Officer Ryan, I think his badge said? Please, I just want to see my fiancé.”

  The muscle-bound, uniformed man slowly walked from the shadows of the tall pine trees towards me, gun still targeted at my chest. “Stay right where you are. Don’t move and keep your hands up.”

  He reached me and motioned with his gun. “Stand up against the wall, now.”

  What the hell was this? Did he think I was the criminal? Not wanting to piss off an already gruff looking cop, I obliged, spreading my legs wide, arms up high, resting on the timber wall, cringing when he frisked me.

  “Turn around and show me some iden
tification. Nice and slow.”

  For the second time that day I dipped into my back pocket and withdrew my wallet that held my driver’s license. I handed it over and waited.

  Satisfied I was telling the truth, the officer seemed to relax. “I’m Officer Bennett. What are you doing snooping out here, anyway?”

  “I was told to stay behind some trees around the other side of the cabin but my fiancé is inside. There’s no way I can stand here and just wait. I need to be doing something. I was trying to hear what was going on inside. What’s taking so long?”

  “It’s a delicate situation. I’m sure it’s all under control. There’s nothing you can do except wait. It’s too dangerous for you to go inside.”

  “Well, then can you get in there and see what’s happening?” I was desperate for some news. Anything.

  Bennett looked at his watch. “Hmmm. I was ordered to stay outside and guard the perimeter in case the perp. escapes but they have been in there a while. Look, under no circumstances do you follow me, okay? Stay here. I’ll go in and see what’s taking so long and come right back out.”

  At least that was something. I agreed to appease him and let Bennett walk away while I hung back.

  I paced back and forth, wondering how long I’d be able to follow orders and not go barging in.

  The sun had sunk below the trees as darkness fast approached, making visibility a problem. This was crazy. Something had to be done to speed things along. Standing outside, not knowing what was going on inside was the worst kind of torture.

  When Bennett had been gone five minutes, I was banging my fist on a tree, watching the bark fly off. He had said he would go in and then come right back. Well, if he didn’t hurry up I was going to work my way around to the back of the property to see if I could see or hear anything. Five more minutes. Bennett had five more minutes.

  I wanted a piece of that son of a bitch more than ever now. If I could get John on an even keel without a firearm, I knew I could bring him down. Dad had always been strict on me being able to defend myself. After a couple of years doing martial arts as a teen, I knew enough to get out of a jam. Disarming a psycho took things to a whole new level but I was up for the challenge. Anything for Dakota.

  Shit, I hoped she was okay. Not knowing or seeing her was the worst. And why was the place so damned quiet?

  Nope, I’d had enough of waiting. To hell with this. I slowly walked to the edge of the cabin, peeking around the corner, unable to see much with the muted light but confident the ambush was unraveling inside and not out back. I crept along the back as silent as the night itself.

  Chapter

  Twenty-Two

  Dakota

  I didn’t know what time of day it was or even what day of the week. I did know that I couldn’t be dead because that wouldn’t leave my body in a fire pit. Death would take away the agony.

  Was I even awake or was this darkness more like a coma? And what was with that groaning? Was it John? Was he hurt? I could only be so lucky.

  It became louder and as I listened intently it became apparent the moans were coming out of my own throat.

  In the next second there was a loud pop like a firecracker and then a heavy thud followed by a door opening and boots moving. Familiar boots. The sound of the loud pop caused me to jump in fright but the echo of those damn boots filled me with terror.

  The boots stopped outside the doorway and there were another two pops. After that chaos ensued. Men’s voices yelled and curses were screamed. More shots fired. Boots running and becoming quieter. Good. The boots were scary. I tried moving my arms but couldn’t as I remembered I was bound tightly to the bed. All I managed was to move my head and heavily open one eyelid. The blackness was still there. Panic grew. I was trapped in an abyss. With each strangled breath the tentacles of darkness seemed to wind around me tighter. Awash with dizziness, I was dragged under again.

  Chapter

  Twenty-Three

  Kyle

  I heard three gunshots as I made my way along the back of the cabin. I halted, not knowing whether to proceed or hold back. I didn’t exactly want to run head on into a shootout. But loitering outside when I might be able to help didn’t sit well with me either. And then something monumental hit me.

  Dakota! Fuck!

  Acting on impulse with revenge powering my legs, I ran towards an opening and was nearly bowled over by a man exiting and making a run for the cover of trees, not looking anywhere but straight ahead. His hand was a bloody mess but it didn’t seem to slow the guy down.

  My mind tried to process who he was before acknowledging that he wasn’t in a police uniform.

  The guy’s body language told me he was trying to flee something bad. The brief glimpse of the man’s face when he’d run out the door showed a person who was angry and agitated.

  As he disappeared into the first line of trees, I knew without a doubt it was John. My legs started to move of their own accord. I wanted to yell all sorts of things out to the guy that had started all this but I decided to hold my tongue until I had the fucker in a stronghold.

  As much as I wanted to go to Dakota, I knew I had to finish this. For her. The guy was obviously smart and had made it out in one piece even though there had been four policemen inside. How the hell had that happened?

  I couldn’t see John but I could hear his panting. The severe wound on his hand would have to slow him down, even just a fraction. I was primed and ready for action, clearly at an advantage.

  I tried to just focus on catching the guy. That’s all I needed to think about. Not the fact that Dakota might be the one who had taken one of the shots that had been fired. No, I couldn’t focus on that.

  Get the prick and do whatever it takes to make sure he doesn’t walk out of this forest in one piece. Do it for Dakota.

  Where the hell was the maggot? It was impossible to tell with only moonlight as a guide. Not to mention the trees. Even with John in close vicinity it was like finding a dot in acres of wilderness.

  I hoped the dipshit wasn’t still armed, but then surely if he was there would have been more bullets fired. A knife wasn’t so hard to kick out of someone’s hand. Piece of cake, really. It was too late now anyway. I was in this until the end.

  My own panting was getting louder the more I ran. I tried to hone my hearing in to see if John was still close by. Nothing. The trees seemed to be getting thicker. I wasn’t sure which direction we were headed but Big Bear Lake was spread out over a large area, so getting lost was a very real possibility.

  Surely one of the cops at the cabin would have radioed for help by now. A chopper with a high powered spotlight wouldn’t go astray, or a SWAT team.

  It really was the perfect place to try and escape the law. John had certainly thought out his plan meticulously. Nothing had been left to error. Well, apart from being found out, of course.

  I was just glad John hadn’t tried to flee the country with Dakota. Maybe that was his plan after he was finished with her here. Who would know?

  Something swooped down in front of me, causing me to slam the brakes on. Shit!

  Just an owl. Just an owl.

  It was a five second pause I didn’t need. While I was stopped, I listened. Still nothing. Damn!

  Was this guy even human? He seemed to have superman abilities.

  Picking up the pace again, I decided that moving forward was better than not, so I kept going.

  The further into the woodland I went the darker it became, the tall pines swallowing the moon.

  After what felt like another ten minutes of dodging trees and jumping over forest debris I had to stop. I was getting nowhere. Chasing what? An invisible man? John could be anywhere in the dense thicket. How far should I run before it would be wise to give up? I was in a clearing, moonlight filtering through enough to see.

  Bending over and grasping my knees to try and quell the stitch in my stomach, I heard twigs snap from behind and then low singing, “Who’s afraid of the big bad wolf, the
big bad wolf, the big bad wolf…?”

  My body was instantly upright and alert, spinning around and coming face to face with the very man I’d been chasing.

  Shock had me rooted to the spot as I looked into the face of depravity.

  “Well, well, well! What have we here then, hmm? Pretty boy decided to be a one-man army and take the law into his own hands. It seems that the hunter has become the hunted!” A smug smile resting on lips that I wanted to smash.

  I waited on my opponent to make the first move, finally having my target sighted, trying to form a plan and breathe calmly to keep my wits about me. All these months of wondering what I would do to the mongrel once I got a hold of him and now that moment had arrived. I studied my adversary as his fists clenched and unclenched at his side, unable to keep quiet.

  “You filthy, disgusting insect! Do you have any idea what you have done? How you hurt your own wife? Do you?” My voice was laced with revulsion.

  “Oh, please! Spare me your heartfelt sentiment. You’re no saint! You took my wife away while we were still married! If it wasn’t for you I’d have her back and wouldn’t have had to travel halfway around the fucking world to rescue her!”

  “Rescue her? The only person she needs rescuing from is you! That’s where I come in!” I was simmering, almost boiling, unable to contain my rage as I jetted towards John, who had pushed his chest out and stood in a fighting stance.

  “Come on, pretty boy, let’s see some dance moves!” John almost sang the words.

  “Arrrrrrgggghhhh!” I roared as I flew into him, causing both of us to hit the forest floor with a thud. He let out an ‘oomph’ as the wind was knocked out of him.

  I used my weight to hold him down while landing three hard punches in the idiot’s face. It shouldn’t have felt so good but it did. “You will never touch her again, do you understand? Never!” I ground out, teeth grinding so hard together my jaw ached.