I cradled her to me and carried her as gently as I could into the office, settling her on the sofa. Doc walked in a couple of minutes later and shoved me out of the way. He was an army medic and a licensed doctor, and since I knew I couldn’t do anything to help her, I decided to head over to the church and see if I could figure out what happened. “Badger, let’s go!”
The church was only minutes away, and I didn’t hear sirens yet. Someone must’ve heard the shots, or seen something and called 911 by now. We parked our bikes and drew our guns before entering. I could smell gun powder and blood and it didn’t take long to see why. A woman lay slaughtered in a pool of her own blood, behind her desk. She had at least two visible gunshot wounds to her head and chest. A young girl wasn’t far from her... face-down, blood pooling around her head.
“Check the lady’s pulse Badger.”
He looked at me terrified. “She’s fuckin’ dead man! Are you fucking kidding me?”
“Just do it. I’m gonna check that room.”
I knelt down and checked the young girl’s pulse, couldn’t find one, so I rose to my feet and headed down the hall. I entered a small office only to find another body, this time an older man, and even more blood. Blood on the walls, and on the floor. Whoever did this meant business. This was a straight up execution, but who the fuck would want to butcher a couple of old church people? I leaned down to check on the man.
“My daughter,” his low voice wheezed causing me to jump.
I couldn’t believe he was alive. “Badger! Call 911!” I bellowed and knelt beside him.
“Willow. My daughter,” he rasped again, now pointing toward the open closet. I could see blood on the inside walls and figured that’s where she was when the bullets started flying.
“She’s okay, she’s with us. We’ve got her and help is on the way. You just hold on okay.”
“Willow.”
“She’s okay sir, she’s okay.”
“Please protect her,” he whispered. “They’ll come for her...”
“Who will? Who are they?” I pressed.
“Protect her. Protect Willow.”
“We’ll take care of her. I’ll make sure she’s okay. I promise. You just hang in there.”
The last word the old man ever spoke was his daughter’s name, in a sweet, concerned whisper. The next thing I heard was very different.
“Get the fuck down on the ground right now or I’ll blow your goddamned head off!”
I heard the cop’s voice before I’d even noticed the sirens.
“Get the fuck off me, man, we didn’t do anything.” I could hear Badger’s protests from the other room. “Hey man, we called you! I was the one that called 911.”
Badger’s words fell on deaf ears. We were cuffed and stuffed, and I figured I’d better start getting used to the idea of breakfast at county tomorrow morning.
* * *
Willow
I couldn’t breathe. I swam through the darkness trying to get away from the pain in my arm, but there was never any relief. I cried out as a sharp pain hit my flesh.
“Willow, it’s Hatch. Wake up, babe.”
“Hatch?”
“Yeah. Can you open your eyes?”
“Daddy,” I rasped.
“Dash and Badger went to find out what’s going on. Doc’s going to give you something for the pain.”
I swallowed. I was so thirsty, but before I could ask for water, I felt a prick on my arm and then relief. I sagged against whatever I was lying on.
“Shouldn’t we call an ambulance?” a female voice asked. I wasn’t sure who she was asking since my eyes were closed.
“No cops,” a gruff voice said. “Her wound was through-and-through, I’ll stitch her up and she’ll be good to go. But until we know what the fuck happened, I’m not subjecting her, or us, to the local jerk-offs parading as law enforcement.”
“Doc!” another deep voice bellowed.
“What?”
“Badger and Dash just got picked up.”
I forced my eyes open and looked up at the man leaning over me. He turned toward the door and snapped, “Fuck!”
I jumped slightly and a pretty brunette squeezed my hand. “It’s okay, Willow. My name’s Olivia. We’re going to take care of you. Doc just needs to finish stitching you up.”
“Yeah,” he said, smiling gently. “You’re doin’ great. Just close your eyes and relax.”
I closed my eyes, not because he told me to, but because I couldn’t keep them open.
“Doc!”
“Fuck me,” he growled out. “What?”
“Cops are here.”
“Stall ’em.”
I felt tugging on my now numb arm, and then heard the snip of scissors, and I opened my eyes again. “Can you bandage her, Liv?”
“Yes, of course,” she said.
“I’m gonna take care of this.” Doc tugged off his gloves, rose to his feet, and left the room as Olivia grabbed gauze and bandages to wrap my arm.
“How does he know how to do that?” I asked.
“He’s a doctor.” She patted my arm. “A very good one actually.”
“Oh,” I whispered. I swallowed. My mind was jumbled and I was so thirsty, I also felt funny.
“Let’s get you some water,” Olivia said. “Morphine can make you thirsty.”
“Then can we check on my dad?” I begged.
Olivia opened a bottle of water and handed it to me. “Let me find out, okay? Right now you’re safe, and we want to make sure you stay that way.”
“It was so loud.”
“I bet that was really frightening,” Olivia crooned.
I nodded. “My dad forced me into his closet to hide. I’m not sure how I got shot.”
Hatch walked into the room and hunkered down in front of me. I was both surprised and incredibly relieved to see him. “The cops are looking for you. They arrested two men and they need you to ID them.”
“The men from the church? They were still there?”
“No. They arrested a couple of our guys.”
I frowned. “Why?”
“They went to go check on your father, and the moron cops think they’re the shooters.”
“Where’s my dad?”
“He’s on his way to the hospital.”
“So, he’s not dead,” I said, my heart beginning to calm a bit.
“They didn’t say either way,” Hatch said.
“Where are the police officers?”
“They left. We convinced them you weren’t here to buy you some time. I can take you to the hospital if you want and you can figure out when to go down to the station.”
“The police station is on the way to the hospital,” I informed them. “Your friends shouldn’t be in jail. I’ll sort that out first. But can I please borrow a phone?”
“You can use mine.” Olivia pulled hers out of her purse. “Here.”
I found the number for the hospital and dialed it. After three transfers, I finally got through to someone in the emergency department. “I’m looking for my father.”
“What’s his name and the nature of the emergency?”
I gave her all the information I could about my father, but she seemed confused. “Ma’am, I’m sorry. No one with that name or description has been brought here. I can take your name and number and call you if he arrives.”
“Okay. Um. This number is fine. My name is Willow. I’m his daughter.”
“I’ll call you as soon as I hear anything.”
“Thank you.” I hung up and handed the phone to Olivia. “They’re going to call if they find him.”
“I’ll keep the phone close,” she promised.
“Thank you.” I rose tentatively, but Hatch caught me when I wobbled.
“Careful,” he warned. “You’ve got some serious shit flowing through your veins.”
I nodded and grasped his arm. I was suddenly freezing. “I need to find out what’s going on.”
“Can we find her a
jacket?” Olivia asked no one in particular. “She’s still in shock.”
A young man settled a large, leather jacket over my shoulders and I slipped my arms into the warmth and pulled it close. I felt safe and secure in a weird way.
“Is there anyone we can ring for you?” Olivia asked.
“My phone is at the church,” I said, shaking my head. “It’s in my dad’s office, and I don’t have anyone’s number memorized.”
“Liv, you stay here,” Hatch said to Olivia.
“Why?”
“Doc’ll fuckin’ kill me if you get dragged into this shit.”
“I’ve kind of already been ‘dragged into this shit,’” she countered.
“Um... sorry, but is it okay if she comes?” I asked. “I don’t ride in cars alone with men I don’t know.”
“It’s absolutely fine,” Olivia said, somewhat forcefully.
Hatch sighed. “You’ll stay close.”
“Of course I will,” Olivia promised.
Hatch wrapped his arm tightly around my waist and half carried me to their car, settling me inside gently and securing my seatbelt for me.
“You’re gonna need to direct me, Willow. I don’t know my way around.”
“It’s seriously right around the corner,” Olivia answered for me. “Just turn left here and then right at the stop light. The police department will be on your left.”
“Fuckin’ small towns,” Hatch retorted.
“You have no idea,” Olivia said.
We pulled into the parking lot and Hatch set the brake.
“How about I take Willow inside?” Olivia said. “If they see you and know you lied, they might make things difficult.”
He frowned. “Liv―”
“I will come and get you if there’s a problem,” she interrupted, jumping out of the car and opening my door. “Come on, honey. We’ll get this sorted, eh?”
I nodded and followed Olivia into the station.
“Willow?”
I turned to find Lisa Walker, one of our parishioners walking toward me. As well as being a faithful church attendee, she was also one of the good and honest cops in town.
“Hi, Lisa,” I said, relieved to see a friendly face.
“I’m so sorry about your dad.”
“He’s on the way to the hospital.”
“No, he’s not.”
I frowned. “He’s not?”
“Sweetie, I’m so sorry but your father didn’t make it. Willow, he passed away”
I felt my knees buckle and Olivia caught me as I burst into tears. “That’s why I couldn’t find him at the hospital.”
“We’ve been trying to reach you. He was sent to the coroner, and we need you to identify the body. I really am so sorry.”
Lisa and Olivia helped me to one of the sofas in the lobby and I broke down. Olivia handed me a tissue and slid her arm across my shoulders.
“I can drive you over there if you’d like,” Lisa offered.
I nodded, but then shook my head, my mind clearing a little bit. “I think you’ve arrested the wrong people. I ran to the biker bar next to the church and asked for help. Some of the men went to assist.”
“Are you able to identify those men? We need to positively rule them out.”
“I think so.”
Lisa sighed. “You need to be sure, Willow.”
The only one I knew I could identify for sure was Dash... and that was because I’d been dealing with some seriously inappropriate dreams about the man ever since he changed my tire.
“I’m sure.”
“Okay. Let me figure out a line-up and then we can go see your father.”
I nodded. “Thanks, Lisa.”
Lisa left us in the lobby and walked through the secure door.
“Are you sure you want to do this right now?” Olivia asked.
“I need to.”
“But perhaps your father is more important.”
I shook my head, tears streaming down my face. “It won’t change the fact that he’s...” I couldn’t say the words, so instead, I said, “Olivia, I don’t want your friends in jail when they shouldn’t be.”
She squeezed my hand as I continued to sob in the lobby of the police station. I had never been so confused in my life. My mind was foggy and I knew part of it was from the meds, but mostly because I felt like I was in a nightmare I couldn’t wake up from.
“Willow,” Lisa called a few minutes later. “We’re ready for you.”
Olivia handed me another tissue and walked with me, her arm around my waist. I forced myself to control my tears and followed Lisa down a hall and into a dark room with a large window in it.
She pressed a button and said, “Send them in.”
Six men walked in and stood facing the window. I recognized the man on the bike immediately. “Number three is the one who helped me... um, Dash. He definitely wasn’t the shooter.”
“You’re sure.”
“Yes, positive.” I leaned forward. “And number five was behind the bar.”
“You’re sure?”
“Yes,” I hissed in frustration. “They were there when I walked into the bar. Since I was still hearing gunshots when I ran, there’s no way they could have been the shooters.”
“What about the others?” Olivia asked.
“I’ll ask the questions, ma’am,” Lisa said.
“Sorry,” she whispered.
“Do you recognize the others, Willow?” Lisa asked.
I shook my head. “No. The men who shot my dad were wearing all black. But these men are wearing jeans and vests with white T-shirts. I’m fairly certain they aren’t shooters, but I couldn’t say for sure.” I glanced at Olivia. “I’m sorry.”
She rubbed my arm gently. “It’s all right.”
“You need to let the two that I recognized go, at least,” I begged.
“I’ll see what I can do,” Lisa promised.
“Can I see Daddy now?” I rasped.
“Yes, and then I’ll need to ask you some questions.”
“Perhaps you could ask those questions at her home,” Olivia suggested. “Tomorrow.”
“We need to speak today.”
“It’s okay, Olivia,” I whispered. “Lisa, I left my phone at the church. Can someone call Jasmine or Parker, please?”
“Sure.”
I pulled the leather jacket closer to my body, needing the comfort it was providing, and took a deep breath, drawing in the scent of leather and soap. Olivia helped me stand again, and we headed toward the door... just as Hatch stalked in looking like he might kill someone.
“Yeah, thanks for nothin’ asshole,” an angry voice growled.
I turned toward the sound and saw Dash walking out from behind the secure doors.
“Where’s Badger?” he snapped.
An officer frowned at him. “He’s being processed.”
“He was with me, fucker!”
“Sir. You need to calm down or I’m putting you back in a cell.”
“Dash,” Hatch called.
Dash spun on his heels and stalled, jabbing a finger at me as he approached. “What the fuck are you doing here?”
“She came to get you out,” Hatch said.
“What?”
“Willow came down here, instead of going to see her dead father because she wanted to make sure you didn’t rot in a jail cell,” Olivia provided.
Dash studied me for a few tense seconds before letting out a sigh. “And the reason you’re wearin’ my jacket?”
“This is yours?” I asked.
“Yeah, babe, it is.”
I moved to take off the jacket, but Olivia stopped me. “Dash doesn’t need his jacket right now. Do you, Dash?”
“No. It’s good,” he said, and finally looked away from me. “They’re not letting the other guys out,” he said to Hatch.
“Yeah, guessed that,” Hatch said. “Texted Mack.”
“Good.” Dash looked back to me, his expression softening. “You ne
ed to see your dad.”
I forced back tears and nodded.
“I’m gonna come with you, okay?” he said.
I nodded again, feeling somewhat comforted by his presence. After the other man I’d identified came through security, we all piled into Hatch’s rental car (me in the middle of the backseat), and headed to the coroner’s office.
Dash
Pulling up to the non-descript brick building, I climbed out of the car and leaned in to help Willow. She was shaky and I wasn’t sure if it was from the meds or the shock... or both, but when she gripped my arm, I steadied her as we made our way inside.
When Olivia moved to take my place, I shook my head. I was already here and I wasn’t about to leave her side. I was pissed they’d let her come down to the pig sty, but it was done and I couldn’t change the past, so for now, I’d do everything I could to make sure she was supported.
“My name’s Willow Miller,” she said in a sad, quiet voice. “I think my father, Alfred, was brought here.”
The older woman behind the counter stood, laying her hand on Willow’s, and gave her a gentle smile. “I’ll just go and check, honey.”
Willow nodded and I slid an arm around her waist when she leaned heavily against me. “I’ve got you.”
“I can’t do this,” she whispered.
“You can,” I assured her. “I’ll be with you the whole way, yeah?”
She glanced at me with watery eyes and nodded. “Okay.”
I gave her a gentle squeeze, my need to calm and protect this tiny slip of a woman surprising, even to myself.
The receptionist returned and ushered us into the back. The medical examiner introduced himself and I held Willow tighter when she began to shake.
“You’re okay,” I whispered.
“I’m going to let you see him, Miss Miller,” the coroner said. “But you cannot touch him, do you understand?”
“I understand,” she whispered.
The doctor pulled the sheet back and Willow crumpled. I held her up, turning her into my body and stroking her hair as she sobbed into my chest. “Daddy.”
“That’s him,” I said.
“If you will leave your details with Sally at the front desk, she’ll contact you when we’re clear to release the body. She can also give you the details of the funeral homes we are familiar with.”
Willow sobbed harder, but I held her close and nodded to the doctor. “Thanks, Doc.” I slid my hand to her neck and cupped it. “Let’s get out of here, okay? We’ll figure it out.”
Saving the Preacher's Daughter (Dogs of Fire: Savannah Chapter #1) Page 3
