by April Lust
He had to keep going, even if his ears still rang and he wanted to collapse. If Craig had Isabella and Sara, who knew what was happening. Were they still in the woods? What if he’d taken them and run off? Jace may have lost her again. That idea was too much to consider. He’d just gotten her back. They were supposed to be safe now. Supposed to get away and be in the woods waiting for him and be safe. Then they could leave and go home and he could protect them. And they’d be together.
If Craig was here, did that mean he’d been working with Lionel for a while? Lionel had certainly helped him back in the house when he told him where Isabella and Sara were. How in the world did that happen? Now he wished he’d talked to Isabella more about Craig. Where had they lived exactly? How violent was he? And what would he do if he ever found them? He reached back and made sure his gun was still secure in the back of his jeans. If he got the chance, he’d take the guy down. Then she wouldn’t have to worry about him. There would be no more fear of him showing up.
He wondered for a minute, though, if Isabella would be mad if he killed Craig. He was Sara’s dad after all. Maybe she wanted Sara to get to know him later, when she was older. Or maybe Isabella was hoping Craig would change and they’d get back together some day. For now, he just had to find them. Then he’d worry about the rest. He was so outraged at all Craig had done to his family and those he claimed to love, it might be worth angering Isabella just to get the chance to kill a man like that. The world was much better off without him.
Jace glanced behind him. He could see two of his guys running after him. They were far back, but they’d be a big help when they caught up to him, assuming he’d found Craig by then.
He picked up his pace, forcing his lungs to work harder, until they screamed at him stop. He forced them to work anyway, ignoring the pain. Then he heard a faint shouting.
Isabella. She was shouting something that he couldn’t make out. A deep man’s voice answered her, low and steady.
She sounded upset, hysterical maybe. Jace ran toward the sound. He saw something in the woods ahead. Something white and blue and purple amongst all the green and brown. It had to be them.
When he grew closer, he saw Craig first. Then Isabella a few feet from him. Craig turned and Jace saw Sara. Craig had a gun pointed at her head.
Rage ripped through him again, fresh and raw. What kind of a low life father held their own kid at gunpoint? No wonder Isabella sounded hysterical. Even his own worthless father had never stooped that low. Whatever hesitation he’d had before about killing Craig, it was completely gone now. Even if Isabella never talked to him again, he would kill Craig. He wanted to rip Craig to shreds and set the pieces on fire. He wanted to beat his face until it was mush. He wanted to twist a knife deep into his chest and pull out his stone heart to crush it in his fist. He wanted to make him suffer like he’d made Isabella and Sara suffer.
Chapter Fourteen
Isabella’s head snapped to the right at the sound of footsteps in the woods. Jace was running right for them. She almost fell to the ground in relief. He was here. He would save Sara. He would find a way to get them away from Craig.
The hot panic that made her heart race started to fade slightly. The tears dried from her eyes. He was here to save them. Now that she knew there was a way out, her fear became determination.
Craig looked over, too, and saw Jace. He pressed the gun harder into Sara’s head and she whimpered. Tears continued to stream down her face. She looked at Isabella, desperate and terrified. How could Craig do this? Hadn’t he done enough damage to them already? Now to put Sara through this. Just when they thought they were safe. Just when they thought everything was going to be fine.
When Jace had shown up in the farmhouse, she’d felt the same relief she felt now. Her gratitude washed over her like a wave coming to sweep away all the anxiety and tension. When he tore the pipe from the wall, she wanted to tell him right then that she loved him. That she’d love him forever and would give herself to him fully. Any man who would do that—that would risk himself and his guys and go to such effort to save her, had to be worth it. Had to be good. There could be nothing bad in this man.
But then Craig had shown up, just when they thought they were rescued and all was well. They’d been running, so happy to be free. Sara gripped her neck tight with her little arms and cried happy tears. The loose handcuff, its other end still tight around Sara’s wrist, had banged against Isabella’s back as they ran, but she barely noticed. She could still hear Sara saying, “Mommy, Jace saved us. Can he be my new daddy? I like him much better.”
Now she wanted to say, “Yes, Sara. He will be and he will take care of us forever. He will always come for us, always protect us. Always make sure we’re safe.” She would do anything for him. She could never repay him, of course. But she could spend a lifetime trying.
They’d slowed their run to a walk after a while. They didn’t want to get too far into the woods so that Jace could find them easily. When they’d heard footsteps approaching, someone coming to get them, Isabella had turned around toward the farmhouse, her face beaming and her heart full of joy. She’d taken two steps to run toward Jace, to fling herself into his arms and never leave. But then she’d seen his face. It wasn’t Jace coming to find them and take them home. It was Craig coming after them, a gun pointed at them as he ran.
The terror was so sudden, the shift from joy to horror so abrupt that she froze for too long. Sara had to say, “Mommy? Is that Daddy coming after us?” before her feet loosened and she bolted farther into the woods. But she couldn’t run fast enough, especially not while carrying Sara, and he’d caught up to them.
She’d felt the kick to her back and she’d fallen and sent Sara flying, landing hard on the ground. Sara was crying several feet away, and Craig was right here, on top of her. He punched her in the jaw, then pulled her to her feet by her hair. He’d let go of her for a brief moment to yank Sara to her feet by her arm, and that was when Isabella had fought back for the first time in her life.
She kicked him as hard as she could in the knee. It had sent him to the ground, but not for long enough. She’d grabbed Sara and run, but he caught them quickly. This time when he reached them, he tore Sara from her arms, and held the gun to her head.
“Freeze,” Craig said. “Or I will shoot her.”
“That’s your daughter, you monster!” Isabella had shouted, hot tears filling her eyes and spilling over.
“Then I guess now’s a real good time for you to start apologizing.”
Isabella shook her head.
“Let me hear it!” he screamed. “Craig, I’m so sorry I left you, I didn’t know how good I had it. Craig, I’ll never leave you again. I love you and I can’t wait to get home and suck your dick all night long. Craig, I just want to please you for the rest of my life.”
Isabella clenched her jaw.
Craig pressed the gun harder against Sara. “It’d be a real shame if Sara had to die for your pride, don’t you think?”
She’d forced out the words and each one tasted like acid. “I’m sorry for leaving. I just want to please you.”
“How? Say it.”
Her face was hot with shame. “I want to suck your dick all night long.” She squeezed her eyes closed.
“Oh, you do?” Craig laughed. “Well, that’s mighty nice of you. That’s how a wife should be, now shouldn’t she? You’ll come home with me, you’ll do whatever I say, and you will make this up to me. Right?”
She nodded, eyes still closed.
“You will fuck me all day and all night and clean up the mess of a house and cook me a nice dinner. You’ll tell me how much you love me and how much you missed me and how stupid you were to ever think of leaving.”
“Okay!” Isabella couldn’t look at her daughter. She didn’t want to see the fear there in her little eyes. But she could see Cuddles still clutched tightly in one hand. At least she had her bunny to comfort her. “Let go of my daughter.”
“Not
a chance. Start walking.” Craig nodded with his head toward the farmhouse.
“Take the gun away from her head first and I’ll go with you.”
“You think I’m that stupid? Walk!”
She’d turn to walk and that was when she’d seen Jace. Running right to them.
Now here he was, coming to save them from Craig. And coughing. Why did he keep coughing like that? It worried her. This wasn’t a cough from a cold. He’d been in the smoky house, sure, but there hadn’t been enough smoke to make him cough like that. What if he had asthma? He might be in danger physically of collapsing or passing out. She would watch him carefully and make sure he was okay. She didn’t like how deep the cough sounded, and she needed him now more than ever. If something happened to him, if he couldn’t save them and protect them, she had nothing. It was all over. She’d have to go back with Craig because she’d have no choice.
They’d all stopped walking when they saw him approaching. Craig still held the gun to Sara’s head. Isabella’s eyes met Jace’s and she tried her best to show her love and appreciation in her gaze. He was all determination, running as fast as he could, sweat bubbling on his forehead, soot smeared across his face. And he looked so amazing in that moment. So perfect and beautiful. Her heart burst with thankfulness and peace.
Jace didn’t pause or hesitate. Craig turned to face him, still holding the gun to Sara’s head. Before he could decide what to do, Jace tackled Craig. He dove into the air, his hands grabbing Craig’s arm to pull the gun away.
Craig landed hard on his back. Isabella dashed over and snatched Sara away from him. She turned and crouched down. “Go hide in the woods. Mommy or Jace will come find you.”
“No!” Sara shook her head, tears glittering on her cheek. “I’m not leaving.”
“Sara, baby, I know you’re scared, but I need to keep you safe.”
Isabella looked up. More footsteps. But these belonged to two men wearing Crimson Hawk jackets. Jace’s men. She pointed to them.
“Those men are Jace’s friends. They’ll help you. Go to them.”
Sara looked, but shook her head again.
“Go, and I’ll be right behind you.” She nudged her forward.
Sara ran off, sobbing and looking back at her mom every few feet. Isabella made eye contact with the men and pointed at Sara. She watched one run to her and scoop her up. Now that she knew Sara was safe, Isabella turned her attention back to Craig and Jace.
Craig was still on the ground and Jace sat on his chest. Their hands were locked together in struggle. Jace held a gun and Craig was trying to wrestle it away from him. She watched just long enough to realize that it wasn’t Craig’s gun they fought over. It must be Jace’s. So where was Craig’s gun?
Isabella looked around. He must’ve dropped it when Jace tackled him. She searched near them, but not close enough for Craig to be able to reach her. Then she saw it. A few feet away in the grass. Craig’s gun.
She inched over to it, keeping her eye on the men to make sure they didn’t see what she was doing. She snatched the gun up. Neither had seen. They were still wrestling, Jace gaining the upper hand. He almost had the gun pointed at Craig.
Isabella wasn’t entirely sure what to do. Craig would never dream of allowing her to learn how to use a gun. That might mean she could fight back. She could kill him in his sleep. And why hadn’t she? All those years he’d hit her and abused her. She should have fought back much sooner. Should have found a way to learn how to shoot or fight. Should have done something, anything, to get away from him. She shouldn’t have waited this long.
She looked down at the gun. It had to be loaded. Craig wouldn’t bother with pretending. Was there some sort of safety? She inspected it more closely, but couldn’t find anything that seemed like it would move or slide to turn off the safety. Maybe this gun didn’t have one, then. She had seen Craig and people in movies pull back the top part of the gun before they shot. She tried to think. Had Craig done that already? And if he did, would it mess things up if she did it again? Well, only one way to know for sure.
Isabella pulled back on the top of the gun. Part of it slid and she heard something click into place. It seemed like something had been gotten ready. She’d have to take the chance. If it didn’t work, it wasn’t like things could get much worse.
She looked over toward the direction she’d sent Sara in. One of the men was running back to the farmhouse, carrying her. The other was still coming to them. Good. More back up.
She could just wait. She didn’t have to try to shoot Craig. With him and Jace all tangled up, she might hit Jace instead. But she wanted to. She needed to. There had to be some way for her to feel like she’d finally fought back against him. When she’d kicked him earlier, the rush she got from it was so strong, she wanted to keep kicking him. And hitting him. She’d let her fists fly all over him. Except then he had put the gun to Sara’s head. But now Sara was safe. She was away from here where he couldn’t get her. Couldn’t hurt her anymore.
Isabella looked carefully at the men, trying to find the best place to shoot. She didn’t think her aim would be good at all, so she’d need to be very close. Craig was on his back, legs stretched out. Jace sitting on his chest, his feet at either side of Craig’s rib cage. There was no way she could get to Craig’s chest or head. Not even his hands or arm, since they were intertwined with Jace’s. But his legs were free. And shooting his leg would keep him from getting away, right? It would at least slow him down.
Craig and Jace were so focused on their struggle that they still didn’t see her. Whatever progress Jace had made toward getting the gun to face Craig, he started to lose now. The gun pointed sideways, into the trees. She had to do it now, before Craig won. If he shot Jace…well, she couldn’t even consider that possibility.
Isabella stepped closer, held the gun just an inch from Craig’s knee, and pulled the trigger. It was harder to pull that she thought and when she squeezed it, her hand had moved slightly. The shot didn’t hit his knee, but right under, at his shin. The recoil of the gun made her arm fly back and she stumbled. She tripped over her own feet and her butt hit the ground.
Her ears rang from the shot, but she could hear Craig clearly. He screamed in pain, grabbing toward his leg. Jace had climbed off him, the gun in his hand, pointed at Craig’s face.
Jace looked at her, a crooked smile on his face. He nodded at her and pulled back the slide on his gun.
“No!” she cried out, and scrambled to her feet.
Jace gave her a confused look.
“Please. I want to do it.” She still had the other gun in her hand and she went to stand beside Jace.
Craig squirmed on the ground, writhing in pain. “You bitch,” he spat. “I will never stop hunting you. You’ll pay for this.”
The other Crimson Hawks got to them and stood back, guns ready, watching and waiting. Isabella glanced at him and looked back to Craig.
She gripped the gun tightly and lifted it to point at Craig’s head. Jace came over to stand behind her. He tucked his gun into the back of his jeans. His body was so close and so hot, it filled her with heat. He reached down, his arms sliding along hers, and pulled back the slide on her gun. Whoops. She’d forgotten to reload.
He kissed her neck, then moved her hands over slightly, taking a better aim. He wrapped his arms around her and held her tight. He whispered, “Shoot, baby,” in her ear.
She took a moment to look down at Craig, to glare into his pleading eyes.
“Isabella,” he said, “You wouldn’t kill your daughter’s father, would you? Don’t be silly. I love you. I love Sara and I just want to have a happy family with you.”
“Shut up,” she growled. “I’ve heard enough of your talking for a lifetime. You don’t love me or her or anyone but yourself. I hate you!”
She started to cry and her hands were shaking. She tried to hold the gun steady, but couldn’t. Jace reached up again and put his hands around hers. He pointed the gun at Craig’s head an
d held her steady.
She took in several breaths, trying to make her sobs stop.
“Take you time,” Jace said. “He’s not going anywhere.”
“I know you still love me, Fifi,” Craig said. “Think of our life together, our beautiful house. Didn’t I give you a nice life? We’ll make it even better now. We can have another baby, and we’ll be so happy.”
She slowed her breathing and the tears stopped. His words built the rage in her. Still, after all this, he thought he could manipulate her. He thought he could talk her into coming back to him. He thought he still had control over her. Idiot.
She took another breath and pulled the trigger. This time, since Jace was holding her, the gun didn’t recoil back as much. It was still loud, though, and her ears rang again for several seconds.
