Holy shit! He’s not mad. Shocked at his father’s response, Zeke’s heart swelled. “Thanks, Dad.”
Katherine threw her hands up in the air. “You’ve got to be kidding me. Is that all you have to say, Colton? Really? Really?”
Colton nonchalantly shrugged his shoulders. “Yes, Katherine. That’s all I have to say. Having a baby is not the worst thing that can happen to Zeke. He’s not on drugs. Has a four-point-eight grade point average, smart as a whip. About to go to college. Got accepted into some very prestigious schools, I might add. I’m very proud of Zeke.” Colton held his right hand up to chest level. “I’ll admit, having a baby this early in the game isn’t the best situation to be in, but what’s done, is already done. And there’s no need to mope about it. We’ll just have to make the best of an unexpected, challenging situation.”
Bane slapped Zeke on the back and chortled. “Congratulations, my brother. I’m going to be an uncle.”
Antonio jabbed his fork into his steak, then sliced it with his knife. Holding a chunk of meat to his mouth with his fork, his bottom lip folded under. “I bet she got pregnant on purpose.”
Glowering at Antonio, Zeke balled his hands beneath the table. “You better watch what you say about my girl, bro.”
Antonio bolted to his feet. Zeke hopped to his. Standing face-to-face, Zeke was tempted to throw a punch at his idiotic brother’s face. Antonio jutted his chin. “And if I don’t? What are going to do about it?”
Zeke spat, “I’m going to beat your face in with my fist until it becomes a bloody pulp.” And fuck your ass up. “Now say something, so I can make good on my threat.”
Colton ordered in a husky tone, “All right, you two. Stop—”
The doorbell rang, interrupting the chaos taking place inside the Balfours’ home. Ordering both Antonio and Zeke to sit their behinds back down with one look of his cold eyes, Colton rose to his feet. “Everyone needs to calm down and be happy for Zeke. I don’t want to hear another negative word out of anyone’s mouth about this here situation. Everyone here is going to be happy for Zeke. As a family, we’re going to support both Zeke and Taylor and welcome their baby into our lives with open arms.” Colton’s dark gaze bounced back and forth between Katherine and Antonio. “For the record, I’m not asking. I’m telling everyone at this table, that we WILL be supportive of Zeke. Period. End of discussion.” Ringringring. The doorbell rang repeatedly, signaling a sense of urgency. “Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to go get the door.” Halfway to the front door, Colton yelled out, “Katherine, fix my plate!”
Rolling her eyes, Katherine strolled toward the kitchen. “I swear, he can never do any wrong in that man’s eyes,” she murmured beneath her breath, but Zeke heard her loud and clear.
Stop hating.
Antonio stated, “Don’t ask me to babysit, because the answer will be no. Good luck.”
Bane exclaimed, “Dad said no negativity. I’ll help you with the baby as best as I can, Zeke.”
The corner of Zeke’s mouth lifted in appreciation of Bane’s kindness. “Thanks, bro. At least someone has my back—”
“Zeke, get in here! Now!” Colton shouted.
Glad his father and his brother Bane were supportive of him, Zeke trudged through the living room and headed for the front door. When he reached the living room, he instantly recognized Taylor’s mother, Veronica Spelling. Red-stained eyes and bright red nose, Veronica’s brown face held a sullen expression. Short, straight-haired bob, Veronica looked like she’d been crying.
Nervous, Zeke swallowed. “Hi, Ms. Spelling. I guess you’re here about Taylor. I’m—”
“Have you seen Taylor?” Veronica blurted. Water filled her eyes. “She’s normally home by seven, but she hasn’t come home yet.”
Zeke’s heart dunked. “We were together earlier today, not far from here. We split around six, right after it got dark. She said she was going straight home.”
Veronica’s lips trembled. A tear streamed down her left cheek. “How was she right before she left you? Did she seem sad?”
Oh God, Taylor. Where are you? Terrified, Zeke shook his head. “I wouldn’t necessarily say sad. More like scared. Yeah, she was scared. She said she was going to be in big trouble.”
Veronica swiped at the tear falling from her right eye. “Was she scared because of the pregnancy?”
When Zeke nodded his head, his bang fell from the hair on top of his head to his brows. “I didn’t know at the time that she was pregnant, but yeah. I think she was scared to tell me she was pregnant.”
Curiosity rounded Veronica’s red-stained eyes. “She never told you that she was pregnant?”
Having a bad feeling about Taylor’s unknown whereabouts, Zeke swallowed. “No, Taylor never told me. Right when she was about to, Katherine came looking for me and interrupted her.” Darn Katherine. She always messes things up for me.
“Now, Zeke,” Katherine said, strolling inside the room up behind him. Looking ever so elegant in the long ivory dress she wore, Katherine had the nerve to caress his spine like she really cared for him. Like she really loved him. Boy, she could fake it good. “What did I tell you about calling me ‘Katherine’?” The only person who regularly addressed her as ‘Mom’ was Bane.
Zeke swallowed his frustration. “Sorry. Mom.”
Katherine questioned, “What’s going on in here? Why does everyone look so sad?”
“Taylor’s missing, Mom,” Zeke murmured, hating to refer to Katherine as his mother. Katherine was not his mother. She’d never treated him like a son. Not ever. Wanting his girl to have an abortion. Tonight, Katherine proved she didn’t care about him. Not. At. All.
Katherine gasped. “Dear Lord. What do you mean Taylor’s missing?”
Veronica replied, “Taylor hasn’t come home yet. I’ve looked everywhere for her. So have my neighbors.”
Colton asked, “Veronica, have you called the police yet?”
Veronica’s lips quivered as she nodded. Dripdripdrip. Tears streamed down her face. “Yes. The police know she’s missing. She always comes home by her curfew. Always. And if something comes up, she always, always calls me to let me know.” Black purse strapped to her shoulder, Veronica put her hand to her ample breast. “I’m terrified.”
“Me, too. Me, too.” Worry bubbled at the surface of Zeke’s stomach.
Katherine took a few steps forward and cupped Veronica’s hands. “Veronica, I’m sure Taylor is fine and will show up soon. I know it’s hard, but try not to worry. We’ll call you if we hear anything. Okay?” Releasing Veronica’s hands, Katherine moved back beside Zeke, in front of Colton.
Nodding her head, Veronica sniffed. “Thanks—” Veronica’s cell buzzed. She reached into the purse strapped across her shoulder to answer it. She placed the cell on her earlobe. “Hello?” As she listened to the person on the line, Veronica’s trembling fingers touched her quivering lips. “Where?” Silence. “By the railroad tracks? Oh God. Oh God. I’m on my way home now.” Veronica pressed the end button on her cell phone. Angst filled her glassy black eyes as a sorrowful wail pressed from her lungs.
Panic coursed through Zeke’s veins. Gauging the horrid expression on Veronica’s face, he asked, “What’s wrong? What’s wrong, Ms. Spelling?”
Colton gripped Veronica’s shoulders. “Did they find Taylor?”
Veronica’s shoulders shook up and down as she cried. Shaking her head, she mouthed, “No. She’s still missing. They found the locket she wears on the ground by the railroad tracks.”
“Jesus Christ.” Zeke rounded Veronica and flung open the front door.
“Where are you going?” Katherine asked.
“To look for Taylor,” Zeke responded.
Shaking her head, Katherine placed her hands on her hips. “No, you’re not. It’s past your curfew, young man.”
Zeke glowered at Katherine. “Taylor’s in trouble. There’s no way in hell I’m going to just sit here and not do a damn thing.”
Kat
herine clasped her hands together. “Watch your mouth, Zeke. Please don’t curse in front of Ms. Spelling. Go upstairs and get your homework done,” Katherine stated in a curt, sophisticated tone.
Colton gave Katherine an icy stare. “Could you at least, for once in your life, have a little empathy for someone other than yourself? His girlfriend is in trouble. Only an irresponsible man wouldn’t go searching for his woman.” Colton fixated his gaze on Zeke, then retrieved his keys from his pants pocket. “I’m coming with you. Let’s go, Zeke.”
“But Colton, you haven’t eaten your dinner yet?” Katherine whined.
Unspoken irritation stultified Colton’s brown eyes. “You’re pathetic, Katherine. Don’t wait up for us. We’ll get back when we get back,” Colton barked as he crossed over the threshold, with Veronica and Zeke walking behind him.
Sitting in the passenger’s side seat of his father’s black Cadillac Escalade, Zeke’s heart thudded at the base of his throat. Horrified, Zeke put his hands in a prayer symbol, brought it up to his nose, and closed his eyes. Straining not to cry, his nose burned. His heart ached. Please, God. Please help me find Taylor. Please keep her and the baby safe. I love her, and I promise if you bring her and the baby back to me, I’ll take care of them for as long as I live. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
Chapter Four
Walterboro, South Carolina
Bangbangbang. Bangbangbang. “Get up! There’s work to be done around here!” Lying on her side, sleeping inside a cramped room, Taylor’s eyes fluttered open to find darkness surrounding her. Feeling the twin-size mattress metal springs pressing into her side, Taylor’s body ached all over. Blinking against the darkness, a mothball stench crept inside her nostrils. The door slowly cracked open with a resounding creak. “I know you’re not sleeping. Get up! Now!” Old lady Mildred’s tone echoed inside the tiny, cold room.
Trying to awake from a deep sleep, Taylor kept her back to the mean woman named Mildred who’d kidnapped her seven months ago. Clenching the thin, raggedy bedspread to her chin, Taylor reclosed her eyes and pretended as if she didn’t hear the criminal Mildred.
Nine months pregnant, Taylor was tired. Didn’t feel like getting up. Always having to do all of Mildred’s housework, she needed to rest for once. If Mildred wanted work to be done, she should ask her son, Kelvin.
When Mildred further opened the door to the chilly room, the light bulb in the ceiling’s hallway glowed down on Taylor as she remained lying on her side. Mildred sighed harshly. “Oh, so it’s like that today, huh?” The ruffling sounds of Mildred’s feet dragging against the floor assailed Taylor’s ears. She’s coming. She’s coming. Keeping her eyes closed, Taylor felt Mildred towering over her, breathing heavily. “Mmmph. Mmmph. Mmmph. You’re just as lazy as they come. Don’t get any lazier than you.” Mildred insulted her on a regular basis. Apparently, you haven’t looked in the mirror, dumb lady. “I saaiiddd…get up!” Mildred yanked the covers off Taylor. A cold chill engulfed her.
Standing beside the worn bed, Mildred fisted the back of Taylor’s long hair and yanked it. “Ouch!” Taylor’s eyes shot open. She slapped a hard palm to the back of her pained scalp.
“Bet you get your little ass up now,” Mildred spat.
Taylor rolled over to her back, scooted up in bed, and put her back against the brown, cracked headboard. Scalp burning, she tried her hardest to give Mildred a pitiful stare. Maybe if she treated her kidnapper nice and obeyed her, maybe someday she’ll let her go. “I miss my mama. Please let me go, Mildred? Please?” Longing to see her mother, Zeke, and her friends from high school, she studied Mildred’s face intently.
Wearing a flowery dress, gray-haired Mildred had pink rollers in her hair. Chubby face, she squinted her eyes at Taylor. “No. I’m never letting you go. You and the baby are going to spend the rest of your lives here with me and Kelvin. The four of us are going to be one big, happy family.”
Dissatisfied with Mildred’s answer, Taylor felt water spring into her eyes. “But I already have a family.” And a boyfriend, Zeke. “They probably think I’m dead. Please, let me go home? I’ll do anything. I promise I won’t tell the police about you if you let me go. I promise.” Unsure if she was having a boy or a girl, Taylor’s big, pregnant belly cramped. Wondering if the sharp pain was a contraction, she cupped the lower part of her belly. “I want to go home, Mildred! Let me go!”
Mildred slapped Taylor’s face so hard, her head snapped sideways, and now she was looking at the wall instead of the mean lady standing beside her to the left. She huffed. “Look at me,” Mildred ordered in a throaty voice. Breathing harshly, keeping her head sideways, tremors shook Taylor to the core. When Taylor refused to look at her, Mildred reached over and pinched her cheek as hard as she could.
“Oww. Oww.” Cheek stinging, Taylor turned her head and met Mildred’s hateful gaze.
Wagging a bony finger in her face, Mildred leaned into Taylor, and their noses almost touched. “Don’t you ever ask me about leaving here again. If you do, there’ll be consequences. Kelvin and I are hungry. Go make us some dinner,” she ordered, her breath foul, smelling like bowels.
“Oww. You’re hurting my face, Mildred.” Finally, she let go of her burning cheek. I hate you, Mildred. I hate you. Tears gushed from Taylor’s eyes. Shifting in the bed sideways, she flung her shackled feet to the floor. “It’s hard getting around the kitchen with my ankles chained like this, Mildred. Will you please take the shackles off?”
For a brief moment, Mildred didn’t respond; only stared at her. She reached into the pocket of her shabby flowery dress, pulled out a key, and held it up to Taylor’s eyes. “Okay. I’m going to unlock them. But if you try anything stupid like you did the last time you tried to run away, I’m going to make your life a living hell.” You’ve already done that. This is hell. You’re hell. Your son Kelvin is hell. Mildred bent over, stuck the key in the shackles lock, and clicked it open. Freed her bound ankles. The metal shackles clinked when they hit the wooden floor. “Thanks, Mildred.”
“Make something good to eat tonight.”
“Okay. I’m coming. Just please give me a second.” Oh God. Why me? Why did Mildred take me? I’m going to die in this cold basement. More tired than she’d ever been, Taylor glanced around the eerie room. A brown board covered the single window inside the room. An ugly burgundy carpet lay on the wooden floor near the foot of the bed. Other than a twin bed and a tiny bathroom, the room remained isolated. Didn’t even have a television. Just nothing.
No one knew she was there. Mildred and her son Kelvin had her hidden from the world. They’d kidnapped her. Stolen her from her mother. Taken her away from Zeke. Oh, Zeke. I miss you so much. I hope you haven’t forgotten about me.
“Well, don’t just sit there. Get a move on.” Mildred fisted the top of Taylor’s grey T-shirt and roughly pulled her out of bed. Belly round and hard, Taylor put a hand to her lower spine, dragged her feet along the cold wooden floor.
Walking behind her, Mildred swatted Taylor’s behind with her hand, causing it to burn. “Walk faster!”
Rubbing her hand over her pregnant, protruding belly, Taylor wobbled out of the basement’s bedroom and walked down the narrow hallway in front of Mildred. A sharp pain developed in her abdomen, and she ground her molars. Coming to the stairway, she gripped the handrail and began mounting the staircase toward the top. The worn planks creaked beneath her cold bare feet. I can’t let my baby grow up in this filthy house with these evil people. I have to escape. God, please help the police find me. Please don’t ever let my mother stop looking for me. Please don’t ever let Zeke stop looking for me either. Zeke will find me. He will. He will. He loves me.
Right when Taylor reached the top of the staircase, the door to the basement swung open. Mildred’s son, Kelvin, stood in the doorway, looking down at them. The tall, skinny man had brown, scraggly hair, blue eyes, and one of his front top teeth was missing. “She giving you any trouble this morning, Ma?” Kelvin asked.
H
olding on to the wooden handrail, Taylor glanced back over her shoulder at Mildred, then back up at Kelvin. Mildred exclaimed, “She tried. But after I slapped the shit out of her, she straightened up.”
Eyeing Taylor wickedly, Kelvin’s head tilted. “I hope she wasn’t mouthing off, Ma.”
“Ah, just a little. I took the chains off her feet, so watch her carefully. You never know about this one—she may try something.” When Mildred swatted Taylor’s behind again, she clenched her butt cheeks. “Get in there and cook me and my son something to eat.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Darn right, I’m going to try something as soon as I get a chance. I don’t care if I have to kill Mildred and Kelvin, I’m getting out of this freaking hellhole. They got me locked up in a dungeon. Treating me like a prisoner. I’m not letting my baby grow up like this.
Kelvin stepped to the side so Taylor could enter the kitchen. “Let her try something, Ma. I’ll be on top of her faster than she can blink her eyes.” Kelvin grinned at Taylor, displaying his missing front tooth, then went and took a seat on the couch inside the den.
“Don’t be lollygagging around in the kitchen, taking all night to cook me something to eat,” Mildred complained as she headed for the den to join Kelvin on the couch.
Searching for a way to escape, like she did every morning, noon, and evening, Taylor’s eyes traveled over the musky-scented old house. Just like the basement, boards covered the windows in the den, kitchen, and living room. The front door and the back door had big black chains on them.
Knowing she’d never give up trying to escape, Taylor’s eyes traveled up the wall and stopped when they reached the small window almost to the ceiling. Glittering stars perched around the glowing half-moon. There was no way she could climb out of that small hole, especially not with her big belly. Feeling trapped and doomed, bile scratched the back of Taylor’s throat.
Nauseated, she headed straight to the refrigerator and yanked it open. Gazing over the dirty fridge, she hefted a package of raw chicken, milk, and eggs. With all the ingredients in her hands, she headed for the stove to make the batter for the fried chicken.
MARRYING MR. RIGHT (The Brides of Hilton Head Island Book 3) Page 3
