Total pages in book: 102
Estimated words: 99766 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 499(@200wpm)___ 399(@250wpm)___ 333(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 99766 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 499(@200wpm)___ 399(@250wpm)___ 333(@300wpm)
I yank her into my arms, squeezing her tight.
“Baby, I’ve got you. I’ve got you. I’ve got you.” I say it over and over again in case she doesn’t hear. “You’re safe. I got you. I love you. I got you.”
Rocking her in my arms, I try to sing the song Mom likes to sing, but I’m horrible at it. I want her to know that I’m here for her. I stroke her hair and kiss her a thousand times. Her weak little hands cling to my soaked shirt.
“We’re safe,” I croon. “Daddy will find us soon. Tomorrow’s your birthday. We’re going to have the best time. I love you.”
“Momma,” she whimpers.
I’m not her momma. She’s confused. I don’t deny this girl, though. Not now. Not ever.
“Momma’s got you,” I murmur. “You’re safe. I love you.”
She starts to cry harder. I want to pick her up and carry her back, but I’m so exhausted and weak. All I can do is cling to my baby girl.
“You’re such a good girl,” I praise. “You came back to me.”
She hugs me tighter, her strength returning.
“When we get back, I’ll make us some hot cocoa. You want hot cocoa, baby?”
Her little head nods. “With marshmallows.”
“A lot of marshmallows,” I agree. “Maybe even the whole bag.”
She giggles, though it’s soft. “We have to share with Daddy.”
“He can get his own bag,” I tease.
“Did we go on an adventure, Momma?”
I don’t correct her, though I should. This girl lost the only momma she had. It would be cruel to force her to call me anything else. Not now. Not when she’s been through something traumatic. Terrence can sort that out with the therapist later.
“We sure did. We went diving and snorkeling and fishing.”
“I wanted to catch a turtle,” she says. “Next time can we catch a turtle?”
“Do you think a turtle wants to get caught?”
“If he gets scared, he can tuck his head in his shell.”
“Maybe next time we can catch a turtle for a minute, but then we’ll have to let him go on his way.”
She snuggles against me. “I want to go home.”
“Me too, baby. Me too.”
“Is he going to get me?”
My blood runs cold at her words. I’d been so wrapped up in saving her life, I didn’t even worry about Jack coming after me. He got into the boat.
Oh God.
What if he gets here and takes her anyway?
We need to move. I’m so weak, though.
I hug Zella tighter to me, knowing I can’t move. If we have to run from him, I’m screwed.
“Can you stand up?” I whisper.
She shakes her head. “Will you carry me?”
I can barely move, much less carry this girl.
But the alternative is letting that monster grab us. Slowly, I attempt to stand. Every muscle quivers and screams in protest. With pained tears in my eyes, I pick Zella up. She wraps her arms and legs around me, clinging to me like a koala bear.
“Hold on tight,” I say, kissing her cheek. “We’re getting out of here.”
Terrence
The firemen can’t stop me. Not when my girls could be inside. Penny’s orange Jeep sits in front of the burning hotel, making my heart tighten in agony.
If they’d been killed, I would’ve felt it.
They’re okay.
I know it with every ounce of my being.
“He took that baby,” an elderly woman says from the parking lot. “That way.”
I take off running through the forest. Heavy footsteps thud behind me, which means the other Hoodlums, aside from Roan who’s putting out a massive fire, are after me. I lead the way, my hip no longer protesting. I’m thankful as fuck for all the physical therapy time I put in. Faster than I’ve ever run in any basketball game, I make my way through the woods to the riverbank.
“He’s in the boat!” Cal roars, rushing past me.
They’re not.
My girls.
“There!” Hollis yells.
I squint in the direction he’s pointing. My glasses help, but when I’m stressed, my vision suffers the worst. I finally latch onto what he’s pointing at and already running toward. Taking off in a sprint, I easily pass Hollis since I’m taller and it’s my fucking family. With each step, their forms gain clarity.
It’s them.
Penny holding Zella.
They’re alive.
Fuck, they’re alive.
Both of them are soaked. It’s then I realized they must have fallen into the river. Terror claws at me, but it’s overridden by the fact they’re alive. Penny falls to her knees, a sob of relief piercing the air.
Landing on my knees in front of them, I yank them both into my arms. Both girls are crying hard, clinging to me. My cheeks are wet as I hug them, thankful they survived whatever atrocities that fucker planned.
“My girls,” I choke out. “My girls are okay.”
Hollis joins the fray, hugging his sister from behind.
“Penny, fuck, you scared me,” he rasps out. “Are you okay? Are you hurt?”