“Nothing is going to happen, Tor. We are going to dance class, and we’ll come right back here—promise.” Torren nodded, and she squealed. “Girls, grab your things. We are going to run home and change, and then I’ll take you to dance class.” The twins cheered and started throwing their coloring supplies in their little bags, happy to be leaving the hospital waiting room.Torren arranged an escort for them, not wanting to distract Sawyer. Within minutes, they were heading back to Torren’s house to change and head to class. It felt fabulous to be out; it felt normal, and normal was good. Hell, normal was great.
Tana spent the rest of the afternoon watching the girls dance, giggle, and have fun. Torren promised to call her once the baby arrived, and as of his last text, Piper was still pushing. She knew that he was excited about having a niece or nephew, and honestly, she was looking forward to being an aunt. She couldn’t wait to tell everyone her and Torren’s good news, but she didn’t want to step on Piper’s toes. Today was her and Tag’s day—she and Tor would share their news soon enough. When the girls’ class was over, she made a quick decision to take them to the park. The officer assigned to her seemed to think that it was a bad idea, but he also didn’t make any move to stop her from walking across the street to the playground. The girls loved the idea of playing for the afternoon, and honestly, the thought of going back to that stuffy waiting room gave her hives. She sat on a bench within eyesight of the girls and pulled out her cell. She missed a call from her mom and worried that something else had happened.
“I’m going to call my mom to make sure she is all right. Can you keep an eye on the twins?” The poor officer looked a little green.
“I don’t know what to do with kids,” he grumbled.
Tana giggled, “It isn’t that much different than watching any of your other assignments. Just make sure that they don’t run off and are safe.” He nodded curtly and turned his back to watch the twins. Tana dialed her mother back, and she picked up on the second ring.
“Tana, honey, are you all right?” Her mother sounded worried, and she hated that. She would give anything not to cause her mom so much pain and worry.
“I’m good, Mom. Are you okay?” Tana didn’t miss her mom’s sigh of relief. “Mom, tell me what’s going on.” Tana was pretty sure that she was going to be sorry for asking, but something had to be up for her mother to be acting so strangely.
“Matt called here and told me that he had you and the girls,” her mother said.
Tana gasped, “Why would he say that?” She felt panicked at the thought of Matt getting to them. Maybe leaving the hospital wasn’t her finest idea.
“Just be safe, Tana. He told me that he had you and I’d never see you and the girls again,” her mother sobbed. “I’ve been so worried, and when you didn’t answer—” Her mother’s voice trailed off, and she was pretty sure that she was crying on the other end.
“Mom, Torren, and I want you to come for a visit. Heck, I want you to move here, but we can discuss that another time.” Her mother sniffled on the other end, and Tana waited for her to get herself together.
“He sounds nice, honey. Are you happy?” Tana nodded and tried to speak past the lump of emotion in her throat.
“He’s wonderful, Mom. You will love him.” Tana’s voice was thick with emotion. She wanted to tell her mom about the engagement, but decided to do that in person when her mother came out for a visit. Telling her over the phone seemed too impersonal, and she hoped to share her good news with Torren by her side.
“I’m so happy for you, Tana. You deserve a wonderful man who will treat you right.” Her mother seemed to cheer up some.
“We’ll talk again soon, Mom. I’ll plan a trip out for you and get everything booked.” Tana ended the call with her mother and felt relieved that she was safe. But the question remained—why would Matt go to the trouble of calling her mother and lying to her? She looked around the playground and found Torrenwalking towards her from the other side of the park. He was smiling, and she knew that could only mean that Piper had the baby. Tana started for him but stopped dead at the sight of terror that replaced the joy on his face. She spun around to find Matt with an arm around Sarah’s waist and a gun pointed at Beth’s head. Her world started spinning, and she wasn’t sure what to do next. The police officer who was watching the girls stood frozen in place, his hand on his holster, and she wanted to run over to him and tell him to do something to save her daughters, but she couldn’t move. Torren reached her and pulled her behind his big body. She tried to claw her way free, wanting to get to her daughters, but he was so big and strong that she was fighting a losing battle.
“Let me go, Torren, he has my girls,” she screamed.
“Not happening, honey,” he growled. “If I let you go over there, he’ll kill all three of you.” Tana sobbed, knowing that he was right.
“He’ll kill them, Torren. I can’t live without them.” She slapped at his back in one last effort to break free from his hold.
“He’s not going to touch any of you, honey.” Tana watched as Matt started to back slowly out of the park with both of her girls. They were crying and reaching for her—calling to her, and she couldn’t do anything to help them.
“You know what you have to do, Tana,” Matt yelled at her. The hairs on her arms stood on end. She knew exactly what he wanted—her.
“I’ll do it, Matt. Just let the girls go and I’ll do whatever you want,” she screamed. Torren’s arms tightened around her, and she was pretty sure that he would do just about anything to keep her from going with Matt, but that was the only way she could save her babies. She needed him to understand that this was her choice—her only choice. She couldn’t live in a world where her daughters didn’t exist.
“Torren, listen to me. I need you to let me go, and when the girls are free from him, you get them someplace safe.” Torren shook his head, panic showing on his handsome face. “I know that this is hard for you, but think of them. Look at my girls, Tor. They are terrified, and I won’t let him hurt them.” She went up on her tiptoes to softly kiss his mouth. “Please,” she whispered against his lips. Torren’s arms released her and dropped to his side.
“I won’t stop you from going, Tana. I promise to keep them safe.” She looked over to where Matt was holding Sarah against his body; her screams were like a siren to Tana. She ran across the playground to where Matt held her twins, praying that he would release them once she agreed to go with him. He wanted to hurt her. Tana knew that, and if that was what had to happen to keep her daughters safe, she was willing to give him what he wanted.
She slowly walked up to Matt, almost as if approaching a trapped animal. “Please, Matt, I’ll go with you. Just let the girls go. I’ll do whatever you want, just don’t hurt them. They are your daughters, too.” Matt’s smile was mean, and she knew that she played right into his hands. He released Sarah, and she ran to Tana and wrapped her arms around her waist. Tana kissed Sarah’s little head. “I love you so much, honey. I need you to run to Torren. Can you do that for Mommy?” Sarah nodded and looked back to where Beth was standing, Matt’s gun still trained at her head.
“I want sissy to come with me.” Sarah held out her hand, and Tana sobbed.
“Please let them both go,” Tana begged. Matt looked at Torren as if trying to decide his next move. Then he looked back at Tana, taking her in from head to toe.
“You’re wearing his ring?” he spat. Tana looked down at her engagement ring.
“Matt, please. The girls are innocent in all of this.”
“You love him—is that it? Did you tell him that you are married to me? We aren’t even legally divorced yet, and you’ve already agreed to marry that clown?” Matt shouted.
“What do you mean, we aren’t legally divorced?” Matt laughed at Tana’s question.
