David watched Brandon fight with the door.
Grunts and creaks filled the silence. The door opened and hung at an awkward angle.
Brandon leaned over David. “Here.” His partner cut away the seatbelt and helped David out of the vehicle.
David’s disjointed thoughts started to coalesce.
Sitting a few feet away, David could only observe as his partner made his way to Jennie’s door.
“No go, partner. Her door is blocked by the tree. Might have been why the dude didn’t take Jennie. He had to settle for her daughter instead.”
David rested his forearms on his knees and dropped his chin to his chest.
He’d allowed a deranged man to kidnapped Zoey. Jennie would never trust him. He’d obviously failed—again.
***
An hour later, Jennie sat in a conference room at the hospital waiting for David to be released. The man had a mild concussion and stitches on his forehead. But his real injury was the blow he’d taken to his side.
The truck had rammed into the driver’s side door, slamming it against him.
She’d heard them discuss internal injuries as they’d whisked her away.
Brandon had stayed by her side and found an empty conference room. The sweet man had even brought in a recliner for her.
She rested her head against the seat. Her heart twisted. Where was her little girl? She could only pray whoever had Zoey didn’t hurt her. She thought she’d escaped a man’s possessiveness. Escaped abuse. And here she was again, fearing not only for her life, but Zoey’s too.
She closed her eyes. “I will find you, sweetheart. Even if it’s the last thing I ever do.”
“Jennie?”
Warmth on her arm and a low timbre roused her. Her eyes fluttered open. A haze covered her vision. “David?”
“Sorry. It’s Brandon.”
She pushed herself to a seated position and rubbed her eyes. “I can’t believe I dozed off.”
“I can. Your body’s taken a serious beating lately. Not to mention the car accident.”
“How’s David?”
“Driving the doctors crazy.”
She released a long steady breath.
Brandon pulled up a chair next to hers. “He’ll be sore but fine. How are you doing?”
“Wanting my baby back.”
“I get it.”
Jennie knew the man understood. With two teenagers of his own, he’d understand the panic she felt. “Any news?”
“Not yet. Hanes and the others are on it. I didn’t want to leave you alone and besides, the doctors needed protection from my partner.” He chuckled.
She forced a smile. “When will David be released?”
“A few minutes ago,” A familiar baritone rang from the doorway.
