The reindeer pawed the ground in agitation, his big brown eyes calling her on her plan, like he knew it didn’t matter to her if she got out, so long as Riley did. But whether he knew or he didn’t, it didn’t change anything.
“You can’t stop me, Chase,” she said, crossing her arms defiantly. “I’m going to do whatever it takes to save Riley. I’m his mother, that’s my job.”
The reindeer seemed to sag, and his eyes turned pleading.
“I know that you’re worried,” she said, her tone softening, “but I can do this. I can get him out. And if you truly want to help, to protect me, then please, get Riley out while I keep Michael talking. That’s all the leverage he has, and he won’t be scared to use him. I’ll do whatever it takes to stay by my son’s side, Chase, and Michael knows that. So if you want to help, that’s how.”
Chase’s mouth tightened, and for a minute, Hailey thought he would argue. Eventually, though, he nodded, his head drooping. She let out a breath, and for a moment relief flooded her. She didn’t have to do this alone, and she realized now how different it made things. Shecoulddo this.
“Okay, so here’s the plan. I’ll knock on the front door and distract them while you look through the windows to figure out where Riley is. I’m going to try to get Michael alone in another room. If I manage it, you’ll break inside and rescue Riley. You can come back for me once he’s safe—and only once he’s safe. I mean it, Chase.”
Chase’s eyes flashed at that last part, but again, eventually, almost reluctantly, he nodded.
The reindeer began circling the property and Hailey approached the front door. She stomped her boots down as loudly as she could as she went, wanting to obscure the sounds Chase was making, as well as warn Michael she was coming. He was far less likely to pull a gun on her if he realized it was her.
Sure enough, she caught movement through the window as she approached the front door. Hailey banged her fist against the door loudly. She knew she needed to come across as angry. Michael expected her to have followed his goon there.
“Michael!” she shouted. “Michael, I know you’re in there! And I know Riley’s in there too! Give him back to me!”
The door swung open suddenly, revealing a tall, burly man on the other side. She knew that this was the man who’d run her off the road, and she sneered at him. He reached out and grabbed her by the hood of her jacket, pulling her inside.
“Hey now,” a smooth voice protested. Hailey felt ice drip down her spine at the sound of the voice that still haunted her nightmares. “That’s no way to treat a lady, Richardson. Shame on you, I thought you knew better.”
Everything about that voice made her want to cringe away and hide, but she wasn’t the same woman who’d suffered all those beatings in silence, not anymore. She was a woman who’d known kindness at the hands of a stranger, who’d found true joy where she’d least expected it. She was a woman who had a future to look forward to. And she was a mother who could doanythingto protect her son. Even this.
“Michael, how could you? Riley and I both could have died. And I realize you probably don’t care about me, what about him?” She softened her voice. “For all your other faults, Michael, I assumed you at least cared about your son.”
His eyes flashed at the word ‘faults’, and his jaw clenched in anger, just for a second. Then he smoothed the look over like it was never there to begin with. She used to doubt her own eyes when he did that, but not anymore. She knew all his tricks.
“I admit I may have gone a little overboard. But don’t forget, Hailey, this was your fault. If you hadn’t run away from me—takingourson with you, mind you—I wouldn’t have had to resort to these kinds of methods to bring you both back.”
“Don’t start,” Hailey choked out. “You know why I left. But that doesn’t matter now. Where’s Riley? I want to see him.”
As far as she knew, Michael wasn’t aware of the real reason she left him. He just assumed it was because of the beatings. It was better he didn’t know the truth. There was a good chance he’d kill her if he knew she knew his secrets.
“Of course,” he replied, charming smile back in place. “He’s in the living room. Follow me.”
Hailey noticed the thug, Richardson, was trailing behind them. He didn’t seem willing to let her out of his sight. Michael probably warned him she’d try and make a break for it. He’d always been one step ahead, that was why she’d had to run in the first place. Trying to stop him had never been an option.
“You know,” Michael said as he led her to the living room, “after you left, I was angry, really angry with you. You never should have done what you did. But I’ve had some time to think, and I want you to know I understand. I’m sure you did what you thought you had to do to protect our son. You couldn’t have known I would never hurt him, that was your mistake. But I can forgive you for making a mistake, Hailey.”
“Oh, really?” Hailey asked, purposely keeping her tone somewhere between dubious and hopeful. She had no interest in whatever his warped idea of forgiveness was, but if it kept him talking, then she’d play along.
“Yes, I—”
“What the hell? Who are these other children, Michael?”
Interrupting him probably wasn’t the smartest thing she could have done, but Hailey couldn’t help but blurt out her question at the sight of what was waiting for them in the living room. In addition to Riley, there were four other children, all similar ages, and all cowering, huddled together on a large, weather-beaten couch.
“That was rude, Hailey,” he said, ice in his tone as he chided her like an ill-mannered child. “You shouldn’t interrupt me when I’m talking. These children aren’t your concern. All you need to know is that I’m looking after them for a while. Don’t question me again.”
Did he really expect her to believe that bullshit? Their faces were pure white, and there were tear tracks running down their cheeks. The poor things were obviously petrified. And dirty. She had no idea how long they’d been here for.
Riley, blessedly, was currently asleep in his car seat. Richardson must have taken it with him when he kidnapped her son. He, too, had tear tracks on his face, but he seemed to have dozed off at some point, which was probably for the best. It would be easier for Chase to rescue him this way. He’d have his…hooves…full enough herding the other children out.
Hailey drew in a breath. She needed to do a better job of playing along, of being the woman Michael expected her to be. She couldn’t afford for him to get suspicious.
“I’m sorry,” she said. “You’re right. That was rude of me.”
