“Wait, we can’t walk from here,” Wes said, getting out of the truck and racing after me.
“Why not?” I called over my shoulder, keeping my voice low. We might be in the middle of nowhere, but noise traveled in the open air.
“Because we’re too far away from the truck. If they catch us, we’ll have nowhere to go,” he hissed, running to catch up.
“Then we don’t get caught. That’s sort of the point.”
“But you’re pregnant!”
Spinning on my heel, I faced him. “Look, if you don’t want to come, then don’t. Honestly, it’s probably better if you don’t. I’m pretty sure this crosses some kind of guardian/kid boundary line that I’m just completely ignoring at the moment.”
“I’m not letting you go in there alone. Parker would kill me.”
“Yeah? He’d kill me if anything happened to you. Stay here. If I’m not back in an hour, call Parker and tell him I need help.”
“But—”
I ran up the hill, cursing every time my ankle turned in a low spot. I stayed low as I watched for any sign of movement. Though I wasn’t that far along, I noticed this was a helluva lot easier when I wasn’t pregnant. My jeans were pressing into my stomach with every move, and the lack of food for dinner was depleting my energy.
Or maybe that was the kid inside taking all my resources.
By the time I made it across the field, I was seriously nauseous. Note to self, eat before sprinting so damn much. I pushed on, knowing time was not on my side. I only had another half mile to go, and then I’d know once and for all if I was right about my suspicions.
I stopped shy of the cabin, butting up against a tree. Pulling out my phone, I checked my messages, but had nothing from Parker. No signal either, so I didn’t know if he even got my previous message.
For just a moment, I thought about turning back. Parker would be pissed at me for coming out here with Wes, no cell service, and in my condition, as he called it.
But then I heard it.
It was faint, but out here, the sounds of the little girl crying for help were unmistakable. She was here, and if I waited—if I got help first—she could end up just like Dakota.
Rushing forward, I ducked low just as I got to the cabin, peeking up into the window. There, on the far side of the cabin, was a little girl tied up. The gag from her mouth had come loose, which was how she was able to call out.
My eyes scanned every visible inch of the cabin, but I couldn’t see anyone else inside. Whoever it was, they’d left her alone.
Creeping to the door, I slowly opened it, wincing when it creaked loudly. Years of neglect of the cabin hadn’t done me any favors tonight. But I peeked my head in, making eye contact with the little girl. Tears streamed down her face as I pressed a single finger to my lips.
She sat there shaking as I made my way over to her, carefully avoiding the holes in the floor and dried leaves that were scattered across the rotted wood planks.
When I was only a few feet away, I hurried the rest of the way to her, keeping my voice low as I started on her bonds.
“Cassie?”
She nodded, a whimper slipping free from her lips. “It’s okay. My name is Blake. I’m gonna get you out of here, okay?”
She whimpered again, and as soon as her arms were free, she flung them around my neck. “I want my mommy.”
“I know, sweetie,” I whispered, taking the time to comfort her, rubbing a hand up and down her back. The girl trembled in my arms, and tears from her face slid against mine.
“I wanna go home.”
“We’re going to. Let me get these ropes from around your feet, and then we’ll get out of here, okay?”
She nodded, but as soon as she sat back, I heard the creak, along with her gasp. I drew my gun, but I was too late. Something hard cracked against my skull, and everything went black.
My cheek throbbedand a mariachi band played an annoying tune in my head as I came around what felt like hours later. A whimper slipped from my lips as I attempted to move, but everything in my body felt so damn stiff.
Leaves drifted on a gentle breeze across the wood floor right to my face.Blowing them away, I pushed up to my elbows, groaning when the simple movement reminded me of my time in that dark cell. Flashes of that night pushed into my skull, forcing me to relive some of the darkest moments of my life.
