“No one cares about you, son. You’ve got no family. No one to miss you. Josie, now, she’s someone people might miss, so I’m glad that her dad’s come. They can repent together.”
His words catch me by surprise, and I stumble. A coarse laugh tumbles from his lips. “Thought I didn’t know? I’ve got cameras too. I needed to wipe that video footage, so I needed to get her dad here. Thanks for helping me out.”
In the distance, I hear a gunshot and then a cry. I halt in my tracks and turn toward the sound. A flock of birds shoots into the sky.
“I’ve got traps all over this land. Don’t worry about the old man, though. He’ll be fine. Once he repents, I’ll let him down.”
I’m going to have to take this man down before we reach the barn. I can’t see his shadow, which means he’s more than six feet behind me. If I turn to face him, he could probably shoot me before I was able to reach him. There’s nothing but flat land between me and the barn, so there’s no cover. There’s only one option left. I drop flat on my face. He yells, and the gun comes up, but I’m already on my back, dirt in my hand. I throw it up in the air and then roll to his right. Since he’s right-handed, he has a more limited range of motion in that direction. I guess correctly because the shotgun splatter strikes the dirt next to me, but I escape. It gives me enough time to rush forward, keeping to his right. He tries to swing around, but the motion is awkward. I knock the gun out of his hands and tackle him. I grind a handful of dirt into his eyes and then strike his head into the ground once and then twice. His body goes lax.
I scramble off of him, grab the gun, and then race toward the barn.
Chapter Thirty-Six
JOSIE
Iwas sure my fear was at its peak until I heard the gunshot. A few moments later, there is a second, this one different from the first and in another direction. It’s close, so close I think it’s right outside of this rundown barn I’ve been left in. I close my eyes and actually do what Cole’s dad has been demanding I do. I pray to all the gods.
Religion wasn’t spoken about much in my upbringing, but I’ll do whatever I have to. I’ll send out all the good vibes too. I know Bam is coming for me, and that shot wasn’t for him. It couldn’t have been. I refuse to believe it.
I can’t lose him, and if I do, it’s my own fault. I dragged him into this. If not for me, he wouldn’t be wrapped up in all of it. I just never knew how insane this would all get.
There goes the whole ‘the most logical conclusion is likely what it is’ thing. That is so not the case in this. It wasn’t a gang or bookies coming after people. It was simply a crazy father.
The old man has gone and lost his mind. He’s not setting out to kill anyone, but he will if he has to, and there is no way in hell Bam would go down without a fight.He’s fine, nothing bad happened to him,I chant to myself, trying to will it into existence.
My mind is still reeling from all the pieces clicking together. My dad was right. It was strange that Mr. Patton took so long to report his son missing. The truth is he killed Cole, and if I understand what he was going on about, others that are missing are still alive. From what I gathered, he’s making them repent until he feels as though the devil has left them.
I’m not sure where they are or if it’s true. You can’t trust anything a crazy person rambles on about. My heart sinks when I hear the door behind me and the thick chain being pulled from it. I take a deep breath, trying to keep my wits about me. I need to think straight. I can’t allow my emotions to cloud my decision-making, but I suddenly don’t feel so hot.
I turn my head, trying to see who it is, hoping those prayers worked and it’s not Cole’s dad. When a spot forms in my vision, I know I’m close to passing out, but I’m trying to stay awake. I hear my name shouted, but the sounds are no longer close but drifting further and further away.
I jerk back when hands cup my cheeks. “Open your eyes, Josie.” Bam? He’s here—or maybe I’m imagining it.
“Don’t be mad at me.” I try to force my eyes open, but they’re too heavy. The darkness keeps trying to pull me under.
“Josie, I’m not mad. Open those eyes for me, hellcat.” I don’t think I can, but I really want to.
“There are others. Alive,” I try to tell him before I slip under.
“Josie.”
I jerk awake, smiling. “Bam? Missed you.” Why can’t I get my eyes to open? Where am I? “Ouch.” I hiss when I feel a hard poke. “I like your other pokes better, Bammers.”
When I open my eyes again, I see Bam. He’s holding me, cradling me in his arms. I blink a few times.
“Talk to me,” Bam croaks, his eyes filled with unshed tears.
“How are you always so handsome?” I reach up and touch his face. He answers me by leaning down and brushing his mouth against mine.
“You scared the hell out of me. I can’t lose you.”
“You’re not getting rid of me that easy.” I turn to see where I am. I’m guessing if I’m cuddled in Bam’s arms, things must be somewhat safe.
“How do you feel?”
“Better, but my wrists and hands hurt.” I open and close my mouth. “My jaw too. That nutcase gagged me.” He also tied me to a chair, but the gag really pissed me off. I guess he couldn’t handle all the truths I was spewing at him. Probably actually just got tired of me running my mouth.
“I know. We’ll get them tended to. Do you think you can stand?”
