“What did you find, buddy?”
But when I lean down and pick up the rainbow charm that’s on the ground—the same one that I know is from my daughter’s new shoes I bought her a few weeks ago—panic washes over me.
And when my eyes land on the smashed cell phone on the street right near it, I have to fight not to collapse onto the ground.
Instead, I lift my radio from my chest and immediately call into it.
“AMBER alert. Missing child. Ellis Hart, age five, last seen with Vienna Lewis, age twenty-eight, also a missing person.”
Chapter 28
Vienna
Temper Tantrums & A Lucky Rock
“You’re a bad man.” Ellis is sitting next to me on the couch, holding my hand but beyond irritated as Cole paces the room in front of us.
The man who was driving the SUV is outside of the cabin keeping watch, and all I’ve been able to think about is how long it might be before someone realizes we’re missing.
Cole’s minion took my phone and smashed it to the ground before he sped down the street and toward the mountains that surround Blossom Peak.
For a couple of months, those mountains felt like a safety net, but right now, they feel like a death trap.
Don’t think like that, Vienna. Cole may have a gun, but he probably doesn’t know how to use it. Lord knows you’ve never seen him fire one.
Not sure if that’s a good or bad thing at this moment.
Cole leans closer to Ellis, glaring at her. “Yeah, well you’re probably a rotten child.”
“Don’t talk to her like that!”
White light fills my vision as the butt of Cole’s gun slams into my temple. “Don’t fucking talk at all, you whore!”
It takes me a few seconds to process what happened, and when I do, I’m looking up at Cole from the floor.
“Keep your hands to yourself!” Ellis yells at him.
“Shut the fuck up!”
My hand lands on the knot forming on the side of my head, but I try to refocus and keep my eyes on Ellis. I swear, if anything happens to her, I’ll never forgive myself—and I know that Rhonan will never forgive me either.
This is my fault.
I had a feeling Cole wouldn’t take being served the divorce papers well. I just never imagined he was capable of something like this.
Yeah, well, I think we’ve established you didn’t know your husband very well already, haven’t we, Vienna?
Ellis drops to the ground beside me. “Ms. Vienna…”
“I’m okay, sweetie,” I manage to croak out as my eyes continue to water. But then I look up at Cole. “So what’s your plan here, Cole? Just hit me since you never got the chance to while we were married?”
He pulls me up from the floor by my hair, making me shriek. “Did you honestly think that I would let you leave me? That I wouldn’t have you followed? You left your phone at home, but I have money and connections, Vienna. I’ve known where you were for a while. I have to hand it to you though…the new identity was a nice touch.” He yanks on my head. “I always wondered what you’d look like as a blonde.”
“Fuck you.” I spit in his face.
He tosses me back onto the couch as Ellis climbs up beside me. Pain is radiating all over my head, but I have to stay strong for her. Plus, Ihave no idea how much longer Cole’s temper tantrum might last, and I need to save my strength in case we get the chance to run.
This poor girl will never forget this, but I want her to remember that I was strong—for both of us.
