The bare mattress is stained and shifted half off the box springs. Jake must’ve come through the bedroom window. What and how don’t matter. He’s here.
In one hand, he holds his police issued Glock pointed at the back of Chad’s head. He drops his finger from his mouth and wraps his hand around his other hand, steadying the gun to fire.
I school my features as Mackenzie raises her chin. If I had to guess, she’s also noticed Jake is slinking through the bedroom doorway and entering the living room.
“After I use the three of you as collateral, I’m going to get off, Scott-free, and make my money right here like I always do. Every fucking day.” He stalks toward her. “And you’re going to lie on your ass and spread your legs for my boys. Like you always do.” He sneers at her as if she disgusts him.
Rage fills Mackenzie’s eyes. “No, I’m not. I’m leaving.”
“Bullshit.”
As Jake creeps along the wall, reducing the distance between us, Ramirez slides through the door, taking the opposite wall.
Chad grabs Mackenzie by the throat. The second his hand encircles her, I launch from my position, grabbing the ashtray and slinging it at Chad’s head.
Right on target. He screams, spins around while still gripping Mackenzie’s neck in his meaty paw. As she stumbles on her feet, she trips over the carrier and lands on her knees with a crack while somehow managing to keep the car seat from slamming into the linoleum.
Tears instantly fill her eyes, but she doesn’t make a sound as if she’s used to being tossed around the room during Chad’s fits of rage. She squeezes her eyes shut and sucks down a ragged breath.
“You fucking cunt!” Blood drips down from the middle of Chad’s head like a faucet left running to fill the sink with dishwater. The blood vessels in his neck pound with his heartbeat. He’s going to have a stroke if he isn’t careful.
I wrinkle my nose as I contemplate telling him to calm down. But somehow, I don’t think that’s going to help the situation.
“Drop the fucking gun!” Jake stares down the gun barrel with cold determination in his eyes.
“Fuck you.” The blood lands on his long-sleeved T-shirt. His eyes drop to a screaming Grace.
“No.” I jump forward, but before I can get to them, Mackenzie bullrushes Chad’s legs.
“You’ll not touch one hair on my baby’s head, you worthless piece of shit.” And with years of anger and betrayal fueling her, she knocks him off his feet and onto his ass.
Chad lands on his back like a bloated whale washed up on the shore, with his head bouncing off the floor and dazed eyes seemingly unable to focus on anything as he turns his head from side to side.
Everything happens at once. Ramirez jams his foot onto Chad’s wrist, making him drop the weapon before kicking it behind him as Jake stands over Chad with the gun still pointing at his head.
“You have the right to remain silent.” Jake frees one of his hands to retrieve his cuffs. “Your days of abusing people in this town are over.”
Chapter Eighty-One
Emily
The world feels like it remains in chaos as Ramirez hauls Chad to his feet while Jake cuffs him and recites his Miranda Rights.
Chief Carter busts through the front door with a highway patrolman on his heels. “Good work, everyone.” He strides through the room in three massive steps. “I’ll take it from here.” He nods at Jake. “Go see to Emily.”
Grace. I blink and run over to Mackenzie, who’s sitting on her knees, studying the baby. Her baby.
None of that matters right now. I drop to my knees beside her and unbuckle Grace from the baby carrier.
“Are you okay?” I slide the restraint off Grace’s right shoulder. “I know that’s a stupid question. There’s no way you’re all right with everything that’s going on, but do you need to go to the hospital?”
Grace whimpers as I pull her into my arms while soothing her with hushed words and reassuring pats.
“No.” Mackenzie plops down on her butt and wraps her arms around her bent knees. “Nothing is broken. He’s hurt me a lot worse than he did today.” She shrugs. “Thankfully.”
The man is a despicable piece of shit.
“Are you okay?” Jake squats down, running his eyes over Grace and me as he grips my shoulder. The rage building in his expression increases as he assesses me from head to toe.
