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I darted a look at the man sitting next to me. His expression was resolute. Glancing over at me, he smiled and nodded. “Damn straight, I do.”
“Great. Be careful,” Dylan warned. “We’ll see you when you get here.”
“Mel,” Sanna cried. “I’ll see you soon, right?”
What if I never got to see my baby sister again? The desperation in her voice was the last straw. My walls of bravery and resolve crumbled as reality and panic stormed through me and I burst into tears. Joshua gripped my hand, unable to hide the shock of seeing me fall completely apart.
“I’ll see you soon, baby,” I sobbed.
“Savannah, I’m bringing her back to you safe and sound. I promise,” Joshua guaranteed with both conviction and compassion.
“Thank you, Sir. I love you, Mel,” Sanna wailed.
“I love you too, baby.” My voice cracked as tears spilled down my cheeks.
Joshua disconnected the call and pulled off the highway onto an exit ramp. Shoving the car in park, he pulled me into his arms and held me as I sobbed.
“That’s it, baby. Let it all out. I’m so proud of how strong and brave you’ve been through all this shit. But, sweetheart, you don’t have to be anymore. I’ve got you, and I’m not letting go.”
Yes, he had me…all of me, from the tough and mouthy to the damaged and fragile, and everything in between. I trusted him with the pieces of my soul because he’d already proven he’d hold them like a priceless treasure, right in the palm of his hand. For the first time in my life, I wasn’t afraid to share them, regardless of what the future had in store.
Bolstered by his unyielding compassion, I pulled myself together enough for us to get back on the road. Staring out the window, the sound of my sister’s fear resonated in my head. I’d wasted too many years neglecting her, and after all that had transpired back at my house, I knew I’d never feel completely safe there again. I was ready to move to Chicago and find a place to call ‘home’.
Turning my attention to Joshua’s conversation with Pruett, I listened as he informed the detective we were driving back to Chicago, not flying. In charge and in command, Joshua suggested Pruett send some plain clothed officers at the airport. Davis knew our plan to head home. Hopefully, he assumed we’d fly back to Chicago. With my hand clenched in my lap, I nervously worried one thumb over the other as I listened to their conversation. Joshua threaded his fingers through mine before bringing my hand to his lips for a tender kiss.
“We were able to get an image off Melinda’s neighbor’s security system. I’m having it downloaded as we speak. I’ll send it via e-mail as soon as it’s done. We need a positive ID on this guy to speed things along. We captured a clear image of his face for a couple of seconds. I’m going to have our IT gurus blow up some still shots for you.”
“We’ll keep checking our phones. Thanks,” Joshua replied.
“Stay in touch with me while you’re on the road, okay?”
“Will do.” Joshua ended the call, then frowned.
“What’s wrong?”
“Pruett just told us to keep in touch while we were on the road. I hope to hell he wasn’t inside your house when he said that. Kerr will know we’re not flying.”
“Surely, he’s not that stupid, is he?”
“Let’s hope not.”
My stomach swirled in a churning mixture of anxiety and fear, while my brain spooled in a constant cycle of anger and fear.
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Joshua glance my way. “I can feel the thoughts swirling in your pretty, little head. Talk to me, sweetheart.”
A humorless chuckle rolled off my lips. “I don’t even know where to start. Anger and fear don’t mix well, so excuse me if I’m not singing songs about rainbows and butterflies.”
“Spitting sarcasm isn’t going to help either,” Joshua smirked.
“I don’t mean to be snarky. I’m just being honest.”
“I do appreciate that.” He grinned. “Even though your plate is full, I won’t allow it to erase the lines between us.”
His message was loud and clear. Joshua expected me to stay a proper submissive when my whole fucking life was coming apart at the seams. Even Penn & Teller couldn’t pull that one off.
My phone chimed, alerting us of a message. Joshua glanced over as his jaw ticked in anger.
“You don’t have to read any more of his fucking threats, little one.”
