“Fuck you,” I seethed.
His lips tipped up. “I don’t think there is anything I need to worry about here.”
He leaned down, picking up Penn. I gulped, fear washing over me like acid. “Don’t.” I took a few steps toward them, my muscles locking up when I noticed the grip of a gun sticking out from his waistband.
“It’s all right, Penn,” he said, stroking her hair.
I felt like I was going to be sick.
“We’re going to go see Mommy now.”
My mind reeled, trying to make sense of what was happening, trying to figure out what I should do as he turned his back to me and walked out the door with Penn in his arms.
38
lina
It only took a moment for me to put myself in gear. I shoved my boots back on and made sure I had my cell phone just in case Reed called.
Tapping his contact on my way out the door, I pleaded silently for him to answer as I heard ring after ring. He still wasn’t picking up. What Junior had said about him being preoccupied had me terrified. Was he with Elise? Did she call him again asking for help, knowing he’d come? Was that part of their plan? Keep him busy so they could abduct Penn?
“Shit,” I cursed, racing down the porch steps.
The sun was setting, and the evening breeze was starting to pick up. It was a warm night, and the breeze did little to cool me. I walked down the driveway, thinking Junior’s truck was just parked on the road. Instead, he was walking away into the nearby pasture, his long strides eating up distance with Penn in his arms.
I couldn’t let them get away. Jogging after them, I held my phone to my ear, trying once again to get ahold of Reed. This time, I was leaving a voicemail.
“Reed, you need to get back here. I don’t know what’s going on, but Junior has Penn.”
I ended the call and shoved the device into my back pocket, needing to pick up speed.
Junior was running, too, now, cutting across the southeastern pasture, leading toward the fence bordering the ranch. A trail rutted by truck tracks ran along the other side of the fence, separating the property from the woods. A truck, which I assumed was Junior’s, was parked on the trail.
Penn’s dark-blonde head bobbed at his shoulder as she held on with her arms wrapped around his neck. She was watching me coming after her, and I hoped she believed I would do everything in my power to reach her before he took her.
“Junior!” I screamed after them.
He slowed only momentarily to look over his shoulder, seeing me gaining on him. I couldn’t let him reach that truck. I couldn’t let him take her.
As he approached the fence line, Junior set Penn on the other side. He still had to climb over the wire himself, and I hoped it fucking cut him up.
“Run, Penn!” I hollered at her. She turned to look at me, her face painted with fear, mirroring my own. “Run!” I screamed at the top of my lungs.
She hesitated, seeing Junior pick up plywood from the ground and walk to a point in the fence where it sagged. The fucker must have already used it to bypass the barbed wire.
“Shit. Run, Penn!” I yelled again across the pasture.
This time, she didn’t hesitate, spinning on her heels to take off down the trail.
I didn’t let up, not even for one second, pumping my legs, hoping I was fast enough to reach her before Junior could. My chest ached from the exertion and the fear, my side pinching as I pushed myself.
Junior was already climbing over the plywood. He wasn’t going for Penn as she continued to run, not looking back. I was proud of her. She was so brave.
Instead, I watched in pure horror as he went to the back of the truck, pulling out a red gas tank. I skidded to a stop.
“No, no!” I shook my head in disbelief. I was not fucking watching this right now.
He was pouring gasoline along the fence line, scattering it.
