A moment later, my security team pulls up, Maribel in tow. As they take her out of the car, I shout, “Where is she! Tell me what you did to her!”
“It’s too late… The job will be done…” She has a satisfying smirk on her face, one that has Colin turning even more ashen.
“What did you do?” He looks at Maribel like he’s seeing a ghost. When she doesn’t respond, anger takes over any bewilderment as he stalks up to her and screams in her face. “What did you do!”
This seems to take her by surprise, because for the first time since I met her, the smart-ass smile falters.
“Security footage?” Sawyer asks Jackson.
“No footage. Camera was out.”
I growl, tugging at my hair. “What do you mean, it was out?” I’m so angry. I could tear this security team to shreds.
“They cut the wires. This was planned and planned well.” Jackson looks around, on high alert before all our eyes lock on Maribel once more.
“I swear to God, Maribel, if my kids die because of something you did, I will fucking end you…” Colin’s words have bite, and I know that he means them.
“Jackson,” I murmur, nodding at Maribel. “Get information from her any way you know how.”
“On it.” He grabs Maribel by the arms, and she starts to shriek, her screams loud in the dark night, ranting obscenities filtering through the air as he drags her away.
“Jesus Christ.” Sawyer rubs his face, looking just as panic-stricken as I do.
Feeling like I’m about to lose my mind, I take a breath and focus, thinking through what I know and trying to be rational like Charlotte would be in this kind of situation. And like the final piece clicking into place, I know exactly where to go. She called me from the satellite phone, meaning she was in the forest, and Maribel mentioned “forests” like she knew exactly where to find her.
“She’s at the cottage.” I’m already running, my heart thumping, and I hear Sawyer and the others following me, albeit much slower as they don’t know the terrain. Sprinting along my path, each second feels like it could be life or death. With my girl and my new little brother on my mind, I move faster, lungs burning and legs pumping. Seeing the cottage up ahead, I slow my stride, only to take in what’s happening. My blood turns cold at the front door off its hinges, and that has me speeding up again.
“Fuck.” Sawyer rushes in behind me as I burst through the open door, and we survey the damage. A broken chair, the door shattered, drawers in the kitchen strewn all over the floor. I pull in air quickly, my heart racing and stomach twisting, but I’m quiet as I look around. Stepping toward the kitchen, a bright-yellow sparkle catches my eye, and my feet pause when I see it. Her original bee clip. The one I know she was keeping for sentimental value. I swallow roughly as I bend down, careful to pick up every piece.
“Her clip…” her father says, fear in his voice as he looks at it in my hand. Any hesitations he may have had that his kids weren’t here diminish in that instant.
“There's blood,” my brother says from a few feet away.
I stand quickly and turn, following Sawyer's gaze, seeing blood on the floor. I don’t know if it’s hers, but it’s fresh, and it isn’t a lot. My anger builds, my terror at where they could be battling it.
Pushing that aside, I stay focused and walk down the hall, each step quiet, not knowing what we might find, or who. The others follow, keeping their eyes peeled.
At the end of the hall, it’s deathly silent, almost eerily so. As I approach her room, I look back at my security team, and they nod, ready to jump to action. I open her bedroom door, and there, in the middle of the room, are Charlotte and Preston. Tied together, back-to-back, both their mouths covered. Preston looks scared, wide-eyed, but Charlotte is slumped.
“Tinker!” My heart lurches at finding them overwhelming, but I’m frightened at seeing her lifeless. I run to her, eager to touch her. Eager to have her in my arms, where I know she’ll be safe.
“Found them.” I hear on a radio and stride to where they are, Colin and I both furiously untying the ropes. The two of us thinking of nothing else but saving the two people we love more than anything.
“Sawyer. Paramedics!” I yell to my brother, who’s already on the phone.
“It’s alright, Preston. We’re here. We’re all here. You’re fine,” I tell the boy who looks with teary eyes at me, then his dad, shock evident.
“Preston!” Colin says through a sob as he pulls his son in tight, and I watch Preston fall into his embrace. The small boy missed his dad more than he ever let on.
I pull Charlotte to my chest, cradling her, her body dead weight, her skin pale.
“Tinker… Tinker, wake up.” I panic at her not responding, my voice getting choked up. Laying her on the ground, I shake her shoulders, trying to rouse her. “Please, baby. Wake up. I need you.”
“They drugged her.” Preston catches my attention, as his dad still holds him tight, both of them crying. I can’t imagine how he’s feeling. He was sitting with her this whole time while she was unconscious, not knowing if she’s okay.
“Tinker!” I say, louder this time, shaking her shoulders, my life hanging by a thread. But then she moans.
“Stop yelling…” Her voice is faint, but it’s there. I pant, slumping over, trembling as I touch her face.
