I close my eyes and take a deep breath. Lord, please help me. I know she is with you now. I know she is at peace. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
Straightening, I finish closing up the sandwiches, then top the plates with chips. I’m just getting ready to grab two bottles of sweet tea when the satellite phone rings. I reach over to lift it, checking the readout before I answer.
Mom Home.
I smile. Just who I needed to talk to. “Hey, Momma, how’s it going? How was church yesterday?”
A beat of silence. “I wouldn’t know. It’s been a long time since I stepped into a church.”
The voice from my nightmares slides over me, and my pulse kicks into overdrive as I struggle to make sense through the panic.
The readout said Mom Home.
Fear slices through, cutting me straight down to the bone. “Where is my mom?”
“Are you truly so concerned? Seems to me that, if you were worried about her safety, you shouldn’t have left.” He’s quiet for a moment, giving me time to get my brain back online.
Sawyer. I need Sawyer.
Phone in hand, I rush for the door.
“You know, at first this hide-and-seek game was fun. But I’m getting bored.”
“So sorry that I’m not there to entertain you.” I try so hard to keep my voice strong and steady, but it wavers just a bit. Did he hurt her? Is she there right now?
“You will be. You know what they say about idle hands,” he replies coolly.
I step out onto the deck, and the wind wraps around me. Clinging to the phone with one hand, I start up the steps toward where Sawyer is currently driving the boat. I don’t realize until I reach the top that the sound of the motor might just give us away.
At the very least, he’ll know we’re on the water.
“You shouldn’t have left, Anastasia. We have unfinished business, you and me. And if I can’t wrap things up with you, I might have to make an exception and take someone else instead.”
I reach the top of the steps. Sawyer turns around and grins at me, but that smile dies the moment he sees my face. Quickly, I hold my finger up to tell him to be quiet. He slows down and shuts off the motor, and the boat rocks heavily in response.
I grip the side railing.
“Leave my mother alone. Or so help me, I’ll?—”
“You’ll what? Have someone else fight your fight? Unfortunately for you, no one in your life seems smart enough to catch me. Though one did get close. Of course, I had to deal with him, but you can consider it a favor.”
Ice floods my veins, and I meet Sawyer’s worried gaze. “What favor is that?” Please, God, let mom be okay.
“I made your decision a whole lot easier.”
“What decision?”
“The Navy SEAL or the FBI man. Ooh! Which handsome hero will it be, Anastasia? I have to say, the FBI man has the better job, but there’s something about a mechanic, am I right? Anyway, since that’s an easy choice to make, I figured—as a friend—I would help you make it.”
Jack. “What did you do to him?”
“Nothing he didn’t deserve.” He laughs, and the line goes dead.
“Sawyer, it was him.” Hands shaking, I hold out the phone. “He called from my mom’s house. He said he did something to Jack.”
Sawyer’s expression twists into rage, and he takes the phone from me. After checking the read-out, he types in a number. “Zane. Guy just called us from Linda’s house.” He’s quiet as my brother relays something back. “Keep her with you. Is Jack still in town?” Sawyer asks. “Call him. I will, too.” He ends the call, then hands me the phone. “Type in Jack’s number.”
Hands trembling, I type in Jack’s number. Sawyer puts the phone up to his ear. How can this be happening?
