Page 145 of Kylie

I refrained from telling him it wasn’t nearly enough. I could see by the look on the sheriff’s face that he already knew. But Jeff was right. We had nothing more than an image of the bitch’s face behind the wheel of what was possibly a blue car at some point today. The photo was snapped through the windshield, giving us nothing else to go on. Where she’d gone after that picture was taken was anyone’s guess, although my gut was telling me she wasn’t far.

“Daddy-O, why do we hafta leave?”

Pulled from my thoughts, I peered down to see Kade standing at my side, tugging on my shirt. Those blue-gray eyes, so much like my own, were pleading and intense.

I absolutely detested Juliet for doing this to my family, for targeting us, for making me a nervous wreck. And most importantly, for making my kids look at me like that.

“We’re not leavin’ yet,” Gage said, drawing Kade’s attention. “We just wanted y’all to take a break. Have a drink and a snack.”

While Gage and Kaden began distributing snacks to curious munchkins, I focused my attention on others. I watched interactions between husbands and wives, moms, dads, kids. Nowhere did I see a lone woman slinking through the throng of people.

Not that I expected it to be easy.

Where was she? I knew she was out here. She had to be. Today was the perfect day, and this was the perfect place for her to make a move. The question was, who would she target?

And while I searched for Juliet, I scanned the area for Kylie, knowing my heart wouldn’t return to its normal beat until I laid eyes on her.

Five minutes passed, then ten, then fifteen.

Didn’t Kylie know I was going to have a heart attack? At the very least, a panic attack? I hated not knowing where any of them were at any given moment.

“I’m sure she’s fine,” Gage said quietly. “Probably finishin’ up her coffee with Jess, enjoyin’ her last bit of peace and quiet before joinin’ the fray.”

Sure. Probably. But the rationality didn’t help to slow the rapid beat of my heart.

I reached into my pocket to retrieve my phone but stopped suddenly when the air was rent with a horrific sound. The revving of an engine, the eerie screech of tires, followed by a sickening crash, then a crescendo of screams and shouts.

All eyes shifted to Main Street, instinctively following the sound. The same place the masses were headed, many pulling out cell phones, some making calls, others turning on cameras.

Without thinking, I took off running.

I wasn’t sure who was behind me, and in that moment, I didn’t care. I probably should’ve thought about my children, ensured someone had remained back to keep an eye on them, but something in my chest was ripping open, and I was merely trying to keep my heart from leaping out of my throat.

“Call 911!” someone yelled.

“Oh, my God! It hit her! The car! It hit her!”

That day was forever etched in my mind. I’d never experienced anything as horrific as finding my wife lying motionless on the ground, having been plowed into by a psycho bitch whose only goal was to inflict pain.

Taking deep, calming breaths, I reminded myself that Kylie was alive. That she was home, safe. With us.

Thanks in no small part to the man I was about to confront.

As I made my way over to the park, I passed a few people out enjoying what was left of the afternoon sunshine. Being that it was December, there was only about another hour left of daylight. It made for short days, but longer evenings, so I couldn’t necessarily complain. Not anymore. Kylie was home safe, where she belonged.

Just thinking about how my family and I had spent the past two years believing she was dead caused a red haze to cloud my vision. Especially as I locked eyes with the man who’d been partially responsible.

“Hey,” Kieran greeted as I approached.

I didn’t greet him. Nor did I nail him in his perfect jaw with my fist like I wanted to.

“Look, Travis, I⁠—”

“Don’t talk,” I interrupted, standing less than two feet away.

“Okay.”

I glared at him.