Page 101 of Savage Surrender

Pain burns through my arm. My grip opens for half a second, and Charles twists beneath me, reaching for the gun again. A bronze horse sits on the bedside table. I grab it by the legs and bring the base down against the side of his head.

Charles goes slack. I throw the gun out of reach and find his pulse. His eyes react when I lift one lid, but too slowly.

“Mom.” Freddie tears the blanket from the bed and wraps it around Colleen. His hands shake once when they touch her shoulders. “Mom, I’ve got you. You’re okay.”

Colleen grips the blanket closed herself. Then she gets one hand around the back of his neck and pulls his face close, staring at the mask like she can see through it.

“Freddie. Oh God.” Her thumb searches along his cheek. “Your father had the news on. Michael and Rex—are they still at school? Is Bianca safe? Are you all⁠—”

“They’re safe. Bianca’s safe.” His voice breaks on her name, but he keeps his hands careful. “I brought clothes for you. They’re in the backpack. Come on. Let’s go to a different room.”

She looks at Charles on the floor, and her grip on the blanket tightens until her knuckles lose their color.

“He’s waking up,” she whispers. Charles hasn’t moved yet, but a tremor runs through her hard enough to shake the blanket.

“Not for long.” I reach under the bed for his phone and hand it to Freddie. “Get her dressed. Call Winston. I’ll keep an eye on him.”

Freddie takes his mother out without looking at Charles again. I watch him check the bedroom a few doors down, then close her inside with him. Only after the latch catches do I turn back to the man on the floor.

Freddie

The blue shirt catches on Mom’s elbow because she refuses to let go of the blanket.

“I can dress myself.” Her teeth knock together hard enough to blur the words, but she keeps fighting the sleeve with one hand. The other stays fisted beneath her chin, holding the blanket closed.

“You can.” I pull my mask down now that the door is shut and kneel in front of her. “Let me help anyway.”

Her face folds when she sees all of me. Just like that, I’m a kid coming home from practice to find her waiting in the kitchen.

“Michael and Rex are safe,” I tell her. “Do you remember my friend, Winston? He’s a doctor - he’s going to meet us. We’re getting you out of here.”

She nods but doesn’t answer. I keep my eyes on her face while I help her into the pants. A low sound comes from outside the door, followed by Owen’s footsteps. Mom’s hand closes around my wrist.

“He’s afraid,” she whispers. “I can feel him looking for a way out.”

His fear crawls through her while I fight a sock over her foot.

“He won’t get to you.” I smooth the cotton over her ankle and reach for the second sock. “You’re leaving with me.”

“Don’t promise things you can’t control, Freddie.”

“Okay.” I put the sock in her hand instead of arguing. “Then I’ll promise I’m doing everything I can.”

She tries twice before her fingers stop working. I finish the sock without looking at her, and she lets me.

Winston answers before the first ring completes. “I’m here.”

“Stay there. We have her. We’re coming your way.”

“Is she conscious?”

Mom holds out her hand for the burner, so I give it to her. “I’m conscious, Winston, and I can answer for myself.”

I put my mask back over my face before I crack the door. Owen has dragged the broken door across the opposite opening and tied Charles with the braided drape cords, wrists in front. The knots face away from his hands. A personal laptop sits open on the desk behind Owen, Mom’s listing still filling half the screen. One of the appointment slots flashes while she pulls on her shoes.

Charles makes a wet sound and tries to roll onto his back. Owen puts a boot against his hip and keeps him on his side. “Easy.”

“Don’t fucking tell me easy.”