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“Brother, get in here,” I hear him say from the basement.
With quick movements, I slip through the window and land softly on my feet. I look around. I don’t see any other evidence that someone was down here. On silent feet, I head toward the stairs and make my way upstairs. I feel Derrick come up behind me, we reach the top.
Slowly, turning the doorknob, I ease the door open and find the kitchen empty. Nothing seems to be out of place, so we make our way into the living room. I freeze, Austin and Tracey are in the living room. She’s face down on the floor, he’s slumped over in the chair. Derrick checks them for pulses while I call out for Brooke and Tripp.
“Where are they?” I ask before moving down the hall, peaking into the bedrooms.
That’s when I get a text from Josh.
Josh: We got them
I look at Derrick. “Stay with them and call the cops.”
“You got it, brother,” he says and then I run outside.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Brooke
Hank holds on to me tightly while we sit on the side of the bed in my room in the ER. My nose is broken and when they set it, I threw up on him. He’s in scrubs and looks like a doctor. The throbbing in my face has me grabbing the ice pack and I hold it to my face. God, I wish I could have something stronger than Tylenol, but it’s not safe for the baby.
Speaking of the baby, they did an ultrasound, and they’re doing just fine in there. As a matter of fact, they were sucking their thumb. Thank God, I was so scared.
My face throbs and I just want to get out of these dirty clothes and sleep for at least two days. The officer comes in so I can give him my statement. Every single moment rushes back to me.
While in the basement, I heard Austin tell Tracey that I wasn’t part of whatever deal they were making, and he was keeping me.
It frightened me to think what Austin might do to me if I was there alone. Plus, I had no clue what Tracey would do with Tripp if she took off with him. I waited until it got quiet upstairs and broke off one of the legs on the bed frame.
I kept Tripp right behind me with his hand clutching my T-shirt. At the top of the stairs, I squatted down and told him quietly that we were going to do. I told him if something happened to me then to run for the door and scream for help.
“I looked around the corner and found Tracey with her head bobbing between Austin’s legs. Raising the stick over my head, I walked into the room. She must’ve heard or sensed me because she stood up and then turned toward me. I swung it at her and hit her in the head.” Hank grabs my hand. “I-I hit Austin while he was trying to button up his pants. Then I picked up Tripp and ran out of the house, hiding in a bush behind the house.”
Hank began to run as soon as he reached us and took us to the ground, hugging us both tightly. I don’t think there was an inch between any of us.
“That’s everything.” I shrug as my stomach turns.
The detective nods. “Okay, thank you.” He closes his notebook and then looks between the two of us.
I have to know. “Am I, am I in trouble?”
He comes closer, taking the seat across from me. “Brooke, it was self-defense. That is clear, and you have nothing to worry about. You and the boy were kidnapped, andyouwere assaulted. They’ve both been released from the hospital and are behind bars.”
Hank sticks out his hand. “Thanks, man. I appreciate you coming to talk to her here. Instead of her having to go to the station.”
“Not a problem. Brooke, I know what you went through was scary, but you did good.”
The minute he walks out of the room, I lay my head on Hank’s shoulder. I yawn widely and close my eyes.
I must’ve fallen asleep because I feel him gently shake my shoulder. “Baby, let’s get you home. Tripp’s going to stay at—”
“No! Please. He stays with us.” I grab the front of his shirt. My heart racing thinking about that little boy not being with us.
Hank wraps his arms around me. “Okay, okay. Baby, whatever you need.”
“I’ll tell your dad.”
That’s when I turn and find Derrick in the doorway. He comes right to me and gently pulls me into his arms. “I always knew you were an ass-kicker.” Leaning down, he kisses the top of my head. “I’m glad you’re okay.” He disappears out of the room and then Hank and I are alone again.
