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I didn’t know if it was hours, days, or weeks later, when I woke up an hour ago. I had been counting the minutes in my head. The room I was in was small, hot, and dark. There were holes in the ceilings and walls, sunlight seeping through them. Outside, I heard the rustling of trees and the occasional bird. I knew in my gut I was far away from any civilization.
My dress and panties were still on, thank God. I wasn’t sore downthere,but I don’t remember getting here. All I remembered was that I was running, felt a burst of pain, and then nothing.
That’s what scared me the most, the nothing. The time in between.
“Aw, you crying for me?” my kidnapper drawled.
I blinked my tears away, cursing myself for it. “Never.”
The man chuckled. “We’ll see about that.”
Before I could stop it, I felt a prick in my neck, and everything faded away. Memories of smoke gray eyes under a black cowboy hat were left behind, along with my mom’s smile and the sound of a little boy’s laughter.
As I slipped away, I heard Denver’s deep, sultry voice whispering in my ear, his beard tickling the shell of it.
“I love you.”
Chapter Thirty-Nine
Denver
“Denver,whereismydaughter?”
My eyes lifted from my security monitors to the sick woman standing in the doorway of my office. Mags was leaning against the wall by the window looking out. Beau was standing by the painting of Hallow Ranch. The twins were standing by the desk and Jigs was sitting in the chair in front of it.
The old man twisted at the sound of her voice and hopped out of the chair. Nancy looked worn down today. She was still recovering from the chemo treatment. Dressed in pajamas, a robe, and carrying her oxygen bag, she looked miserable.
“Nancy,” Beau said, going to her. He held out his elbow and she took it immediately.
It was late afternoon. Valerie had been missing for over seventeen hours.
Because you chased her away.
“We’re trying to find her,” I said, my voice void of emotion.
Pale green eyes met mine and I watched as she straightened her back. “Boys, I would like to talk to your boss alone.”
The twins shared a look, both their faces hard.
“The sheriff has dispatched his deputies and we—”
The woman cut me off. “Denver, so help me God! You and I will hash this out alone, or we can do it in front of your boys.”
“Leave us,” I clipped.
Beau helped her get to the chair Jigs vacated, and then they were gone. Once the door shut behind Lawson, she unleashed her fury.
“What did you do to her?” she snapped.
“I’m going to find her. Then, you two are on the first plane back to Texas,” I promised.
She shook her head, her face twisting in confusion. “I don’t understand. I thought you loved my Vallie.”
Oh, I do.
I had a feeling that was something that would never change. Even if I cut my own heart out from my fucking chest. Loving Valerie was now a curse instead of a blessing.
“Let’s not play dumb, Mrs. Cross,” I drawled, my upper lip curled.
