by J. Haney
Kyler speaks up. “I have been trying to figure out for a while what happened, and I figured why not hire someone to find things out for me. Caleb’s a PI, so I hired him to help me. That way I don’t involve the kids.”
I don’t look at Kyler when she says I’m just a PI. Ryan already knows, and he isn’t taking his eyes off of me. I’m glad we’re in a public place, and it’s time we got out of here. I need to get Kyler safe, and also get her and the kids to a different house. He’s going to be tracking me from the minute we leave, so it’s time to disappear for a little while until we figure out what to do next. I take out my cell phone and pretend to look at the time; instead, I’m sending a prewritten text to my brother to let him know what’s going on and try to keep everyone safe.
“Well, we have a lot to go on now, so we won't take up any more of your time,” I say, then watch Ryan and Kyler.
“Really, leaving so soon? Well, I also have more things to take care of. Let me walk you to your car.” Ryan smirks. “It’s the silver four door F-150 out front, isn't it?”
“It was nice seeing you again,” Kyler says. “Next time I’ll bring Ava and Jax, I promise. You should bring Mrs. Ryan; I know she would love to see all of us.” Kyler forces a smile, and I can tell she’s thinking of something else to say. “Mr. Hudson, you said we could look for a new place on the way back for the kids and I to move into.”
We all stand up, I leave some cash on the table to take care of the check and move next to Kyler. When Ryan stands up he smiles but then links arms with her.
“It would be really nice to see them again; does Ava still walk around with that scruffy teddy bear your dad had gotten for her? What about Jax, has he hit the ‘girls are nasty’ stage?” Ryan gives Kyler a smile, but the look is stern.
“Yes, she does. I can barely wash the thing. Jax is his own person, that’s for sure. Well, like I said, next time for sure.” Kyler stutters slightly as we walk out together.
At this point, I’m starting to feel stressed out. He’s got ahold of Kyler and without making a scene or a fuss, I can’t do anything about it. Walking toward the truck in silence I see Ryan change his grip. He puts one arm around Kyler's waist and the other snaps to her arm, he’s pulled her close to him, almost like a shield. This is not good. I unbutton my jacket ready to grab my gun just in case this gets ugly.
I see Kyler beginning to panic. “That hurts. Let go of me,” she says, half-shouting as she trips forward.
Ryan stumbles to catch her, but she trips him. I move behind her to get closer to Ryan as he falls to the ground. His sheer desperation to keep hold of her unnerves me.
“Let go of me now! I’m not a helpless kid anymore. Best you remember that.”
Oh shit, Kyler isn’t nervous anymore. She’s pissed. I crouch down, take my knife out of my boot, and slip it up my sleeve. Now isn’t the time to be seen with a gun. I move over and put my hand on Ryans shoulder and dig the knife against his skin. I’ve got his attention. With my free hand, I help him to his feet. He’s got two guns, one on his side, one in back. Once he’s standing I take both and nod to Kyler.
“Open your bag; we’re just going to lighten his load for a minute.”
I shove his guns in her bag then motion her to get into the truck. I let Ryan go and walk backwards as he turns to face me. He looks pissed, big time. Tough titty.
“That was one slick move there, kid, I’ll give you that, but you don’t get to fool me twice. I’ll be seeing you both again real soon; you have my word on that.”
I just slightly smile out of habit and watch as Ryan skulks away. Kyler already has my door open. I-I jump into the truck as fast as I can.
“Buckle up. We’re gonna haul ass,” I growl, and feel her eyes burning holes through me. I can tell she’s trying to gather her thoughts.
“What in the hell just happened? He’s coming after us, isn’t he? What about the kids? We have to get to them.” Her voice trembles; she’s going off into total freak-out mode, but I have to get us out of this parking lot so we don’t get blocked in by Ryan, or anyone else for that matter.
“Right, don’t panic. No cell phones. Turn yours off and give me a second okay? You’re freaking out, babe, and that makes it hard to think. I need you to keep calm.”
I’m shocked that went so badly. I expected him to be a bit menacing, but he totally lost control. That means he must be desperate, but I don’t understand why. To be chasing Kyler for that many years doesn’t make sense. A couple of million is a lot of money, but it’s not enough to dedicate so many years trying to get it. There must be something I’m missing here.
After we escape the parking lot and hit the road, I take a couple of deep breaths and slow down to keep to the speed limit. I pull into the back of a rest stop and shut off the truck.
Kyler turns to me quickly. “What are we doing? We have to get to Ava and Jax!” I know I’ve upset her, and I feel guilty seeing her cry. I grab her hands and pull her toward me.
“Listen to me and calm down. It’s okay. The kids are safe, don’t worry. Liam and Nell have them. They will be fine. We have to stay low for a little while. Something spooked Ryan.” I pull her against me and she settles her head against my chest.
She holds on to me tightly. “We have to get our bags and stuff. I can’t leave them. Ava needs her teddy bear. She barely sleeps without it,” she mumbles. I can hear the fear in the back of her throat. I rub her back as she leans into me, my other arm around her shoulders. I really want her and the kids to be safe. The slight trembling of her body as she tries not to cry has my stress levels rising.
Suddenly, she jerks upright and looks at me. “He said Dad got Ava the teddy bear, but that isn’t true. It was Ryan who gave her and Jax one the day they were born.”
My head isn’t screwed on very tight at the moment, so when she says something about the teddy bear, I don’t take it in right away. All I see are her watery eyes. I wipe a tear from her concern-wracked face. Then she thanks me for being here, even after I’ve dragged up her past and put her in danger. That just makes me feel guiltier. I give her a slight smile and kiss her lips quickly before I get out of the car. I take a bag out of the flatbed toolbox, make my way to the back of the truck, and change my license plates. I’m sure Ryan must have gotten my number and no doubt he’s got paid cops looking for us. I change my shirt for a more casual one and take a baseball cap from my bag, which I give Kyler to put on.
“I’ll be back in two minutes.” I pull out another small bag and run across to one of the washrooms.
The quick shave isn’t my best job, but people will be looking for a guy in a suit with a beard, so this might just throw them off enough not to stop us. I dash back out, hop into the truck, and we get on the road again.
“I’m going to drop you off at a safe house, then I’ll go back, grab the bags from the house, and pick up the kids, okay?” I really hope Kyler doesn’t argue with me. I’m not feeling in control anymore, which has me worried.
Chapter Twenty-Nine ~ Kyler
Caleb shakes me awake. We’ve stopped driving. I look up at him and see the stress all over his face. He’s looking at me as though he’s failed me. I reach up and stroke his cleanly shaven cheek as he watches me closely.
“It’ll be okay, sweet man; I know you’re doing everything you can.” I try to muster up a small smile, but it falls flat.
“Let’s settle you in, then I’ll get the kids, your bags and let Buddy stay with Liam… are you okay?” Caleb clasps my wrist.
We’ve parked in front of a house. All I see around it are woods and trees. I finally look back to him. “I’m okay. Where are we? How long was I asleep?"
Caleb doesn’t answer. He just gets out of the truck and walks over to my side. He opens my door and helps me out. As I stand, Caleb pulls me to his chest. I wrap my arms around his waist, and we stand there for God knows how long. I know he’s just as worried as I am about all of this. He lets go of me and laces his fingers with mine.
“Come on, I’ll show you around,” he says. “We’re just a couple of hours out of town. It’s remote, but safe.” Caleb promises.
We start walking. “If you want me to calm down then you have to calm down,” I tell him. I’m thinking about everything that’s happened today, and I remember Ava’s teddy. When I mentioned it before he didn’t seem to hear me, but the more I think on it, the more I feel like it’s important.
“Can you hide Ava’s teddy, keep her away from it, until I get a chance to see it?” I ask.
He squeezes my hand. “If it’s important, of course.”
He shows me around the house quickly. It’s basic but I’m sure we won’t be here that long. Just a stopover until we decide where to go next.
“Do you still have Ryan’s guns?” he asks. “I’m going to need them.” I pull them out of my bag and hand them over.
“Okay so lock the door behind me,” he says. “You have your Glock and your cell... oh wait, you need a different cell.”
He walks over to the kitchen drawer and takes out a cell phone that looks like a throwback to the early nineties. He punches something into it before he hands it to me.
“I should be back in about five hours. Don’t answer the door and stay quiet; I’ll call you when I’m outside.”
I nod at him, take the phone, pull my Glock out of my purse, and look for somewhere with no windows to sit. Caleb kisses me and then walks out the door.
I can feel the tears start again as I hear the truck tires fade. I know then that I’m alone. As I lie on the couch, where there are no windows or any other way to see it from the outside, the tears come hard. The last time I was completely alone was after my family was murdered. Since Avaline and Jaxson were born, they have always been with me. I’ve never been separated from them. I lie there dreaming of my last night with my family.
***
My brother and I were sitting at the table finishing our homework. I was trying to explain basic integers and he was pretending to fall asleep while I talked. Mom had just baked an apple pie, so the whole house smelled like butter and cinnamon. She stood at the table smiling as she held the finished pie.
“Put it away, my babies. I’ve got fresh warm pie.” As we put our homework aside, Dad brought in the ice cream, and we all sat there talking about our day and having a blast.
***
I’m awakened by the phone ringing. Fumbling for it, I look around and try to figure out where I am. I finally find phone beside me and pick it up.
“Hello?” I’m only half-awake as I answer.
I can hear someone in the background singing so I listen harder and then I hear Caleb say hello. We talk for a few minutes and he lets me know they are halfway home and that the kids are okay. Of course, I knew they were; I could hear Ava singing and probably driving Caleb and Jax insane. I smile as Caleb tells me to keep quiet and they will be here soon. I’m not sure how long it’s been since we hung up the phone as I lie on the couch, staying down, staying quiet. What I am putting the kids and Caleb through. I hear someone pull in and get out of a vehicle, but I don't hear any singing.
Caleb has not called back like he promised, so I just stay very still and hold my breath as someone knocks on the door. I don’t exhale until I hear receding footsteps and tires on gravel. I don’t move again until the phone rings about an hour later. I hear another vehicle approach.
“Please tell me it’s you outside this time,” I whisper urgently into the phone.
“Yeah, it’s me,” Caleb replies. “Open up.”
I run to the door and open it. Caleb ushers Jaxson in and I automatically drop to my knees and wrap my arms around him. As soon as I feel his little arms, relief instantly washes over me. Caleb shuts the door.
I smile as I hear Ava say, “Mommy, I missed you.”
I take Ava out of his arms. “I missed you too, sweetie.” I hold her tightly, needing to feel her with me. I look at Jax, whose eyes are filled with questions and concern. I put Ava down. “Go sit on the couch, please, while I talk to Caleb.”
I kiss Jax on the head, then they both head for the couch, although Jax hesitates before he sits down. I wrap my arms around Caleb. “Someone was here before you,” I whisper in his ear. “They knocked on the door but never said a word.”
“This is not right, it’s just not right. It’s all going to shit. No one knows you’re here. Fuck it, fuck!” Caleb grits his teeth and turns away from me a moment, then back once more. “Okay, okay. We have to go again and quick. This is all wrong. Grab the kids. We’re going now.” He heads out to the truck ahead of me.
“Come guys, we have to go again,” I say, taking their hands and maneuvering them back toward the front door. I look down at Jaxson as he squeezes my hand. “We’re okay, I promise.”
I look out the door checking to make sure it’s just us. “Come on let’s go.”
We all walk to the truck. Ava and Jax get in the back and fasten their seatbelts. “Can you grab that bag with the thing in it?” I ask Caleb, looking at him over my shoulder. He’s fussing with the belts on the flatbed. He nods, grabbing a small bag. I look back at the kids. Ava is off in her own little world, but Jax seems to be assessing every little thing. He really is his mother’s son. I reach out and grab his ankle, he stares at my hand.
“Try to get some rest my baby. Everything is gonna be okay.”
“Yes, Momma.” He pulls his leg back and stares out the cab window. I’m hoping they will be asleep soon.
As Caleb drives and Ava starts singing in the back, I can tell Caleb is beginning to really freak out. He’s never been in this kind of situation before, I’m sure of it. What kind of woman am I to ask so much of a man? My heart wrenches as his fingers whiten around the steering wheel. I reach over and grab his hand.
“Hey we’re okay, calm down, I’m right here.” He pulls me toward him, and as my head hits his shoulder he exhales, and I can feel his tension subside.
We’ve been on the road for a couple of hours now, both kids have finally fallen asleep and I still cannot figure out what it is about this bear. Finally, I throw it on the floor beside my feet.
“Ugh. I don't understand why he mentioned this damn bear. I can't find anything that would mean anything, it’s just mangy fur and fluff.”
Caleb shakes his head. “We need some help. We’re going to see my Pops. He can be a little hostile, but he won’t turn us away, okay? We can look at the teddy there. Ryan might have just thrown that in to make you think of something else. You never know, but we’ll sort it out.”
When Caleb talks it’s almost mechanical, he doesn’t sound like himself. He’s making me nervous; well, more nervous then I already am.
“Hey, listen to me for just a second,” I say. “We can stop this any time. I don’t want you or your family to get hurt for us. We can go off the radar; I am pretty good at that. I have passports, birth certificates, licenses with different names, and all the important papers for all three of us. Would I hate to lose you? Of course, but I don’t want you to lose everything for us.”
I look down to my hands for a minute and try to calm myself. When I glance up, he’s staring at me like I’ve lost my damned mind.
“Are you—”
“Caleb.” I put up my hand to silence him. “You have been so good to all of us. I’m very glad I’ve met you. I’m even glad you made me start looking into my past because I have come to realize neither the twins nor I will ever have a normal life until this is taken care of, but I won’t risk dragging more danger into your life. You don’t deserve it. Just say the word and I’ll understand.”
I stare at him, waiting to see what kind of reaction I’m going to receive. I’m sure it’s not going to be a pretty one because I know we have strong feelings for each other. At least, I hope.
“Not happening.” He shuffles about in his seat. I can tell I’ve upset him. All I can do is try and make him feel better. I grab one hand off the wheel and hold it in both of mine.
“Okay,
we won’t go anywhere,” I say quietly then lay my head back on the seat. I close my eyes and drift off even though I never really fall asleep. I just cling to Caleb’s hand. As long as I’m touching him, I feel safe. I feel like nothing can hurt us. My tension breaks when I feel him squeeze my hand suddenly. I look over at him. He doesn’t look at me, but I can see the slightest hint of a smile on his lips. I exhale and finally close my eyes.
When next I open them, it’s because the truck has stopped. Caleb is turned in his seat watching the kids and me. He must not have noticed I’m awake, because I can see how stressed he is. Usually he tries to hide it from me. I lie there and pretend to be asleep until he gives me a slight shake and whispers my name. I open my eyes to see him staring at me. I cup my hand to his cheek when he says we need to go in. Nodding at him, I open my door.
Chapter Thirty ~ Travis
The sound of a heavy truck pulling up the drive, wakes me. I glance over to the clock. 12:43 a.m. Getting out of bed, I stand by the side of the window and scan the front of the house. I smile; it’s my boy.
I look a bit closer. He doesn’t look too happy, and it appears he isn’t alone. I put my shirt and jeans on, then start down the stairs and open the door.
Caleb attempts a smile and I stare back at him, almost mimicking his expression. His companions are a young woman with two small children. I look at my boy with a raised eyebrow. I don’t say anything because things with him have never been easy. That’s down to me, I know it, but I never see him enough to try and make amends.
“Come on in, kids. You too, ma’am.”
Caleb touches the woman’s arm tenderly, and she smiles at me. I must say, my boy certainly does have taste. I find myself smiling back. Caleb introduces me to them: Kyler, Avaline, and Jaxson. The children are asleep on their feet, and seeing this young mother cradling them to her sides reminds me of how my Erin used to cradle our kids.