Collin had explored different parts of Talkeetna with me. He may remember our mush path toward the igloo’s. Still didn’t guarantee he’d nowhere to look for me. I’d have to fight Peter myself.
COLLIN
Half way through the conference call, I realized I didn’t have my cell. I excused myself from the call, ran to my office, and grabbed my phone. I noticed I had two missed calls and two voice messages.
I listened to Kara’s first.
“Good morning, babe. Ernie called. He said dad left early yesterday. He said he arrived at the shop this morning and it was closed. Ernie opened the shop. He said he called my dad several times and no answer. I am running over there to make sure he’s ok.”
My breath caught in my chest. Please say you called Harry to go with you.
“I know you said to have Harry go with me, but I should only be a minute. Call me back when you can. I love you.”
“Fuck!”
Pacing my office floor, I listened to Harry’s message.
“Collin, Kara called, I asked her where she was. Her last word was, and that was it. I heard her cell drop. I didn’t bother calling her name because I needed to hear what was happening. It was eerie quiet. I can’t be certain, but it sounded like a body was being dragged.”
Clutching my hair, I froze.
“I tracked her phone to her father’s house. I’m on my way there now. Talk to you soon.”
Shrugging on my coat, I stormed out of my office, halting at my secretary’s desk.
“Macy, I am leaving for the day. I left Haven Enterprises on the conference call. Inform them an emergency arose. Call Bryson. Tell him he needs to contact Haven’s CEO.”
“Right away, sir.”
I called Harry back. “Harry, was Kara at her dad’s?” My voice was filled with panic.
“I found her phone underneath her dad’s truck in the garage. There was no sign of her anywhere.”
“Fuck,” I roared as I ran out the side door in route to my truck.
“Collin?”
“Yeah?”
“I found a trickle of blood by her father’s truck. I don’t know who’s blood it was.”
I slammed my fist on the steering wheel.
“Do we know if Peter is still in Fairbanks?”
I had a bad feeling he wasn’t.
“I couldn’t reach the contact we hired. I called a Marine buddy of mine who lives in Fairbanks and asked him to go to Peter’s grandmother’s house to see if he was there. He wasn’t. His grandmother claims she doesn’t know what time he left a few days ago. At this point Kara and her father are missing.”
“I’ll ask Eric to help us find Kara and her father. He’s known Peter for years. Maybe he knows where he could have taken them.” I hopped out of the truck at the private side of the airport.
“I should arrive in forty-five minutes. I’ll use my own helicopters to search the mountains of Talkeetna.”
“Sounds good. See you soon, Collin.”
“Bye.”
The moment Kara and I reached a decision to live in Alaska part time, I leased two hangers at the private airports in Talkeetna and Anchorage. Getting to my family quickly was a priority.
I couldn’t wait to be on the ground in Talkeetna. Forty-five minutes felt like two hours. My pregnant wife was missing. It was too harsh a reality to wrap my mind around. I kissed her lips and rubbed her belly just this morning. Our baby girl was due to arrive later this month.
Don’t think of the worst, Collin. Remain positive.
The second the helicopter landed; I was on the phone. Harry was there to pick me up.
“Dr. Barnes speaking.”
“Hello, Chrissy, this is Collin. How are you?”
“I’m fine. Is Kara all right?”
I sighed. “Actually, she’s missing.”
“What?” she gasped.
“Yes, I need Eric’s phone number and address. Harry and I believe Peter kidnapped Kara and possibly her father.”
“That fucking asshole. I want to kill him. One second, I’ll text you the information.”
I waited for the info to appear on my cell.
“Collin, is there anything I can do?”
“Yes, can you and Michelle ask shop owners when they last saw Mr. Riley? And if they’ve seen Peter.”
“Absolutely, I’ll talk to the sheriff first.”
“I’ll contact the sheriff. Don’t worry about that. Talking to the folks in town would be a big help.”
“Not a problem. Keep me posted.”
“Will do.”
I ended the call.
Didn’t need to involve the sheriff at this time. I planned to kill the bastard for kidnapping my pregnant wife.
∞
Eric, Harry, and I trekked toward the mountains that were two hours away from where Mr. Riley lived.
“Eric, was this a place Peter frequented?”
“Not to my knowledge. When we were kids, Kara, Peter, and I hung out in the caves up here. Our parents weren’t aware we hung out in the caves. Peter wouldn’t hurt Kara.”
“Eric, I don’t think he would either, but he might harm her dad.”
He gawked through his binoculars. “We should reach the caves in an hour. Time isn’t on our side. It’ll be dark around four thirty.”
I sighed, gripping my backpack straps, I kicked the snow.
Something orange caught my eye.
I picked up the snack food. “These are Kara’s favorites.” I walked further uncovering more cheez-its.
A smile curled my lips. “My baby’s trying to send us a message.”
Harry and Eric smiled.
Eric smacked my shoulder. “She’s a smart woman.”
“Yes, she is.”
We continued on. “I’ll have the choppers fly this way in thirty minutes. I don’t want to spook Peter.”
“Good plan.”
~
We finally arrived at the caves two hours later. That was one hell of a walk. Nothing we couldn’t handle. I was worried about my wife. Sending the choppers too soon could cause someone to get hurt. Harry was a trained soldier. He could give Kara and her dad medical attention if needed.
Eric peered through his binoculars from behind the tall trees.
“Shit,” Eric muttered.
“What?” I lifted my binoculars to my eyes and Harry did the same.
“Son of a bitch. There he is.” Peter stared through his binoculars, observing his surroundings. We were amongst the trees, hidden.
“Harry, do you see what I see?”
“Yup, an AK-47 hanging off his shoulder.”
“How will we save Kara? We don’t have weapons.” Eric slipped his tan beanie above his brow.
I peeked to my right. “Eric, we do have weapons. They are concealed.”
He exhaled. “Good, let’s get a move on.”
We reached the top of the mountain and stood outside the cave.
“Peter, you have to let me help my dad, before he dies.” I overheard Kara.
“His wound is pretty deep.”
“No, Kara.”
“What’s the plan, Peter? You don’t think we can live up here off the grid?”
“I do, Kara.”
Inching closer, I peeked inside the cave. A lantern was propped up against the wall, illuminating the small space.
Peter kneeled in front of Kara and ran his hand along her hair. “This will be our home. I don’t care if your father dies. He was supposed to be on my side,” he growled.
“Instead, he was on the city boy’s side. He’s lucky I only stabbed him.”
Kara cried as Peter brushed his nose along her forehead. Her fists curled.
Don’t do it, baby. Play along.
She turned her head to the side and her eyes met mine. I brought my finger to my lips. Then circled my finger in the air.
Kara caressed his cheek. I wanted to fucking barf, but I needed him distracted.
Her lips fell upon his. I trekked
inside slowly. Mr. Riley was lying toward the back of the cage, unconscious.
Peter tried pushing his tongue into my wife’s mouth. She shook her head. Peter’s head shot up. I grunted as I lunged into him, knocking him to the ground. We tussled. I tried to keep from rolling into the fire at the same time attempting to grab the AK. He grabbed the AK as Harry and Eric entered the cave. He pointed the AK at my head.
“Step back or I’ll kill him.”
“No, Peter, don’t,” Kara cried.
“Why not? He deserved to die.”
Harry pointed his Glock toward Peter. “Put the AK down. It’s over. We need to get Kara and her father medical attention.”
He jammed the AK-47 into my temple. “No, fuck no. I hate this son of a bitch. I’m happy he’s here. Now Kara can watch him die in front of her.”
Her eyes bulged. “No,” she shrilled.
“Kara, it’s ok. I love you. All I want is you and our baby’s safety. No one can take away my love for you.”
Tears flooded her face.
“Peter.” Eric stepped beside Harry with his arms raised.
“We both love Kara. But this ain’t the way, man.”
“You fucking trader.” He turned the AK-47 on Eric. He ducked. Harry aimed his Glock at Peter. The bullet released from the gun, slamming into his head. I leaned forward, grabbing the AK out of Peter’s hand before he hit the ground. I placed two fingers against his pulse. “He’s dead.”
I crawled over to Kara and pulled her into my arms. “Collin, I’m so sorry.” She trembled against my body.
“You have nothing to apologize for. It’s over, Kara.”
EPILOGUE
COLLIN
Kara and her father were flown to the hospital in Anchorage. The doctor rushed him into emergency surgery to repair a collapsed lung. It was touch and go for a few days. The moment he was out of the woods, I wheeled him down to Kara’s room every day.
Kara’s doctor felt it was best to keep her in the hospital until the baby was born. Our little princess Aurora Elle Daughtry was born on November twenty-third at four a.m.
The moment I stared into her little brown eyes; she had her daddy wrapped around her finger.
Sitting on the edge of Kara’s hospital bed, my hand slipped across her forehead. “We did good, Kara. Look how beautiful she is.” Aurora’s eyes opened and closed. She was a small bundle, swaddled in a pink and blue blanket.
“I know. Our little girl looks just like you. Those big brown eyes and soft brown hair. That scowl while she sleeps is all you.”
My lips ticked up at one end as I marveled her little features. “Yeah, maybe you’re right.”
Aurora’s lips peeked up ever so slightly. “Definitely my child.”
Kara’s eyes fluttered closed. She was exhausted. She worked hard bringing our little one into the world. I sat in the recliner beside her and spent time with my girls while they slept. Never would have guessed this would be my life. I wouldn’t give this life up for anything in the world. My wife and my daughter were the center of all that mattered.
Kara had nightmares for months after Peter was killed. I clutched her in my arms and told her I was there. And we’d make it through. The following winter her love for Alaska returned. She was finally able to mush near the cave where the ordeal took place. Kara was so strong. I married the right woman. My heart beat so loud for her. She was everything I didn’t know I wanted. I’d always do everything in my power to protect her and our family.
Standing on the oversized deck. Kara rocked Aurora in her arms.
“Collin, hurry up before you miss the sunset.”
“Baby, I’m coming. I don’t want to spill your drink.” I stepped beside her and placed her cocoa and the bottle on the ledge.
“Smells delicious.” She smiled wide.
“Someone’s sleepy.” I reached in Kara’s arms and grabbed Aurora.
Her little lips ticked up. “Dadda.”
“Aurora, you always want your daddy to rock you to sleep.”
Kara sipped her cocoa.
I grabbed Aurora’s bottle and placed it between her mittens. Her thick brown curls peeked from under her hat, cascading over her honey brown skin. Aurora was bundled in her pink snowsuit. I brushed a lock of hair off her forehead as her lids lowered.
“Daddy will have to stop soon,” Kara cooed.
I leaned into Aurora’s ear. “Never.”
“Yeah, I heard that.”
“Baby, since you’re pregnant again I think it’s best I pick up Aurora more.”
My lips fell against Kara’s forehead.
“Thank you.”
Kara peeked at Aurora. “Look how calm she is. You are an amazing dad.”
“Can’t believe I thought I’d be anything like my father.”
“I told you, I believed in you, Collin.” Kara leaned her head against my arm and clutched my waist.
“That sunset is what dreams are made of,” she sighed.
“Kara. You…are what dreams are made of.”
THE END
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DO NOT DISTURB
Dangerously Curvy Novellas Book 2
By M’Renee Allen
https://mreneedramaqueen.com/
Do Not Disturb Synopsis
He’s a dangerous criminal.
She’s dangerously curvy.
He’s a cold-hearted killer, but she’s quickly melting the ice around his heart.
Yury Drozdov was born into a life of crime. He was raised by ruthless crime lords. Murder and mayhem are all he knows. Until he’s tasked with keeping a woman by the name of Delilah Norin safe, a woman he’s been in love with for the past five years but dared not go near. He has the strength, the power, and the weapons needed to protect her from the assassins who are after her.
Question is, who's going to protect her from the assassin right next to her, him?
Be sure to read book 1: Private Property before reading book 2: Do Not Disturb.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B083C5TXJ4/
Chapter One
Streetfight
He didn’t have time for this shit.
Yury Drozdov stared down at his watch that was splattered with blood. It was growing late. He needed to end this now or he wouldn’t make it home to do what he needed to do. He stared up in time to see another biker aiming an iron pipe at his head.
Yury ducked then slammed his fist into the man’s stomach, knocking the wind from the biker and sending him to his knees. The pipe dropped to the pavement. Two more bikers ran up, both carrying knives.
He took them down in less than ten seconds. Still, another one ran up. This was not what he’d planned for his Friday night. Why did business meetings Constantine held outside of the office always lead to Yury fighting?
He picked up the discarded pipe and swung it twice, sending another biker to the ground. Another biker sporting a mullet barreled into Yury. The man wrapped his arms around Yury’s waist and tried to lift him up.
Yury brought his elbow down on the man’s back. A howl of pain filled the night air. Yury repeated his action. The arms at his waist fell away. Yury shoved the man away from him.
Why had what started as a peaceful meeting with a local bar owner turned out this way? The owner of Royal Riders hadn’t seemed to hold any animosity towards Constantine during the meeting.
And Con had been somewhat respectful during the meeting. Better than usual. Yury had remained silent as he guarded the door. This shouldn’t be unfolding this way. Yet, there was another knife being aimed at his throat.
Yury grabbed the bald biker’s wrist and twisted. Snap. He shoved the man to the ground then wrapped his hand around the throat of the last biker trying to attack him. He paused when he heard the sound of motorcycles in the distance.
More were coming.
Y
ury stared at the man who was currently clawing at his hands, trying to get Yury to release his neck. Not happening. At least, not yet. He wanted to know why they’d attacked him. Why had they been waiting two blocks away from the meeting location to ambush him?
“Did your leader send you?” Yury asked. The man moved his lips, but no words emerged. Right, Yury was choking him. He eased his grip then repeated his question. “Did your leader send you?”
The man coughed then muttered, “Eat a dick.”
Yury sighed. Why tonight? He really didn’t have time. The motorcycles were closer now. He couldn’t see them, but he knew they were probably a block over. It sounded like there were about ten of them.
If they were smart, they would’ve approached silently. From what he was hearing, it sounded like they were having a bike show, doing tricks and everything. This late at night? Then again, this was their turf.
The people in the surrounding area feared them, therefore, they wouldn’t be calling the cops. Even if they did, Yury was positive the Royal Riders had some law enforcers on their side. Calling the cops wouldn’t do anything.
Con dragged the last biker over to the row of motorcycles. He snatched up a whip one of them had tried to use on him. It was a nice whip. He needed a good whip. Perhaps he’d take it with him when he left.
“My boss is never going to sell his club to your boss or the Soldiers,” the guy he was dragging yelled.
They never asked him to sell it to the Soldiers. Con wanted the club and he didn’t want it to be affiliated with the Brotherhood.
Yury stared down at the man. “He isn’t going to sell to the Soldiers? Why not?”
“Fuck you, you know why.”
“Humor me.”
“Because you bastards wear suits like you’re important and shit. Really, you’re worse than us. You even kill your own. That’s some shit we don’t do unless they betray us. I knew Boris. I use to cut deals with the man. He wasn’t a bad dude. But, you bastards cut him down like he was nothing.”
Cabin Fever Page 17