"What would you know?" Lucas growled.
The gunman tsked. "I'm surprised, Lucas. Is your memory that bad? You don't remember me at all?"
Lucas whirled around, searching his face for any signs of recognition. The man's lips turned down in a snarl and he lifted the gun again.
"Move, Bennett. It'll all be clear soon. Get to the damn car!"
"Okay, okay!" Lucas turned again, sweeping his gaze around to make sure no one else he cared about was around. What was the guy going to do? Who the hell was he?
*****
Not only could no one find Lucas and Belinda, but Melody disappeared as well. She'd gotten a call and walked off. Jameson cursed himself for not following her. The only people that had her number here were pretty much around the inn. He should have paid better attention. Blood roared in his ears as he frantically searched the inn for her. He bumped into Blaine, knocking her on her rear.
"Damn, Jameson! Be careful. Hey, what's wrong?"
He held out a hand and helped his sister to her feet. "I can't find Me- Mary. She got a call and then walked off, and she hasn't been back yet. Lucas and Belinda seem to have disappeared too. Have you seen any of them?"
Blaine gasped and widened her eyes. "I haven't seen any of them in awhile. You don't think whoever has been sneaking around has gotten to any of them, do you?"
"I don't know. I don't like this. Do me a favor. If you see Avery, don't alarm her that Mary's missing too. I have a really bad feeling, but I worry if Avery's under a lot of stress she might go into early labor. I've heard stories." That was the last thing they needed right now.
Blaine nodded, pursing her lips. "Of course. What are you going to do?"
"I'm going to keep looking around."
"That might not be a good idea."
He didn't care. He promised to keep Melody safe, and she couldn't be found.
"I can't just sit around and wait. Besides, if Avery finds me and asks me anything, you know I'm not good at lying. She'll see right through me."
"Jameson, this is the wrong time to be playing hero." Blaine bit her lip. She reached out and put an arm on his shoulder. Worry lines creased her forehead. The fear in her eyes mirrored his own feelings.
"I'll be fine. I'm just going to walk around the inn and keep an eye out. Please, see if you can find Avery. Maybe she knows where Luke and Belinda are." Then all he'd have to do was find Melody. If he was lucky, he would find Melody with Avery.
Blaine let out a sigh. "Okay. But be careful, you hear me? Don't do anything stupid."
He'd already done many things she would consider stupid. Right now he had to make sure everyone was safe and unharmed. His instincts on high alert, Jameson bolted from the inn and began his search outside. He came across a tall, creepy looking guy that he figured to be one of Belinda's bodyguards. The dark haired man gave Jameson a cold stare as he ran up to him.
"Have you seen a red headed woman? She's wearing a long-sleeved red sweater?" Jameson gasped for breath, his heart beating fast.
The man shook his head. "No, I haven't."
"What about Belinda? You're one of her bodyguards, aren't you? She hasn't been seen in awhile. Her daughter is looking for her. She might have walked off with Lucas."
"I haven't seen them in awhile." The man pulled out a cell phone and dialed a number. After a few minutes, he shook his head and hung up.
"Look, I have a feeling something is wrong. There's been a lot of threats around here, and someone's been following my friends and I. My girlfriend is also worried a face from her past might have found her, and he's dangerous." Jameson turned to go, but the bodyguard put a very large hand on his shoulder and gave him a stare.
"You go on back inside. If someone is lurking around here, you let us handle it."
Jameson opened his mouth to protest. Yeah, this guy had to be at least twice his weight and stood about a half a foot taller, and the scowl on his face would scare anyone. Regardless, he wasn't about to sit back while Melody, Lucas and Belinda were missing. He squared his shoulders. "My girlfriend is missing, along with my best friend's fiancé and mother. I'm not just going to wait around-"
The man's brows furrowed and the scowl only deepened. "Go!"
Jameson went. No need to piss the man off. He could sneak around the back way.
*****
"Where are we going?" Lucas kept a firm grip on the wheel. It was still hard to drive with his good hand still healing from the damn stitches. Could this be the guy that had thrown the rock through their window? He insinuated that he knew Lucas, but every time he racked his brain to figure it out he came up with nothing. He'd never met Sam's brother or any of his family for that matter. In fact, Sam had always been tight lipped about them, other than saying it was time he got away from their bullshit. That's all Lucas had ever known.
"You just turn when the fuck I tell you," Shelly's boyfriend snapped.
Where was Shelly? Did she know anything about this guy and what his plans were? What kind of man recently fathered a child with someone and then went off the deep end like that?
Lucas glanced in the rear view mirror to check on Belinda. She sat huddled in the backseat, eyes wide and gazing directly in front of her. She'd clasped her hands in her lap and hadn't said a word since they got in the car. That was probably a good thing, because when she got severely nervous she babbled on and on. Lucas put his focus back on the road.
"Make a left here," the man said in a sharp tone. The gun wavered in his hand. The man meant business, but Lucas could tell he was nervous, too. Which meant he had a chance, if he could throw the guy for a loop.
He was pushing it, but something had to be done.
Lucas made the left turn, his mind racing a million miles a minute. He thought of Avery and how she must be worried sick right about now. What he wouldn't give to be holding her in his arms, safe and away from this madness. He was never one to panic, but had to admit that right now he was scared shitless. Just as afraid as he'd been the night Avery had been lost in the storm and he had no idea how or where to find her. Those had been some of the longest hours of his life.
My angel Avery. I love you.
Lucas exhaled a shaky breath, trying not to let on just how worried he'd become. He didn't want this guy to know just how much he rattled him, nor did he want Belinda to start panicking. She handled herself as well as possible in a situation like this. Did she have a cell phone with her? Lucas peered in the mirror again. He didn't see a purse.
"Think about Shelly and your son," Lucas pleaded.
"I'm thinking very much about Shelly and my son! More than you thought about Sam or any of us before you made your life with some rich bitch! I thought you knew what a real family was."
Something pressed up against Lucas's side. Fuck, he had the gun pointed right up against him now. Shut up, just shut up.
His words echoed in his mind. The guy kept commenting about 'any of us'. Had he been someone he'd been running with at the time? He still didn't recognize him, but people change a lot in sixteen or so years. It would be easy not to recognize or remember a face. Whoever this was sure as hell knew Lucas. Either that or he was playing some sort of exploit because he'd seen all the news stories months ago. It would have been easy for anyone to dig into the history and get more out of the story.
"Who the fuck is following us?" The guy whirled in his seat, staring out the back window.
Lucas did his best to not to be obvious while looking. One of Belinda's bodyguards maybe? He'd been surprised when none of the men followed them when she wanted to talk to him earlier.
"That one of your men, Belinda Wainscott?" He sneered her name and pointed the gun at her. Belinda stiffened. Lucas gripped the wheel tighter, so hard he was afraid he'd make his stitches split open. As much as the woman drove him crazy all these years, this was Avery's mother, the reason he had Avery in his life. Lucas didn't want to see anything happen to her. Too bad he couldn't think fast enough. A loud sound exploded near his ear, followed
by the shattering of glass. The man had taken the back windshield out while aiming for the car behind them. Was he paranoid? There'd been no obvious signs that the car followed them.
The guy's plan sure had holes in it, which for Lucas and Belinda's safety would be a good thing. Now, to figure out how to get that gun out of his hand. Belinda's scream followed as she slumped forward, shielding herself from the shattering glass. Behind them the car spun out of control.
Lucas sent out a silent plea, hoping that the driver was okay first off, and that they would call the cops and have written down this license plate.
"What did you do that for?" Belinda cried.
"I don't need anyone following us," the man snapped. "Shut your mouth. You're good at singing, but your talking annoys the hell out of me. Lucas, turn here. Now."
There wasn't a road to turn on. He yanked the wheel. Tires squealed as the vehicle went up the rocky hill. They weren't going to make it much longer like this. The car behind them passed. Lucas's heart sank. The car had damage on the hood but it looked like the gunman's aim had been off. Maybe the driver was causing a diversion, making sure they weren't seen if they decided to try and help them. Would they ever know?
"See that little barn there? Drive to it," he directed.
Lucas could tell Belinda's sobbing was getting to the guy. He kept shaking, turning his head and rolling his eyes. He wasn't able to sit still any longer. Calm down, Belinda. I know this is scary, but don't agitate him.
Chapter Twenty Three
Melody had a pounding headache, so bad it hurt to blink. What the hell happened? It all came back to her. The phone call. The crying. The message from Chris about Anthony, and then ... nothing. She sat up. "Damn, that hurts," she muttered, wincing. She'd heard a moan and had run toward the sound. She searched her surroundings but saw nothing. No one. She could have imagined it. She had to get back to the inn! Jameson must so worried. Maybe they'd found Lucas and Belinda.
Her phone lay a foot away. She picked it up and checked the screen. She had missed calls from that number from earlier. Her message icon lit up. The world seemed to be spinning as she climbed to her feet. Was she going to make it back without passing out again? Something caught her eye a few feet away, and as she bent to inspect it, she let out a gasp.
A photo of her. Not a very recent one, either. She recognized the photo taken about a year ago. Tears streamed down her face as she bent to pick it up. That meant one thing. Anthony had to be here, or he had sent someone. She nearly choked on her sobs as she forced her legs to move. If he'd been here in the woods, why was she still here? Something didn't add up. She put a hand to the back of her head, the origin of the pain. No blood, but she felt a large bump. What had she been hit with?
It didn't matter. Right now, she needed to go. It felt like slow motion as her feet pounded the pavement. The inn came into view. She turned around one last time to make sure no one had been following her. The last thing she needed was to lead danger right toward the inn. She should have left a long time ago. Now she could be putting those she cared about in harm's way. And if she carried Jameson's child, she owed it to them to stop hiding. But not like this. Not with someone following her. If that hadn't been Anthony a few nights ago lurking outside of the house, then who? And why?
She couldn't just stroll into the inn like this. She could always go through the back way, where the office was located. She didn't want to be sneaky, but then again explaining herself right now wouldn't be smart. She could call Jameson, but her attention was probably best suited on getting inside and away from here. She made a run for it.
*****
"Jameson?"
He stiffened and turned to face his best friend. Her stare hardened and she leaned up against the door frame. A mix of worry and frustration was plastered on her face. Damn it. Avery caught him trying to sneak out through the office.
"What are you doing?" she asked, sounding bewildered.
"I-"
He had nothing. No words. Jameson couldn't just outright lie to Avery, even though it would be to protect her. With Melody still missing, he feared Lucas and Belinda's disappearance had something to do with that. He could be wrong, but he had no idea for sure. Either way, three people were nowhere to be found and no one answered their phones.
"Jameson Ray Grant, what are you not telling me? I know that look. What is going on?" Avery gasped, then her hands flew to her stomach. "Oh, ow!"
No way. No way in hell was this going to happen. Now of all times? This was exactly what he feared. Jameson flew to her side, wrapping an arm around her shoulders. "Avery, what's wrong?"
"I don't know," she whispered. She looked up at him, her green eyes blazing with tears. "It hurts all of a sudden. It's still a few weeks early. Jameson, I'm scared. I think this baby is coming now and I don't know where Lucas and Belinda are. I have this awful feeling in the back of my gut that just won't stop nagging at me. What were you doing back here?"
Jameson rubbed her shoulders. "Stay calm, Avery. I need to tell you something." He hated to do it, but he may as well tell her about Melody's situation.
Between groans, Avery grabbed his arm. "You know what I hate, Jameson? Lately, every time you start off with the words stay calm or don't freak out, you usually tell me something bad. What the hell is is this time?"
Jameson chuckled, knowing that it wasn't really funny. "You're right, Baby Stetson. I was trying to protect you again, when I probably should have just told you what I knew."
"Damn right- ow! Oh God, Jameson, I think this is it," Avery said between clenched teeth. She backed up against the door frame and sank to the floor.
Fuck. What next?
"Avery. Listen to me. First off, breathe. I have no idea what to do here. This isn't supposed to happen when Lucas isn't here." He plopped on the floor beside her. "Squeeze my hand. We're going to get you help, okay?" He reached for his phone. He could call Blaine and tell her to get Avery's parents in here. He wasn't about to leave her alone to run and find someone. His heart raced. A muscle strained in his neck.
"Where's Lucas?" Avery cried. Tears streamed down her red, sweaty face. "I need him here now!" She squeezed.
"I know you do," Jameson said softly. He sucked in a breath. Here goes nothing. "Avery, I think that Lucas and Belinda might be-"
The back door opened, startling both of them. Jameson turned his head to see Melody stumbling through the door. She had tears in her eyes. She held something in her clenched fist. Dirt smudges lined up on her cheek. Her jaw dropped, mirroring the same surprise he felt. "What's going on?"
"What happened to you? Jameson asked at the same time.
Melody hobbled over to them. She cast a weary glance at Avery. "I'll tell you about it in a while." She met his stare.
Avery cried out again, sounding like something something between a screech and a hiss. She squeezed his hand again, this time even harder.
"Oh, damn. You're in labor, Avery! Jameson, I'll stay with her. Go find her parents or something." Melody looked like she was about to fall over. Her skin turned a shade of paste white. He wanted to know what happened, but she seemed to avoid any major eye contact. Could it be true? Did her past finally catch up to her?
He nodded and shot to his feet, switching places with Melody. He put a hand on her shoulder and gave it a quick squeeze. "Are you okay?" he asked softly. "You scared the hell out of me."
"I'm fine, really. Go. What I have to say can wait." Melody bent to sit with Avery. "Hey. Just keep breathing. Think of your calm place. Think of the stage. Okay? We're going to get you through this."
Jameson dashed out of the room, leaving Avery in Melody's capable hands. He rounded the corner from the hallway and entered the kitchen. He found the Callimers there, cleaning up more of the dishes. "I think Avery's gone into labor in the office!" He pointed frantically. "Has anyone seen Lucas or Belinda yet?"
"No. We figured they went off somewhere. Belinda's bodyguard came in and asked us, but no one has seen them." Mr Call
imer turned off the faucet and dried his hands. "Avery's in labor? This is so early!" Avery's parents hurried back to the office.
"Mama!" Avery cried. Her normally brave attitude crumbled as she sounded like a lost child. Jameson ached for her. What a time to go into labor when no one knew where Lucas went.
Melody stood on shaky legs to get out of the way. Jameson reached for her, tugging her into his arms. "What happened, baby?" he whispered in her ear. Silently, Melody handed him something. A photo. He looked down at it, not understanding. A smiling blonde stared back up at him. Though the looks had been altered, he knew that beautiful smile anywhere. It was a photo of her. He flicked his gaze back to her, confused.
"I found this outside. I was on the phone, trying to figure out who called me. All I heard was crying, then nothing. I called my other phone and my brother left me a message. He's apparently been keeping tabs on Anthony. Chris said he's left town. Then something hit the back of my head and I blacked out."
"Do you think that's where-"
Avery's shrill cry interrupted them.
"Jameson, can you go pull our car closer to the door?" Mr. Callimer handed him a set of keys. Jameson took them from his outstretched hand with a nod. He stole another glance at Avery.
"I'll come with you," Melody said softly.
They ran briskly to the front parking lot.
"Are you hurt?" Jameson finally asked when they were settled in the car.
"I've got a big bump on the back of my head, but that's about it. I wandered too far. I freaked out at the strange phone calls, then heard someone moaning. That's when I was hit. When I came to, I found the picture as I was heading back. I still don't know who the caller is. Jameson, I'm afraid. What if it's Anthony? Maybe that's where Lucas and Belinda are. What puzzles me is if it's him, why am I still here? If it's me he wants..."
Adrenaline rushed through his veins like a bullet. "I don't know, either. I'm glad you're okay. I have this bad feeling though."
The Melody In My Head (Love and Music in Texas Book 2) Page 25