I rare back and slam the hammer down onto the lock. It doesn’t work the first time, but the second does the trick. The girls move back to the wall, clearly afraid.
“We’re here to help you,” Monroe says. “Christ, we need to call for backup.”
“I’ll do it,” Dalton says.
“Low?”
All of our heads turn toward the middle of the room. Dalton’s hand goes to her mouth, and she sinks to her knees. I shrug out of my button-up shirt and hand it to Dalton to give to Chloe.
“It’s me, Chloe. It’s me,” Dalton says. Chloe slowly walks toward Dalton and I look away, noticing Monroe do the same. I hear sniffing and muffled cries. I risk a glance back, not wanting to see the girl without clothes on. Dalton has her covered up now, and the two hold each other like their lives depend on it.
“I knew you’d find me,” Chloe says. “I knew it.” Dalton cries into her sister’s dirty hair.
“We need to get the local police here,” Monroe says. “I’ll go call them.”
“No.” Dalton looks back at us. “I’ll do it.” She wipes at her face and puts her attention on her sister. “Chloe, these men are good. I trust them with my life. I’ll be right back, okay?” she tells her. “Please don’t get out of their sight.”
Chloe looks at us suspiciously but doesn’t say anything. I’m sure she’ll never trust a man again. It’s a fucking shame. This is evil. This is what it looks like.
It’s black and filthy. The smell in here is indescribable. Water drips from somewhere, and the air is thick with sickness. Dalton stands up. “It’s over, girls. You’re safe now.
“I’ll be right back,” she says again to Chloe. She touches my arm as she walks out.
“Be careful,” I say to her.
“Don’t worry.”
My mind is racing.
What do we do?
We can’t take these girls outside like this. We need an ambulance; we need blankets. Dirty mattresses fill the space. There are no pillows, nothing to comfort them.
What kind of evil motherfucker could do this?
I look over at Monroe who’s clearly in his own head as well.
I look back at Chloe in my shirt. It swallows her whole. She looks uncomfortable, like the shirt is too heavy or something. I wonder how long she’s been without clothes.
“Chloe?” I say gently. “I’m Jace. I’m your sister’s boyfriend.” I step closer and she backs up.
I quickly stop. Fuck, what was I thinking doing that?
“I’m sorry,” I say to her. “I’m not going to hurt you. Is this all of you? Are there more anywhere else?”
She doesn’t say anything. One of the girls speaks up from the back. “There have been more,” she says, her voice quiet.
“Been?” Monroe asks.
She points to a small window at the top of the room.
Monroe and I lock eyes before I look back at the girl in the corner. I hate that they don’t have any clothes on. I focus on her their faces only. Sunken in, dirt-covered. Their hair is oily, their bones thin. They’re malnourished and pale. When was the last time they felt the sun?
“Are they outside somewhere?” I ask, but I think I already know the answer.
“Dead,” she says, barely whispering like if she says it too loud, they’ll all die this very instant. I’m sure some of them have wished for death. I’m sure they’ve wished they could kill him.
And then a thought slams into my mind.
“Fuck. Dalton.” I run out of the room as fast as I can, my eyes going to the trailer as I run to it.
And then my feet skid to a halt when a gunshot slices into the silence, followed by a second shot moments later. My ears ring, and my heart speeds up. My hands start to shake, my mind tossing back flashes of war. I reach up, holding on to Rocket’s dog tags, trying to get ahold of the panic threatening to overtake me.
I take in a deep breath and shake my head; my ears slowly stop ringing.
Get control, Grant. Come on.
I look up when I see the outline of Dalton’s body standing in the doorway of the trailer. She has the gun hanging from her fingertips.
“What the fuck happened?” Monroe says, running up to me. I don’t take my eyes off Dalton, though, and when the clouds shift and the moon exposes her, I see her expression.
A tear rolls down her cheek, her eyes filled with disbelief as she stares out. I take a step toward her; she focuses on me.
And then…she smiles.
She steps out onto the porch and runs to me. Jumping into my arms, she puts her face in my neck.
“I can breathe. Jace, I can breathe,” she cries. I hold on to her tightly, wrapping my arms around her back.
“It’s over, baby. It’s done.”
Monroe walks past us and into the trailer. Shots are fired, and I hold on to Dalton tighter. I don’t know why I’m having triggers. I’ve been to the gun range with Bryce a couple of times. I guess it’s the stress of this fucking evil-ass place.
Moments later, Monroe returns and Dalton slides down to her feet. “That was self-defense at its best,” he says to us. “Guy shouldn’t have fired at you, Dalton. He wouldn’t have if he knew how good your aim was. Right to the head, huh?” he says to her with a smirk.
“I take it you never called for backup?” he asks.
She shrugs. “I was getting shot at.”
I shake my head and pull her closer. She looks at the trailer, her mind clearly going other places. I kiss the side of her hair and hold on to her, thanking God this is finally over.
Chapter Sixty-Six
Harlow
(Moments before)
I leave Chloe standing in the cold room in Jace’s shirt. I angerly wipe at my tears as I exit the run-down factory. My eyes go to the trailer, and my legs take me there. You see, I had no intention of calling for backup just yet. Something needs to be taken care of after all. I hold on to my gun and lift my chin.
As I climb the porch steps, a board creaks underneath my feet. My blood pumps into overdrive, causing my nervous system to go haywire. I quietly turn the knob, holding my gun up, ready to shoot. My eyes find the man sleeping on the couch, hanging on to a bottle of liquor. My lungs stop taking in air as I look at the evil that took my sister from me all those years ago.
All those girls in there taken from their lives. My jaw tightens and I lift my gun, pointing it right at his head.
This man doesn’t deserve it to be so quick. I move my gun down to his filthy penis. I swallow, and then I speak. “Wake up.”
He doesn’t move, so I walk closer and kick the shit out of his dangling arm. He jumps and blinks his eyes open. “What the fuck?” Who the hell…?” And then he realizes. “Rabbit?”
My stomach turns.
“You found me, I see.” He looks stiff, like he’s almost afraid to move.
I tilt my head, carefully watching his actions.
“I guess I did make that last one easy for you.”
“Why did you?” I ask. “What made this time so different?”
He shrugs and sits up. I step back, pointing my gun at him. “I guess it stopped being fun. It’s hard work taking care of all those girls.”
Taking care of them? I want to spit on this man. I want to set him on fire and let him burn down in this piece of shit trailer. Those girls are dying.
He reaches over and grabs a pack of smokes from the table, tapping it against his hand so one will fall out. Taking it between his lips, he lights it. I narrow my eyes, watching him. His eyes are black, his hair a long thin mess. The trailer is tiny, with only a small couch fitting in the living room. I hear the fridge kick on and feel the warmth radiating from a small heater in the corner of the room.
I’ve dreamed of this moment. The things I’ve wanted to do to this man.
How I’ve wanted to make him suffer for all he’s done. My whole life I’ve focused on finding him and Chloe.
My whole goddamn life.
The hours spent, the rela
tionships I sacrificed. Would I have children by now if Chloe hadn’t been kidnapped? Would I be married?
What would my career choice have been?
Librarian maybe?
I want to laugh.
I shake my head at stupid thoughts and focus back on the man in front of me. He smiles wickedly.
It’s odd, ya know? The things I dreamed of doing to him, because now that I have him right in front of me, I feel no need for any of that.
I simply want him gone.
“What do you say, little rabbit? Wanna watch me have a go at one of them? Would that turn you on?”
I lift my chin. “Rot in hell, motherfucker.” I pull the trigger, shooting him between the legs.
He shouts, “You stupid bitch. Goddammit.”
I watch him for a moment kneeling over in pain. I cock my head, my eyes scanning over the blood pouring from his worthless body.
And then I pull the trigger again, shooting him in the head. He falls over with a thump. I stare down at his lifeless body and the cigarette that gets put out by his blood. Brain matter is splattered on his ugly couch.
I hold my gun by the handle, and I take in the biggest breath of air. My lungs expand, my chest feeling lighter. The darkness in my soul seems to dissipate.
My mind goes back to two girls walking down the road one Halloween night. But this time, there’s no monster sneaking from the woods. This time, the little girls walked home without anyone bothering them.
They stuffed their faces with candy, got an upset stomach, and fell asleep watching horror movies.
And that’s the way it should have been.
I turn and exit the trailer, my eyes finding Jace. My beautiful guy.
And then…I smile.
Chapter Sixty-Seven
Harlow
(Six months later)
“Are you okay?” I ask Chloe as we walk into her new apartment.
She nods and pulls her sweater tighter across her body.
“It’s cold in here, isn’t it?” I say, walking to the hall and turning the air up. She moved in here a few days ago. It’s coming together.
She’s quiet still. In her own world most of the time, but she’s healing. The man’s name was Mike Pulaski. He’d been living in that trailer for years. He was a mechanic who worked on lawnmowers for extra cash. He’s a dead mechanic now.
“How’d you cover it up?” I whisper to Monroe as we stand outside of the trailer.
“I had an unregistered gun in my ankle holster. I shot it a few times from his hand and left it there. Like I said, self-defense.”
I feel my lips lift. “Thanks,” I murmur.
He nods as Davy walks up to us. We’ve been out here for hours now. It’s been a long fucking night.
Davy shakes his head. “This is a fucking shit show.”
“Yeah,” I agree. The girls are in the ambulances with blankets over their bodies, ready to be sent to the hospital. There’s ten of them.
Chloe hasn’t spoken much. She’s been here far too long. But she survived. Now we just have to get her help. Jace walks up with a smoke between his fingers. “You ready to head out?” he asks me.
I nod. “Yeah. You and Monroe follow me. I’m riding with Chloe.”
Chloe lived with me for the first few months, learning how to wear clothes again and be a part of society. She’s come a long way. She wanted nothing to do with Jace when we got her home, but she’s warmed up to him now. It wasn’t just Jace, though. She wanted nothing to do with any man.
She still doesn’t care for most of them, but Jace is a charmer and he’s made her understand that not all men are bad guys.
She even laughs at his dumb jokes.
“I’ll be okay,” she says to me, and I realize I’m staring at her. “Stop worrying. I’m going to get through this. I have you, my therapy. I’m going to be fine.”
I nod and swallow the lump in my throat. I’ve wanted nothing more than her to be here with me, and now that she is, I’m constantly worried.
A knock sounds on the door, and I walk over to it.
“Hey,” Mom says, giving me a hug.
“Hey, kiddo,” Dad says after Mom lets me go. She walks over and grabs Chloe, who pulls away a little. She doesn’t like to be touched. It’s understandable.
“Sorry,” Mom says.
“It’s fine,” Chloe replies. “You guys have to stop treating me like I’m glass. The worst has already happened to me. I’m stronger than I look, and it’s been six months.”
“I know that,” I say to her. Because I know my sister. I may seem tough as nails, but this girl is the toughest.
“Good,” she says. “Now, let’s go eat.” She smiles and walks up to me, draping her arm around my neck. It shocks me.
“Love you,” she says.
“Love you more.”
Maybe she is going to be okay. Maybe we all will.
We head to the restaurant, making small talk. I see Jace’s truck parked on the side of the street. He’s standing outside of it with a smoke between his lips, looking down at his phone. His snapback hat is turned around backwards, and he wears jeans and a button-up with the sleeves rolled to his elbows.
I smile because I can’t help it. Mom and Dad are a car behind us. “I’m sorry that you stopped living because of me,” Chloe says.
I turn and look at her after I park. “Don’t ever apologize for what that man did. I would never have stopped looking for you.”
“But you put off everything. I’m glad you found Jace.”
I laugh. “Jace found me.”
She smiles, her all-white teeth shining. She had surgery to remove all her old ones. She’s gained weight, and her glow has returned. She’s beautiful.
“Well, I’m glad he found you then. I can’t imagine how much of a hermit you’ve been. You were one before I was taken.”
It still stings when we talk about her being kidnapped, but it’s getting easier. It happened. It’s over. That motherfucker is dead.
And I’m the one who pulled the trigger. I got so much self-satisfaction from that. And every time I think about it, I smile. Call me crazy if you want. I don’t give a shit.
We step out of the car and Jace sees us.
“’Bout time,” he says, tossing his smoke. “I’m starving.”
“When are you not starving?” Chloe asks.
And it makes my heart stop. The love of my life and my sister playing around. So many times, I thought I’d never see her again.
She’s so strong. She’s kicked therapy’s ass.
Jace grins at her. “You’re right.”
He puts his arm around me and quick-kisses my lips as my parents walk up. Jace says hey to them with his Jace smile, and we head into the restaurant.
And finally, I feel like my life is complete. I’ve got Jace. I’ve got my sister.
I can breathe.
Epilogue
Jace
(A year and a half later)
Burnt orange leaves trickle down from the trees surrounding us. The air is crisp, the sky a soft gray. Rylee runs up to me, holding on to a pumpkin she just finished painting.
“Look, Uncle Jace! I paint this for you.”
I smile at the kid and grab the thing, knowing it’s still wet. “This is hands-down my favorite pumpkin.”
“Really?” she asks.
I turn to see Dalton walking down the steps behind me. I put my hand on her stomach. “Well, besides this one, of course.”
Rylee laughs. “That’s not a pumpkin. That’s a baby, silly Uncle Jace.”
She runs back over to where she and Emily are doing crafts.
Dalton laughs. “Keep pointing out how big my belly is.”
“What you gonna do about it?” I ask her.
She exhales. “I’ll think of something.”
I smile. “I’m sure you will.”
Aunt Lou walks down beside us. “Your brother’s here,” she says. I look back at the door, seeing Harrison walking out.
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“There’s my beautiful sister-in-law,” I say, climbing the steps and grabbing her up in a bear hug.
She laughs. “Put me down, you idiot.”
I kiss her cheek just as Bryce walks out the door.
“Wanna let my wife go?” he asks. “You’ve got your own now.”
“I know, but I love yours, too.” I see Dalton rolling her eyes at me, and it only makes me grin more.
We four have come far. It took some time for Harrison to even consider being around Dalton. But once she finally did, things seemed to go up from there.
Harrison found out about Chloe and how Dalton saved all those poor girls. My sister-in-law’s heart softened a bit toward my wife—I think because of Harrison’s own history with her stepfather.
She told Dalton that she wished she would have had someone to save her.
The girls grew closer after that, and they’ve been friends ever since. Thank God.
“What’s up, pig?” Bryce says to my wife.
“’Sup, asshole?” she says casually.
I smirk and Harrison playfully hits Bryce.
“Are y’all ready to eat?” Mary asks, walking onto the porch with a pan full of chicken.
“I am,” I say to her. “Here, I’ll get that.” She lets me take it from her hands.
“Thanks.” She smiles at me before I walk down to the table set up outside.
Mary and I have also come far. She and I have gone to therapy a few times, and even Bryce.
We’ve learned that you can’t change the past, but you can decide how your future is going to go. So, with hard work, some tears, and a shitload of angry words thrown, here we are.
There are still rough days, but for the most part, we’re all doing well.
Including my wife. I look at her as she walks down to the table. She’s beautiful in an all-black maxi dress.
After we found Chloe and got her help, the police discovered several bodies out behind that factory. It was a nightmare. Chloe was messed up pretty bad. She spent a year in therapy, and now she lives in the city, trying to get her life together. She insisted on it, said she needs to be around people. She’d been locked up for too long.
Give Me Redemption (Give Me Series Book 4) Page 30