“It was fucking brilliant, wasn’t it? I had to get him away from you and it worked. I’m not sure who is more of an idiot; you, or him?” he sneers.
We stare at each other for a long time until Joel sets the gun down on the side of the bed and slowly starts to run both of his hands up and down my legs. My body stiffens at his touch. And he must sense it because when he gets to the top of my thighs he stops and removes his hands. “You really are beautiful, you know that? It’s a damn shame that in a few short hours when the night falls and there is nothing outside but the darkness, it will be the last time I will see this body. It’s going to glow and smolder and fucking light up the sky.” He picks up the gun and points it at me. “You told me to go to hell, Erin, and I said I am already there, but there is one thing I didn’t tell you... you are going to burn in hell right along with me.”
Chapter Twenty-Six
Adam
I remain standing but I am emotionless after hanging up the phone from Shelby. Everything around me becomes a complete blur. Joel has Erin. The only thing I can see or think of is what a nightmare she must be going through right now. Where the hell has he taken her?
“Adam? Come on, man. Let me drive you home.”
I hear Trevor speak but I remain frozen in place.
“Jesus Christ, Adam. Snap out of it. We have to go. Come on.”
I jerk my head up as I look at my friend.
“He took her, man.”
“I know he did. You dropped your phone after Shelby called and I talked to her. She has called the police and I have already called Luke and Antonio and everyone is on their way over to your house, but you have to get your shit together, dude. Shelby is a fucking wreck and Sierra will have so many questions and she is going to need you.”
He’s right. How am I going to tell Sierra about her mother? I run my hands through my hair in frustration and pat my friend on the shoulder.
“I’m good, Trevor. Just in shock right now. Why don’t you stay here and take care of this and I’ll head home?”
Trevor looks at me as if I have grown a second head or something.
He circles his hand in the air to indicate the fire.
“This right here can all be rebuilt. I am coming with you and we are going to end this fucker once and for all because you know as well as I do that he set this damn fire to get you out of the house so he could take her. Now the longer you stand here and argue with me, the longer it will take us to find her. Now let’s go.”
He doesn’t give me time to answer as he marches across the dirt and talks to the fire chief. He’s right, we’re going to find that crazy fuck and end this. I sprint to my truck and climb in and start the engine and only wait a few seconds before Trevor climbs in the passenger side. As I peel out of the lot I hope against hope Erin finds every ounce of strength she has to beat Joel at his own game.
I drive in silence and contemplate exactly how delicate I need to be with Sierra when I get home. Trevor has been on the phone with Melody the entire way explaining everything that has happened. Dawn is just starting to break as we pull into my driveway. I look over at one of my best friends and he gives me a slight nod of reassurance as he steps out of my truck.
I stare at the morning sun rising in its rightful place in the sky but as beautiful as the crisp fall day is becoming, I feel the exact opposite as I try and put on my best poker face and force myself out of my truck.
I barely make it up the sidewalk before Shelby is running out holding Sierra who is wrapped in a blanket with tears streaming down her face.
“D...daddy! I w…want m…my mommy,” she cries as she reaches out to me. I take her in my arms and hold her as tightly to me as I can.
“How much does she know?” I mouth to Shelby.
“Nothing,” she replies the same way, shaking her head. I turn my attention back to my daughter.
“I know you want your mommy, sweetheart, and so do I. Your mommy is so strong and she will be home very soon, she just had to go away with an old friend for a little while. She will be fine. Daddy’s here, sweetheart.”
Sierra lifts her head from my shoulder and cups my face with her tiny little hands.
“I heard screaming and it woke me up but when I called Mommy, she didn’t answer me. And Aunt Shelby came into my room and she was crying really hard, Daddy. I...I just want Mommy to come home. Can you call her and tell her to come h…home?”
I don’t know what to say.
The three of us turn our attention to the sound of several cars pulling into the drive. It’s Shayne and Luke followed by Antonio.
“Aunt Shayne! Do you know where my mommy is?” Sierra screams.