Total pages in book: 81
Estimated words: 94716 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 474(@200wpm)___ 379(@250wpm)___ 316(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 94716 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 474(@200wpm)___ 379(@250wpm)___ 316(@300wpm)
“Child Protective Services will be here at an undisclosed time to check in on the situation. Since this is the fourth time they’ve been called, they aren’t rushing out here like they did the first few times.” James sighed.
The first time they came out was because they’d gotten reports that Janie was being abused. The second time they were called out, they got an anonymous tip that Janie was being starved. The third time was another anonymous tip saying that James took Janie to biker bars and left her alone for hours on end.
Although each claim had been proven false, they still had to investigate the complaints. How they were going to investigate this one, I don’t know. “Well, you have plenty of-”
Gunfire exploded through the quiet morning, followed closely by squealing tires and a resounding crunch of a vehicle striking another vehicle. We all sprang into action, each of us going into a different direction. Ember ducked behind the wall of the down room, and, hopefully, called 911.
Each of us arrived in time to see a non-descript black Ford Taurus speeding down the street away from Free. Winter’s car was smashed like an accordion across the street against a light pole. The back glass had three bullet holes in it, making the glass crack in a spider web pattern.
Heart pounding so hard it was making it hard to concentrate, I bounded up to the car in time to see Winter move her hand and unhook the seatbelt.
I yelled at her and tried to restrain her hands as she continued to freak out. “Sit still, Winnie. Don’t move. I said stop moving. Stop. Winnie!”
Doing the only thing I could, I opened the car door and restrained her hands with one of mine, and leaned my body against hers to keep her still. “Calm down, baby. It’s me. Calm. It’s okay. Shhh.”
Slowly, she started to slow her breathing down. Her shivers, however, did not diminish. If anything, they got worse. “You’re okay, baby.”
“Ambulance is three minutes out.” Sam said from somewhere above me.
Turning my head towards the passenger window, I saw everyone there, looking extremely worried.
“I-it was h-him.” Winter whispered.
Not sure I heard her right, I asked, “Who was he?”
“The m-man.” Winter said desperately.
“Did you know him?” I asked quietly.
Her voice quivered. “Y-yes. H-he hurt m-me.”
“I know, baby. You’re okay though. Just a few bumps and bruises.”
I hoped.
“He took our baby away, Jack. That was the man who took you away from me. That was him.” She said right before she passed out.
Fear slithered down my spine like a cold snake. My eyes closed, and I leaned my forehead against Winter’s limp one.
I’d just gotten her back and there was no way on God’s green earth that anyone, or anything, was going to take this woman out of my life again. She was here to stay. Permanently. If anyone got in the way of that, I would take care of that person in a way that no one would ever think to hurt her again.
Fuck anything that got in my way.
***
Winter hissed at me, yanking the pillow I’d just put behind her back away and throwing it at me. “For the tenth freaking time, I’m okay!”
I caught the pillow quite easily, replaced it behind her back, then left the room. All the wives were in the room now, and I felt completely outnumbered, let alone uncomfortable.
I wasn’t used to having that many people around me at one time. I was a loner by nature and being in the same room with five very loud women made my heart palpitate.
“Call me if you need me.” I muttered and closed the door firmly behind me.
Kodiak barked at the door as soon as it closed, so I opened it back up and let him out before closing it again. He’d been depressed, just as I knew he’d be. However, having Winter back seemed to calm him down, but she was no substitute for Adam who’d been his friend for seven years.
Sitting down on the porch swing, I chugged the last half of my beer before tossing it in the barrel beside me. The glass hit with a ding, and then shattered. That was about how my mood was right now. Shattered.
Kodiak showed no reaction to the sound, only collapsed at my feet.
Winter was pronounced well in the ER. Other than a few stitches on her chin from a piece of glass cutting it, she’d been very lucky.
They’d told us that stress was what made her pass out and damned if I didn’t believe that. That woman of mine was lucky to be alive. Especially after checking the vehicle out, and finding three bullets embedded in the headrest of her seat.
She’d been lucky that she had a DVD player attached to the head rest from when she watched Cheyenne’s kids the previous week. She’d forgotten to return it, and it saved her life.
Boots scraping against gravel warned me of someone’s approach. Seconds after the sound, Max walked up and took a seat by my side. He had Harleigh asleep in his arms and offered her to me with raised brows. I accepted, and curled the baby against my chest.
At a year old, she was still the size of a much smaller baby. She was perfect though. Unzipping my jacket, I tucked her little body in tight against mine and then zipped it back up. Max laughed, but didn’t comment.
Taking the blanket he was still holding out to me, I covered up her little face so just her nose peeked out. It was colder than balls out tonight, and I didn’t want her getting too cold.
“Winter was pregnant when she was attacked. She lost the baby when she was three months along.” I murmured to Max and then kissed the top of Harleigh’s head.
He stayed silent. I didn’t know if it was because he didn’t know what to say, or he thought I just needed him to be silent. I was grateful nonetheless. I didn’t need any sympathy. I just needed to get some of this shit off my chest.