“THEY ARE IN room two-twelve,” Dominic announced as they pulled into the parking lot of the Fairmont Hotel. “One older woman and another man. No one else in the room. No other people associated with them at the hotel.”
“She wants to keep this small and quiet,” Kendell said. “That’s what she told me. It’ll be easier to get Lilah out that way.”
Zoe’s stomach rolled. She couldn’t believe Kendell’s mother was behind the kidnapping. That she was trying to take her grandchild. What did she hope to accomplish? Lilah wasn’t a submissive child. She wouldn’t just succumb to their demands and accept a new life forced on her.
Please don’t let them hurt my child.
“We’ll make it easy,” Dominic said. “Kendell, go to the door. Gain access and we come in after.”
“Are they armed?” Byron asked.
Zoe sucked in a breath and Byron squeezed her hand. He hadn’t let go during the entire ride. He’d been so calm throughout the ordeal even though she knew he was just as worried as she was. His left eye twitched, the pulse in his throat raced and tension radiated off his body. Byron was good under pressure. His calm was the only thing keeping her from shaking every bit of information out of Kendell, who confirmed his mom was behind the fire and car accident. Both were attempts to hurt Zoe and Byron.
“We don’t know,” Dominic said.
“Then let’s be sure of that before we go in,” Zoe said. “I don’t want her harmed.”
“My mom carries a gun. The guy she’s with probably has one, too,” Kendell said matter-of-factly. “I’ll make sure everything is clear before we go in.”
“No, I don’t trust you,” Byron said. “Dominic can go in with you. Your mom doesn’t know him, and you can say you brought him along.”
Kendell’s features tightened. Zoe sat forward and caught his eye. He better not argue about a damn thing concerning this. He scowled but nodded. “Fine,” Kendell said.
They parked and Dominic’s men got out first, followed by Kendell and then Byron and Zoe. Tension filled the air. Zoe’s pulse beat in her ears so loud she couldn’t focus on any other sounds. The Fairmont Inn was a cheap motel on the outskirts of town. Three stories tall with doors that opened to the outside landings. There were a few other cars parked there during the day.
Fear and anger rushed through her system as she looked up to the second floor. Lilah was in there. What had his mom done to her? Was Lilah scared and crying? Had she remembered what Zoe taught her? Stay calm and look for a safe way to get out. Lilah would just roll her eyes and say I know, Mom. Whenever Zoe used to remind her daughter of how to respond in a tense situation, Zoe had always hoped she was being overly protective, and Lilah would never be in danger.
Kendell and Dominic walked to the metal stairs leading to the second floor. They’d made it halfway when the door to room two-twelve burst open. Lilah sprinted out and continued to the stairs. Zoe let out a disbelieving breath. Fear and pride increased the pounding of her heart. Lilah was a fighter.
Zoe and Byron both ran toward the stairs at the same time. Yelling came from upstairs. Dominic and Kendell reached the top of the stairs just as Lilah reached them. Without skipping a beat, Lilah elbowed Kendell in the stomach and rushed past him down the stairs.
Zoe’s heart pumped. Byron got ahead of her and reached Lilah just as she hit the ground floor. Her eyes widened and she jumped into Byron’s arms. He picked her up, turned and ran back toward Zoe. Dominic’s two guards were past him in a flash and up the stairs. More shouting ensued.
Zoe didn’t try to figure out what was happening on the second floor. Byron reached her side with Lilah, and the three of them ran to the car. Inside Lilah started crying and clung to Zoe.
“They were taking me to Mexico,” Lilah hiccupped. “They thought they could tie me up, but I knew how to get out. I ran as soon as they looked away.”
Zoe pulled Lilah to her chest and breathed in the smell of her daughter’s hair. Byron sat on her other side with Lilah sandwiched between them. Byron’s guards handled things outside. She didn’t have to worry. Everything was okay. Zoe felt nothing but relief and thankfulness to have her family back together.