Dani
When I opened my eyes, all I saw was a blurry whiteness. After a few seconds I realized that was because my chin was on my chest and I was staring at my nightgown. As I raised my head, the pain that rocked me and the way I struggled against its heaviness, plus the sight of the blood smeared on my gown, reminded me what was going on.
The bastard was in front of Zoe, his face practically in her lap.
“Leave her alone.” The words were weak, belying the strength of the panic shooting through my bloodstream. “Leave her alone,” I said louder.
He lifted his sick face from the area of her crotch, turning to look at me. “Well, well. Look who’s up. Mrs. Tucker McCord.”
That was it. Draw his anger toward me, as Tucker’s wife, and maybe he’d leave Zoe alone. He rose and came to stand over me, then bent, grabbing a thigh in each hand. He messed with my hair again. Myles began to cry.
“Shit, you’re pretty. Even with your hair all crazy like this. What the hell is wrong with that kid?”
“He’s probably hungry.”
“Ahh.” He eyed my chest. “Feeding time then.” He moved behind me and my cords became excruciatingly tight as he sawed at them with something. Then, when the plastic gave, the blood rushing back into my hands added to the pain. I brought them around and my chest and arm muscles protested, having been confined in an unnatural position so long. I circled my shoulders and rubbed my wrists, which I was surprised to find were not bleeding, only red. He brought a butterfly knife out where I could see it, then snapped it closed. Standing, he took long strides to the bassinet, the heels of his boots ringing off the hardwood. I looked at Zoe.
“Are you okay?”
She nodded, but looked scared out of her wits.
“Zack’s out there,” she whispered.
“What?” I wanted to ask her how she knew, but he turned back around. I eyed the gun on the table, but it would be a toss-up for who got it in time. He handed Myles to me, then crouched in front of me. Myles took the volume down a notch or two, knowing food was on the way. His weight and warmth in my arms never felt so good.
“Well, go on.” He spun the knife around in his hands, leering at me. I didn’t want to breastfeed my baby in front of this man. “Go on,” he barked.
I didn’t have a choice. But he wasn’t gonna get a show. I unbuttoned my gown only enough so I could lower Myles within the cloth. Our captor growled and clutched my gown ripping it open several more buttons. The suddenness of the movement caused me to gasp, but I wouldn’t give him any more than that.
“Stop it,” Zoe screamed.
“Now, isn’t that beautiful.” He ran his dirty hands over Myles’ hair. “Mother and son.” He brought his hand lower, under my breast, grazing it with his knuckle. I glared at him.
“Oh, my God. Knock it off!” Zoe growled, bouncing her chair closer. He shifted to look at her.
Suddenly bright light poured in from all the windows at the front of the house. “Thomas James. This is the LPD.”
The booming noise blew up the stillness of the night. Thomas James. That was the man Tucker warned us about. My heartbeat accelerated.
“We have the house surrounded. Surrender the hostages.”
James jumped to his feet, grabbing the gun. “Shit!”
Zoe and I exchanged a hopeful look.
He moved behind Zoe and cut her ties. Was he letting us go? But once she was free, he jerked her to her feet and pressed her body against him, his arm across her chest.
“Move!” he ordered.
Zoe looked at me, and the fear swimming in her eyes struck me to the core. What was he planning to do to her? Alarm made it difficult to breathe. I didn’t want to be separated from her.
“No, please!”
He ignored me and dragged Zoe along with him to the front of the room.
“Dani!” She was crying.
“Please, don’t take her.”
“Shut up!” he bellowed. He put his back to the wall and used the tip of his gun to edge the curtain out enough to look out. “Shit.”
He sounded scared. And desperate. That frightened me. I had to get us out of here.
“Damn. Every damn cop in Lincoln is out there. No way am I getting out of here alive now.” He rolled to press his back against the wall, wiping the back of the hand holding the gun above his top lip. He closed his eyes. “Shit.”
I needed to calm him down. “Mr. James.” His eyes popped open. “They know you have us in here,” I said slowly. “Maybe if you let Zoe, and the baby, go, it would show them they can trust you.” He stared at me without saying anything then moved toward me.
“No!” Zoe screamed. “No, Dani!” She tried to plant her feet, but he lifted her from the ground. “No!”
When he got in front of me, he set Zoe down and shoved her toward me. “Get the baby.”
“No.” Her voice was weak now. She was shaking her head and her hands were trembling.
“Zoe,” I said as calmly as I could manage. “Stop, honey.”
“No, Dani. Please.” She continued to protest, but was crying harder and becoming incoherent.
“Zoe!” I snapped. She inhaled and was quiet for a second. “I need you to take your brother out there where you’ll be safe.”
“No,” she whispered.
“Zoe, please. I’m counting on you to take care of Myles.” As I said it, we both realized, if something happened, she’d be taking care of Myles for a long time. “Honey, please. It’s the only way.”
Her gaze dropped to Myles. Whimpering, she slowly bent and took the baby out of my hands. I wanted to protest. I wanted to get him back. I wanted to kiss him one more time. But James wrenched Zoe’s arm, tearing them from me. My hand covered my mouth, and I began to shake with silent sobs. Zoe was staring at me as she was being dragged to the door. I closed my eyes. I couldn’t watch it anymore. But with the sound of James fumbling with the lock, I opened my eyes. He pushed Zoe between him and the door.
“Open it.”
Her hands were shaking, and she was holding the baby, so she was having a hard time.
“O-pen it!”
Zoe began whimpering, but got the lock turned.
James grabbed her again and opened the door a crack. “Don’t shoot! I’m sending them out.” He pushed Zoe through the door, then closed it and locked it, moving his back to the adjacent wall. He was breathing hard. Myles started crying again, but I was relieved to hear those cries get more distant. James stared at me, still panting. He stumbled away from the wall and came toward me. I was calmer now.
Zoe and Myles were safe.
Zack
Mr. McCord and I had just made it into the shadow of the house when the police made their announcement and switched on their big lights. He lugged me down behind their air conditioner. He was breathing hard.
“Can you see anything?”
I leaned around the corner of the unit. Even though we were pretty far back, the light still hurt my eyes, as they had adjusted to the dark.
“There’s more units now. And men. But…I can’t tell how many. They’re just kind of blobs.”
“Okay. It doesn’t matter. It doesn’t change anything. I still need to get inside.”
“You mean we need to get inside.”
He set his jaw and looked like he was about to argue with me when James’ voice rang out. “Don’t shoot! I’m sending them out.”
Mr. McCord scrambled to his feet, poking his head over the top of the air conditioner. Someone—they were only an outline of black to us—slowly moved into the light and Myles began to cry.
“It’s Zoe!” I could tell by the shape and the size. We waited.
“Where’s the third hostage?” A shadow shouted into a megaphone. “We need you to release Mrs. McCord.”
There was no response. We looked at each other. He pushed my shoulder. “Go to Zoe. Make sure she’s okay.”
I shook my head. “I’m not letting you go in there alone.”
He pushed me. It didn’t take much, because I wasn’t stable in my crouch, and the lawn sloped away from the house.
“STAY DOWN! DO NOT ATTEMPT TO MOVE.”
I turned slightly. Mr. McCord was already to the back of the house. Four guys in combat gear stepped out of the shadow of my house, their rifles pointed at me.
“Don’t move!”
“Zack!”
When I looked in the direction of her scream, Zoe burst into the light, running toward me.
I staggered to my feet, putting my hands behind my head when I was up. Considering the situation, it was about the stupidest thing in the world to do. “Zoe, no!” I was afraid someone would shoot her.
“HOLD YOUR FIRE!”
Despite that order, two guns were trained on me and two were trained on Zoe as she ran to me.
“GET DOWN!”
Someone shoved me in the shoulder, but, with their guns, they only had one hand free, and I stayed on my feet.
“Don’t shoot! He’s my boyfriend.”
“HOLD YOUR FIRE! HOLD YOUR FIRE!”
I brought my hands down, and she collided with me, almost taking me to the ground like her father had.
I buried my face in her hair. “Zoe. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to hurt you. I—”
The rest of what I was going to say was lost to her kiss as she covered my lips with hers.
Someone tapped me on the shoulder. “You need to follow us.”
She put her hands on either side of my face. “I love you!”
I squeezed her tighter, closing my eyes. “I’ve loved you. Always. It’s always been you.”
“Come on.”
Hands shoved us closer to the property line, out of the light, and we were hustled to the front. A guy in a suit, holding the megaphone, strode over to us, and he didn’t look happy.
“What the hell were you thinking, son?” Before I could form a response, he started in again. “Why does every civilian have to act like they’re some blockbuster movie star in an action flick?” He paused, working his jaw. “Well, your little action scene could have cost someone their life. There’s a reason why we attend a police academy, and are constantly receiving further training. We’re the experts. We know the best way to handle things.”
Part of me wanted to defend my actions, but I knew he was right. “Yes, sir.”
He wiped his free hand across his face and exhaled. When he spoke next, he was calmer and his voice was softer. “Look. I know it’s difficult seeing your loved ones in danger.” Here he looked at Zoe, who was glued to my side. “But you put them in further danger when you interfere with us trying to get everyone out in one piece.”
I glanced around at the faces of the policemen around us. Some looked sympathetic, others seemed equally as angry as he was.
“Yes, sir.”
“Okay. Get her checked out by the EMTs.” He waved at an ambulance half parked on the island in the middle of our cul-de-sac. “Then Officer McBride will take her statement.”
We took a step in the direction indicated and my mom ran forward and about squashed Myles in between us. It was then I registered the sounds of his screaming. I was reassuring her I was okay when some man tromped over with a few officers.
“How much of a threat is this guy?”
“He told Mr. McCord he killed his own wife.”
More was said, but I lost it in wave of shock that hit me. Zoe had been held by a man who took his wife’s life, and Dani was still in there.
“Oh, my God.” Her voice was barely a whisper. She must have heard him, too. She shook and cried. I held her. What could I say?
“He’ll get her out, Zoe. Your dad will get her out.” I closed my eyes, squeezing her tighter and saying a prayer.
Tucker
I allowed myself a second of relief. Zoe and Myles were safe.
But Dani was still inside. With a maniac who had killed his own wife and felt I had wronged him. I crept up the few stairs to the back door with my key in hand. I tried to slip it in, but, of course, this was the one lock in the house that was finicky, so I had to work it a moment. By the time I’d unlocked it, sweat gathered along my hairline. I took a breath and slowly turned the handle, pushing the door open. This, of course, was also the door that really needed some WD-40. I kicked myself for procrastinating on it. I cringed when it creaked, but the sight of the blood on the floor totally made me forget about the door. It looked like a lot of blood, but I hoped the way it was smeared made it look like more than there was.
I was low when I came in the door, as it had a window in it I was trying to avoid. As I was straightening, the door to the living room swung open. I had no time to hide or get a weapon. He had Dani in front of him, the gun to her temple, his back pressing the door against the wall. A stripe of blood ran from her hip to the hem of her white nightgown.
“Well, well, well. Lookie what we have here. Decide to join us, did you, Tuc-ker?” His eyes glowed, powered by his hate for me. “This is perfect. You can watch me splatter your pretty bride’s brains all over your kitchen.” Dani closed her eyes.
I threw my hands out in front of me. “No! No! Wait!”
He raised his chin, sucking air in between his teeth.
“It’s not her you’re angry with.”
“Angry? Angry!” he shouted. “I passed angry long ago, McCord. I’m well on my way to deranged now.”
“Okay. Okay.” I took a breath. I was a lawyer. I was going to have to give the best argument of my life. “But leave her out of this. It’s between you and me. Think of your boys. They’ve been the innocent parties through all of this, right? Dani’s innocent, too.” I made the mistake of looking at her and almost lost it. “She—” My voice broke.
Get a grip. Get a grip. Dani’s life is riding on this.
I closed my eyes for a second and swallowed, trying to get my voice back. “She doesn’t deserve to be hurt.”
“If everyone got what they deserved, I’d be with my boys right now instead of having this little conversation with you.” He looked at Dani, and my stomach lurched.
I wracked my brain. What did I have to barter with? “What if I could arrange for you to talk to your sons?”
His eyes snapped to me and a vein near his jaw pulsed. “That bitch of a mother-in-law would never let me talk to them.”
“I’ve already talked to her, and she agreed,” I lied.
His face went rigid. “You’re a liar. The boys aren’t even home. They spent the night at a friend’s. I watched them leave.”
“But they came back. One of them was sick.”
“Which one? Bobby?”
“She didn’t say. Only said they threw up on the lady’s Oriental carpet.”
He hesitated.
“Thomas. We both know none of us may make it out alive from here. Don’t you want a chance to talk to your boys one more time?”
He shifted his weight.
“What do I have to do?”
“Let Dani go.”
He jerked her to him, the veins in his arm protruding. “No way.”
“I’ll take her place. Then you’ll still have a hostage.”
“No,” Dani managed, despite the arm across her throat.
“It’s me you have the beef with, not her.”
“No,” she whimpered.
“And you’ll let me talk to my kids? You promise?”
“Yes. You have my word.”
Tears tracked down Dani’s face, but I tried not to look at her. I was getting someplace.
“How do I know if I let her go, you’ll stay?”
I slowly drew a kitchen chair out and lowered myself into it. “You can tie me to the chair.” He took a step forward. “But if Dani doesn’t appear outside, the cops won’t patch the call through. You have to let her go.”
He licked his lips. He wanted me to watch her die. But I prayed he wanted to talk to his boys more. This was a huge gamble, but the fact he was even tempted gave me hope.
“You’ll still have the satisfaction of watching me die,” I said grimly.
Dani sobbed.
I did this to her. She could have lived her whole life without going through something like this if it weren’t for me.
He pushed her forward and she had to grab the tabletop to keep from falling. “You tie him.” He took a handful of zip ties from his pocket and tossed them on the table in front of me.
Dani stared at them in horror. “No. I’m not going to do it.”
“Dani.” I waited until she looked at me. “Do what the man says.”
“No, Tucker. I’m not gonna tie you up so he can shoot you. I won’t do it!” she screamed.
“Honey.”
“I could just kill you both,” James threatened. But I knew now he wanted to talk to those boys.
I looked Dani in the eyes. “You need to trust me.” Something flicked in her face. Either she had a plan, or she believed I had a plan, which I didn’t. I had one thing on my mind. Getting her out. She moved slowly around the table.
The sound of the shot and the window breaking seemed to happen simultaneously. Dani screamed and hit the floor. Men rushed in from every direction. I got over to Dani and covered her with my body, but when I looked over, I knew Thomas James was no longer a threat to us.