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Goaded by instinct, Stacey ran for the stairs and her son. Co
Rachel reached into her pocket and withdrew a cell phone. She tossed it at Co
"If something happens to the boy," Co
"Ooh!" She gave a vixen-ish little shake of her shoulders. "Sounds delicious." Her lovely face hardened. "I want that trinity, Captain. See that I get it or the kid will pay."
"Nooooo!" The sound that left Stacey's body was inhuman. It was an animal's cry, one filled with pain and frustration and a mother's fear for her child. She struggled within Aidan's unyielding grasp, jerking and scratching to be freed. "Justin!"
She watched in wide-eyed horror as her son's panicked writhing mirrored her own. Justin's bound hands lifted and struck out, knocking the sunglasses from his captor's face, revealing a visage that stopped her heart. The man hit back, knocking Justin unconscious. Then he turned his black gaze to Stacey, gri
Her cries echoed around them, then Aidan's hand was over her mouth, muffling her, his deep voice murmuring to her.
Why weren't they doing anything? Why were they letting that bitch climb back into the car and shut the door? Why was Tommy just standing there, barely blinking as the car reversed out of the driveway with their child inside it? Why was Aidan restraining her, gagging her, crooning to her as if all the promises of safety and retribution he was making would calm her?
The thing in the driver's seat was driving away with her baby and she could only watch, imprisoned by the arms of someone she'd thought was a friend.
Aidan held her until the car was out of sight, then he let her go. Her shaky legs caused her to stumble and fall to her knees, then she scrambled to her feet, pushing past Co
"You goddamned junkie!" she screamed, slapping his face with every bit of strength she possessed. "You worthless piece of shit!"
Then she was ru
"Stacey." Co
"No!" she shouted. "You do not g-get to cry. You let them t-take him…" She slapped at his bare chest, then pounded her fists against it. "How c-could you l-let them take him? How could y-you?"
"I'm sorry," he whispered, making no effort to defend himself from her attack. "I'm so sorry, Stace. There was nothing I could have done. If there had been any way to take him back alive, I would have. You have to believe me."
"You didn't even try!" she sobbed. "You didn't even try."
Stacey crumpled into his lap, her blurry gaze fixed on the unpaved road. His feet were bare and bleeding from coming after her. Her heart clenched at the sight, which only pissed her off further.
Co
Her precious child was gone.
Chapter 12
Lyssa was crying on the couch when Co
For his part, Co
"Oh god, Stace!" Lyssa pushed to her feet as the screen door shut silently behind them. She hurried over, embracing her best friend as soon as Co
Stacey shook her head. "You couldn't do anything." Her venomous gaze moved from Aidan to Tommy to Co
"Stacey." Lyssa's voice was low and pleading. "You can't call for help."
"Why the fuck not?" she demanded, reaching for the handset with a violently shaking hand. "Because the cops might come out here and think, 'Hmm? Look at these two brawny, ex-Special Forces guys who didn't do a goddamned thing to stop a kidnapping!'"
Lifting his chin, Co
The damn thing was killing him now.
"You don't know her like we do, Stacey," he said gently. "There was nothing we could have done that would still assure Justin's safety."
"Bullshit!" Stacey's eyes were wide and dark, the dilated pupils leaving only a faint ring of the brilliant green irises. Her skin and lips were pale, her hands shaking. "Either one of you-alone!-could have taken out both her and that freak with the mask on!"
"Are you sure there were only two of them?" he asked, making her pause. "With those tinted windows it was impossible to see into the backseat."
"There was someone else in the back," Aidan assured. "Someone closed the door on the passenger side after Tommy got out."
A frown marred Stacey's brow as she considered this.
Co
"What the hell kind of antiquities are you dealing in," she snapped, "that would be valuable enough to kidnap someone over them?"
"Hey." Lyssa spoke softly, stepping closer and putting her arm around Stacey's quivering shoulders. "Let's go in the kitchen, and I'll tell you everything."
"I need to call the damn cops."
"Let me explain first. Then, if you still feel like you need the police, I'll drive you over there myself."
"What is wrong with you people?" Stacey yelled, her voice hoarse. "My son is gone and you want me to do nothing?"
"No," Co
The word strangled in his throat, his insides too raw to bare himself to further scorn. He'd failed her. Even though he couldn't have done any more than he did without jeopardizing Justin's life, he'd still failed to shield her from pain.