32. Leslie

Chapter 32

Leslie

I stare out at the world blanketed in white and sigh. I didn't think we were going to get this much snow. I wouldn't have come this far out of town if I had known.

"Let me go down to the car, and then you can throw the bags to me. I'm afraid we'll slip on the stairs otherwise."

I slowly take the steps one at a time and keep glancing around. The air is eerily quiet with the snow insulating everything around us. It's beautiful, one of my favorite times of the year, but it gets creepy out here.

I hold open my arms and smile when Sophia easily tosses me the first bag. I place it in the backseat and turn to get another one. It only takes us a few moments before everything is loaded up. Sophia turns her back on me and starts locking up the door.

I listen carefully, knowing any sort of movement will cause a quiet crunching sound to echo through the air. I hate feeling this on edge, but it's not going to stop until Jimmy is found. It's lessened when I'm with Colton though.

Sophia slowly takes the first step and slips, but is able to right herself before she goes down. I move to reach for her, but she shakes her head.

"Don't even think about it or we'll both go down."

As she takes the next step, a soft crunching fills the air, but it's not coming from her. I glance around, finding a figure moving in our direction.

"Sophia, hurry up," I hiss under my breath. She glances up at me and must see the fear in my eyes. She moves more quickly, but is still careful.

I notice the second her eyes lock on the mysterious figure. They widen and they snap to mine.

"Get in the car," she urges me, but I shake my head. I need her to be safe.

"Not until you get in."

We both glance back at the person. He's the right height and build to be Jimmy, but I don't know if it's him. Not many people live on this street and my house is the last one at the dead-end road.

He must realize we noticed him, because he starts moving fast, closing in on us more quickly than I'd like .

"Get in now!" Sophia shrieks as she passes me to get to the passenger's door.

I climb behind the wheel and as soon as Sophia's door is shut, I lock the doors and crank the engine. The man is only a few yards away from the SUV when I reverse out of the driveway as quickly as I can.

I shriek as my car slides on the ice, but I'm able to control it after a few seconds.

"Call Colton!" I put the car in drive and press down on the gas.

Even though my hands are trembling, I know I need to stay calm or I'm going to crash us into a tree. That's the last thing we need right now.

"It just keeps ringing." The fear in Sophia's voice makes my heart sink. She's in danger because of me. I'll do everything in my power to protect her.

"Call Pecker," I say calmly, trying to focus completely on the road in front of me.

Her hands are shaking as she tries to find his contact information in her phone. She presses a button, then holds the phone out in front of her.

Ringing fills the quiet space and I hold my breath as I wait for him to answer. I need him or Colton now .

"Hey, beautiful," Pecker's sweet voice comes through the line and tears prick at the back of my eyes.

"Pecker," Sophia whimpers. "We need you and Colton. He's not answering his phone."

"Colt's right here. His phone died, what's going on?" Gone is the sweet man I'm used to hearing, in his place is the tough cop who will stop at nothing to protect us.

"What happened?" Colt's voice echoes through the car.

"We went to Leslie's house to get some things. When we were packing up the car, a man was walking towards the house. When he realized we noticed him, he started hurrying towards us."

"Are you in the car or the house?" Colt asks.

"The car. I'm driving down Beech Tree Road," I say, hoping if I talk to him, I'll stay a little calmer.

"Shit, the roads out that way are horrible. How much are you sliding, babe?" There's murmuring on his side of the line, then I hear an engine revving.

"A lot," I whisper as the car slides a little bit again.

"Is anyone following you?"

I glance in the rearview mirror and swallow thickly. Maybe it's not him. Maybe it's just someone else.

"Yes. Someone's been behind me since soon after we left the house. "

"Can you tell what kind of car?"

"No, but I passed a black Ford Explorer parked on the side of my street."

"Motherfucker!" Colt roars.

"We're on our way to you, Leslie. I want you to keep driving until you get to the Farmer's Market. Right before you get to the parking lot, I want you to slow down and pull over on the side of the road. Pretend you're having trouble with your car. Put on your hazards. Put the car in neutral and rev the engine like you got stuck in the snow."

"Why would we do that?" Sophia shrieks. "He probably wants to kill us."

"Because we'll be waiting and we'll protect you," Pecker says softly. "Trust me, Soph."

"Zoey?" Colt's use of my real name has tears gathering in my eyes. One trickles down my cheek and drips onto my coat.

"Yeah?"

"I love you, baby. Be careful. We'll stop at nothing to protect you from him."

"I love you too," I choke out.

I glance in my mirror, noticing he's significantly closer than he was a few moments ago. I tighten my grip on the wheel and pray he doesn't try to run me off the road again .

"How far away are you?" Pecker asks after a few seconds.

"About two miles. He's not leaving any space between our cars. He's riding my bumper."

"Tap your brakes. Begin to slow down a little."

"Uncle Mason's calling you," Sophia breaks my concentration as she lifts my phone from the cup holder. "Hello?" She puts my phone on speaker too.

"Soph, where's Zoey and Colt?"

"Right here. You're on speaker."

"If he's not in Maple Springs already, he's on his way."

"You're a little late, Uncle Mason. He's following us in the middle of this blizzard. Riding our ass too."

"Shit. Colt, keep my girls safe," Mason growls.

"I'm trying, but I'm not with them. We're in position. As long as they can get to us, they'll be ok."

Colt's trying to keep the panic out of his voice, but I can hear it the slightest bit. He's scared and that terrifies me.

"Zoey, remember what I taught you. If you hit ice, don't try to over-correct it. Let the car slide and make small corrections. Slow down and hopefully he will too. If you speed, you're all going to get hurt. Let's only make the asshole hurt."

"Do you think he has a gun on him?" Colt asks .

"I'd be surprised if he didn't," Mason sighs. "I knew I should've come to Maple Springs."

"No. I don't need more family members in the line of danger because of me. It's bad enough that Sophia's here," I keep my voice firm and strong.

If something happens to me, that sucks, but it's only me. I don't want anything to happen to the ones I love. It's bad enough Colt, Sophia, and Pecker are involved, I don't need Uncle Mason too.

"We're almost to you guys. I'm going to start slowing down and pretending we're having trouble."

I flick on the hazard lights and slow my car down. The one behind me slows, but only enough to avoid crashing into me. We come to a complete stop and I'm not sure if I'm even off the road all the way. There's too much snow to really tell where the shoulder is.

I keep my gaze locked on the rearview mirror as I shift into neutral and rev the engine a few times. The driver's door of the Explorer opens and a man climbs out.

"He's getting out," I whisper.

"Good. Let him come to you," Colt says softly.

"Don't let him see the phones, Sophia. We want him to be surprised," Pecker adds .

"If he knocks on your window, roll it down an inch or two. Just enough for you to talk, but not enough for him to reach in," Colt continues.

I suck in a slow breath and try not to panic. I've spent so many years running from this man and now he's here and I have no clue what he wants from me.

A loud knock on the window has Sophia letting out a horrific scream. I stare at her for a moment before turning my attention to the window. The man motions for me to lower it and I comply, but only an inch or two like Colt said.

"Nice hiding place, Zoey. Or should I say Leslie Jameson?" His slimy voice wraps around me and makes my entire body shiver.

The stench of his cigarette breath seeps through the open window and has so many memories banging on my brain, begging to play out, but I try to push them all away. I need to focus.

I've spent the last few years praying I'd never have to come face to face with Jimmy again. Wishing he'd be found dead after one of his benders. Anything to know he could never come near me again .

"Get out of the car," he growls. "I'm going to kill your cousin, then I'm taking you to my hotel. After you're tied up, I'll go after the sheriff for touching what's mine."

A soft whimper falls from Sophia's lips and it makes a strength I didn't know I possessed bubble up inside of me.

"You're not touching her. If you want me, fine, but you can't do anything to her."

"And why would I agree to that? Your family has worked hard to keep you hidden. I've spent years looking for you."

I open my mouth to respond, but I don't really know what to say. He has no reason to listen to me. No reason to give me what I want.

Before I can respond, Jimmy's shoved into my door. His face is pressed against the glass and I can see the furry in his eyes. He's never been this mad. If he gets his hands on me, he'll kill me. I know it.

"Don't move a fucking muscle, asshole," Colt growls. "Thanks for saying you'd go after me, that will really help me put you away. Oh, plus the plan to murder an innocent woman and tie up another. I think you'll be put away for a long time."

"You've got nothing on me," Jimmy hisses.

"Nah, Jimmy. I've been tracking you for years. I have so many things on you. I was willing to leave you alone, as long as you didn't go near Zoey again," Mason's voice is loud enough for Jimmy to hear it even with the window only cracked open. His eyes widen before narrowing into slits. "You made a big mistake by going after her. You'll never see the outside of a prison again if I have it my way."

"Put your hands behind your back," Colt commands as he grabs one wrist and secures it in a handcuff. He gets the other one attached, then grabs the back of Jimmy's jacket and tears him away from the car.

Pecker pulls his squad car up next to mine and they lock him in the backseat. As soon as he's secure, Colt opens my door and tugs me out of the car. I crash into his chest as a sob racks my body.

"It's ok, baby. I've got you and he can't touch you anymore. You're finally safe."