22. Chapter Twenty-Two

22

Chapter Twenty-Two

Clara

R hett and I are playing with his action figures in his room when someone loudly knocks on his door. Less than five seconds later Killian is strutting through it. His face is stoic and it puts me immediately on guard. "What's wrong?"

He looks to Rhett who isn't paying us any attention then back to me, "Ma'am, Mr.Byrne has instructed me to bring you to the safe house until further notice. You have five minutes to pack a bag, then we need to go."

My temper spikes, who does he think he is? Grabbing my phone I dial his number. He answers on the first ring, I can tell by the sounds that he has me on bluetooth. Too bad I don't care, "Pre-" I cut in before he can finish his pet name.

"Rowan, who the fuck do you think you are? Shipping Rhett and I away by ourselves? No idea how long we'll be gone or where we're going? You didn't even have the decency to call and tell me yourself. You just hide us away when it's convenient?"

He cuts in before I can continue my rant, "Whoa, that's not at all what's happening, baby. We've taken care of things from the business side. But Clara, we were wrong. Preston wasn't working with the Russians. I need you two to go with Killian. You'll be safe, and I'll be there tonight. We have a few things to check first then I swear baby, I'm coming to you guys. I'll be there before Rhett's bedtime routine. I love you, I love you both so damn much. As soon as this is done we're having that wedding we talked about, yeah?"

A tear slides down my cheek, "Yeah, I love you too, and so does Rhett. Come get us before we can miss you too much, okay?"

"Promise."

He cuts the call and I sigh looking to Killian. "We'll be ready in five."

We were ready in eight minutes, oh well, it's not like he could leave without me. I've just finished buckling up Rhett and getting my seat belt on when Killian's pulling away from the house. I have no idea where we're going or how far away we're going, and you won't catch me asking him. Killian's fine I guess, we just don't talk. He does his job and seems to do it well, but he's not a talker. That's fine with me, because Rhett and I may have warmed up to the Byrne men, but we still don't like men. Killian isn't trying to be friends and neither am I. I guess when you think about it like that we're a good pair after all.

We've been driving for awhile when I can't take it anymore, " Can we stop so Rhett and I can go to the bathroom?"

Killian looks up to me in the rear view mirror and nods, "Yeah, there's a gas station just up ahead. I'll grab gas while you guys go."

"Thank you." He's right about it being just up ahead. We don't even drive a full five more minutes before we're pulling in. Rhett and I get out and set off to find the bathroom while Killian fills up the SUV. Of course Rhett can't go anywhere without either Rowan or Safe, he takes his job very seriously. With that being said, Rowan isn't with us, so Safe must come with us to the potty. Too tired to argue with him, not that he'd relent anyway, Safe is clutched in one arm, his opposite hand clinched in mine. We make our way to the bathroom and take turns doing our business, so Safe stays well safe of all the gross bathroom germs. After washing our hands we make our way back out to the car. I don't see Killian, but maybe he went to the bathroom too. It takes three steps out of the gas station before the hairs on my body stick up. He's here, I can feel him.

Turning quickly to Rhett I tell him, "Go hide. Right now. Do not come out until Daddy or one of your Uncles comes for you. You have to stay hidden, okay?"

Rhett's eyes water as he responds, "Why, what's happening?"

"Danger. Go, Daddy will come for you baby, I promise. I love you so much Rhett. " Kissing his head while tears run down my face I turn him so he can run off.

He doesn't even make it four steps before he's jerked up by his arm by Preston. Rhett screams out, not even thinking I throw myself at him, causing him to drop Rhett. The sound of his little body hitting the pavement echoes in my brain. I'm unable to check on him because Preston has his hand around my throat as he backs me up to what I'm assuming is his vehicle. Glancing over his shoulder I see Rhett hoist himself up silently. He's favoring his right leg and arm, and his face is scraped up. His watery eyes come to mine and he signs "I love you" before he takes off to the tree line at the edge of the gas station.

Too focused on making sure he makes it into the woods, I don't see the needle coming. It pierces my skin and my limbs become insanely heavy, before I lose consciousness he leans in and whispers to me, "I'll kill you before I allow you to be with anyone else, Slut." My fear and anxiety wrack my body as the darkness takes over.

My head is pounding, what was I doing last night? My body feels heavy, but not the kind of heavy that means Rowan's laying with me. Speaking of, where is Rowan? Moving my arms to sit myself up they jerk backwards. What was that sound? Oh, it's freezing in here, and why am I nauseous? Deciding to peel my eyes open slowly, I survey the room. I'm instantly jolted back to yesterday. Preston, Preston took me. I'm in some sort of cold damp room, I'm assuming a basement somewhere. Rhett, holy shit, RHETT.

Please God let Killian and Rowan have gotten to him. Letting out a loud sob, I'm too heartbroken to even care. My poor baby, what was I thinking? Sending him away yesterday. What if something happened to him? How's Rowan supposed to even know we're gone? Feeling myself beginning to hyperventilate, I close my eyes and send up everything I have to whoever is listening that my baby is found safe, and returned to Rowan. I'll give myself up willingly as long as they're safe.

I'm unsure of how long I've been sitting here on this old scratchy cot when the door creaks open. Making myself as small as I can, while also shielding my vital organs with my limbs his manic laughter echoes throughout the space, "Oh Clara, how fucking stupid did you think I was? You thought you could hide from me? You stupid, stupid whore."

Trembling like a leaf but knowing the question needs to be asked I use all my backbone that Rowan taught me I have, "Where's Rhett?"

His smirk is the most evil thing I've ever seen and I'm terrified of his answer, "Oh, that little fuck up? He's gone. Don't worry though we're going to make another one, and another until we get a normal son. Then I'll kill you and raise him by myself." My eyesight begins to dim and my ears buzz. My body moves just enough that when I throw up it misses the cot. A scream rings out through the small space, it's heartbreaking and filled with anguish. A few seconds go by before I realize it's coming from me.

No, he has to be lying, this can't be the truth, not my baby. His laugh rings out over my sobs, "Oh, we're about to have some fun, it's time I remind you where you belong and what happens when you try to leave." His shoe meets my ribs before his fist hits my temple. I've never been more thankful to be knocked out before so all this pain dissipates.