Page 237
Story: Reclaimed
“Alone? You should take Rome?—”
“No, he needs to stay here with Dylan,” I said. “Dylan’s the one Sean is really after.” I didn’t really think that was completely true—Sean had made it clear he wanted to get rid of me, too—but I didn’t want to show up with a bunch of enforcers in tow if she was already antsy about this process. She could be really prideful. If I showed up with dragons at my back, she might feel attacked and change her mind.
This had to be just me and her.
Cassidy narrowed her eyes. “Call Hawk, then.”
Cassidy didn’t understand how small this window was. I needed to get to Mom’snow.She was right to suggest I take an enforcer, though. Steph had made it clear it was dangerous to be out alone right now. I dialed Hawk.
The call rang, and rang, and rang.The voice mailbox you have tried to reach is full…
I didn’t have any time to waste.
“Hey, Hawk,” I said into the phone as the robotic voice told me he couldn’t accept voice messages. “Do you have a second to escort me? I’m going to my mom’s. Yes, now. … Really? Great. Can you meet me there? Great. See you soon.”
By the time I finished my little skit, the line was dead.
Cassidy uncrossed her arms. “He’s meeting you there?”
“Yeah. It’s not far. I’ll be fine, Cass.”
The risk was before Sean had decided to challenge Steph, right? Now Sean was committed to fighting Steph to the death, so he wouldn’t be chasing me down. And it was the middle of the day. This would be quick. I’d go get my mom, take her to the hospital for intake, then call Steph.
“All right,” Cassidy said. Her voice was unsure. I was grateful Dylan was outside, because he’d definitely know I was lying, but I couldn’t pass up this opportunity to help my mother. It might be the only chance I get.
“I’ll be back soon,” I said. “Hold down the fort, okay?”
I rushed out of the house before Cassidy could say anything else, hopped into the car, and pulled out before Rome could hear the engine and question me.
I drove to my mom’s A-frame house tucked into the woods outside of Lakeview. I parked haphazardly, then rushed up the porch stairs and knocked once before bursting into the house. “Mom?”
I expected to find Mom at the tail end of a bender, with the house trashed, and her probably sick and a mess. I expected to see bottles strewn all over the coffee table, the lights dim, some bad music playing on her stereo.
I did not expect to see Blakely.
Mom was nowhere to be seen. It was only that gangly, red-headed bitch standing in the middle of the living room, grinning at me like a demon.
“What the fuck are you doing here?” I snapped.
Fuck, I was stupid. I should’ve brought Rome.
“Hi, Harley,” Blakely said. “I needed to speak to you alone. I knew Ace wouldn’t let me, so I enlisted your dear mother to give me a hand.”
“Where is she?” I demanded. “What did you do to her?”
“She’s fine,” Blakely said. “And she’ll stay that way, as long as you do what I say.”
“You set this up.” Realization fell over me like ice water. “You tricked Ace into leaving the house, and then tricked me into coming here.”
“It was really easy, too,” Blakely said. “So much for all your security detail, huh? One little request from Mommy, and you come running like a little girl.”
“Shut your fucking mouth. Whereisshe?” I was ready to beat this woman’s ass. Rage and panic both burned within me, making my heart race and sweat bead at my temples.
“Come on out,” Blakely called.
The door to Mom’s upstairs bedroom opened. I heard footsteps stomping, and then an unfamiliar man stomped down the stairs with my mother in tow. Her arms were bound behind her back, and she was pale and terrified.
“Mom!” I cried out. Her shaky voice on the phone hadn’t been withdrawal or pain. It’d beenfear.And I hadn’t noticed at all.
Table of Contents
- Page 1
- Page 2
- Page 3
- Page 4
- Page 5
- Page 6
- Page 7
- Page 8
- Page 9
- Page 10
- Page 11
- Page 12
- Page 13
- Page 14
- Page 15
- Page 16
- Page 17
- Page 18
- Page 19
- Page 20
- Page 21
- Page 22
- Page 23
- Page 24
- Page 25
- Page 26
- Page 27
- Page 28
- Page 29
- Page 30
- Page 31
- Page 32
- Page 33
- Page 34
- Page 35
- Page 36
- Page 37
- Page 38
- Page 39
- Page 40
- Page 41
- Page 42
- Page 43
- Page 44
- Page 45
- Page 46
- Page 47
- Page 48
- Page 49
- Page 50
- Page 51
- Page 52
- Page 53
- Page 54
- Page 55
- Page 56
- Page 57
- Page 58
- Page 59
- Page 60
- Page 61
- Page 62
- Page 63
- Page 64
- Page 65
- Page 66
- Page 67
- Page 68
- Page 69
- Page 70
- Page 71
- Page 72
- Page 73
- Page 74
- Page 75
- Page 76
- Page 77
- Page 78
- Page 79
- Page 80
- Page 81
- Page 82
- Page 83
- Page 84
- Page 85
- Page 86
- Page 87
- Page 88
- Page 89
- Page 90
- Page 91
- Page 92
- Page 93
- Page 94
- Page 95
- Page 96
- Page 97
- Page 98
- Page 99
- Page 100
- Page 101
- Page 102
- Page 103
- Page 104
- Page 105
- Page 106
- Page 107
- Page 108
- Page 109
- Page 110
- Page 111
- Page 112
- Page 113
- Page 114
- Page 115
- Page 116
- Page 117
- Page 118
- Page 119
- Page 120
- Page 121
- Page 122
- Page 123
- Page 124
- Page 125
- Page 126
- Page 127
- Page 128
- Page 129
- Page 130
- Page 131
- Page 132
- Page 133
- Page 134
- Page 135
- Page 136
- Page 137
- Page 138
- Page 139
- Page 140
- Page 141
- Page 142
- Page 143
- Page 144
- Page 145
- Page 146
- Page 147
- Page 148
- Page 149
- Page 150
- Page 151
- Page 152
- Page 153
- Page 154
- Page 155
- Page 156
- Page 157
- Page 158
- Page 159
- Page 160
- Page 161
- Page 162
- Page 163
- Page 164
- Page 165
- Page 166
- Page 167
- Page 168
- Page 169
- Page 170
- Page 171
- Page 172
- Page 173
- Page 174
- Page 175
- Page 176
- Page 177
- Page 178
- Page 179
- Page 180
- Page 181
- Page 182
- Page 183
- Page 184
- Page 185
- Page 186
- Page 187
- Page 188
- Page 189
- Page 190
- Page 191
- Page 192
- Page 193
- Page 194
- Page 195
- Page 196
- Page 197
- Page 198
- Page 199
- Page 200
- Page 201
- Page 202
- Page 203
- Page 204
- Page 205
- Page 206
- Page 207
- Page 208
- Page 209
- Page 210
- Page 211
- Page 212
- Page 213
- Page 214
- Page 215
- Page 216
- Page 217
- Page 218
- Page 219
- Page 220
- Page 221
- Page 222
- Page 223
- Page 224
- Page 225
- Page 226
- Page 227
- Page 228
- Page 229
- Page 230
- Page 231
- Page 232
- Page 233
- Page 234
- Page 235
- Page 236
- Page 237
- Page 238
- Page 239
- Page 240
- Page 241
- Page 242
- Page 243
- Page 244
- Page 245
- Page 246
- Page 247
- Page 248
- Page 249
- Page 250
- Page 251
- Page 252
- Page 253
- Page 254
- Page 255
- Page 256
- Page 257
- Page 258
- Page 259
- Page 260
- Page 261
- Page 262
- Page 263