Page 112 of Break the Barrier

I grind my teeth, stepping into Mick’s space. “I don’t give a shit what they think they need.” I poke my finger into his chest, my anger overwhelming my tired brain. “I need to know where Thea is. You said you’d get me that information.”

“Logan, chill.” Mick holds his hands up and nods his head over my shoulder. “Older guy from around here who has our protection, he said he saw one of the abandoned houses being recently used by a guy who rode a bike.”

I turn and see a car coming to pull in by my truck. It’s a beat up old hatchback and could use some work, but the older gentleman Mick was talking about steps out and gives us a nod.

I see the sun crest over the mountain and clench my fists.

Thea’s been missing for almost twenty-four hours. There’s no telling what this fucker has done to her already.

Mick makes the introductions, and I try my best to be cordial and shake the guy’s hand.

But it’s not long before I’m prying for information. “Where’s this house?”

He nods, worry creasing his already wrinkled skin, and if my wife’s life wasn’t hanging in the balance, I would feel bad for the pressure I was putting on this guy.

“It’s around this bend, then off the beaten path around three miles in. The roads are a bit rough, not sure how bikes will fare. Seems the person hunkering down there hasn’t had too much trouble.”

Mick starts to talk to him, pulling out some cash to hand him, and the old guy refuses. “You don’t have to do that. You should get going though. Those bikes blew past my house not an hour ago, heading back for the house.”

“Thank you,” I say in a rush, my feet already propelling me back to the truck.

The boys are already piling in when Mick calls my name, I turn and see him and his crew climbing into the bed of my truck.

“We’re coming with you,” he states the obvious, and I nod my head. “Let’s get your girl.”

44

thea

Hours ago,I had to let go of my bladder.

Hours ago, something in my wrist finally snapped during my relentless battle to set myself free.

And hours ago, that little piece of resilient hope that I had in me withered away.

I sit with my body cold from being stuck in this drafty building, my right arm still hoisted over my head, my shoulder dead. My left arm lies on the bed from where I got it loose, but my wrist is useless to me now.

A storm was pushing winds through the mountains, and this house, while it may have once been something to be admired, had lost all its protection against the elements after years of not being taken care of. I was crying. All that hope and thoughts of saving myself had gone out of my head, and my tears were nonstop.

I can’t care anymore.

Eric hasn’t been here in hours, and I have no idea where he must have gone but, I was grateful for that.

It was still dark, but I felt the sun getting ready to rise.

Lord, maybe I was losing my mind.

Felt the sun. I couldn’t hardly feel a thing with most of my body going limp.

I miss Logan.

I miss his bed, the one he started referring to as our bed before I went and ruined it all.

I miss Lue, who was probably sick with worry and blaming herself for everything even though none of this was her fault.

I miss my sisters. God, I miss them fiercely. I hope that the restaurant didn’t get too messed up from the fire so they could keep going.

I wonder if Tori knows, if Ophelia knows too.