Page 96 of Creed

“The kids…”

“They’re not here. Shep just checked.”

“No,” she pressed. “Brian… he has Chrissy.”

“What?”

“I tried to stop him… He’s going after Austin.”

“I’m not leaving you.”

“Please.”

“We’ve got her,” Shep interjected. “You go.”

“I’m coming with,” Grim announced.

I didn’t like leaving her, but I didn’t have a choice. I needed to get to the kids before Maddox made an even bigger mess of things. I stood, and blue flashing lights pulled into the drive as Grim and I started for our bikes. The EMTs parked and had just gotten out when I called out, “She has a pretty nasty contusion on the left side of her head and a bruise on her cheek, and she’s been out a good two to three minutes.”

I turned the key and sped down the street. I’d barely rounded the corner when I spotted Maddox’s truck idling on the side of the road. The driver's door was open and the lights were on, but no one was behind the wheel. I pulled over and parked, and as soon as I killed the engine, I could hear Austin shouting, “No, Dad! I’m not going!”

“The hell you aren’t! Get your ass in the goddamn truck, Austin!”

“What’s wrong with you?”

“Have it your way.”

Grim and I started walking toward the sound of their voices, and it wasn’t long before I spotted them in the backyard. I motioned my hand to the back corner of the lot as I whispered, “They’re around back.”

Austin was in nothing but a pair of plaid sleep pants, and his father had him by the arm, pulling him towards the road. It was dark, and there was no sign of his friend or his friend’s parents.

Austin was trying everything he could to break free from his grasp as he shouted, “Dad, stop! Get off me!”

They both stopped cold when I shouted, “Maddox!”

Maddox glanced back over his shoulder, and when he saw Grim and I standing there, he let go of Austin and growled, “You assholes have a lot of nerve showing up here.”

Ignoring Maddox, I looked to Austin and asked, “Where’s your sister?”

“She’s in Dad’s truck.”

“Get her and get in the house.”

“Don’t you dare,” Maddox snarled at his son. “You and your sister are leaving with me.”

“Go get her,” I pushed. “Now.”

Austin’s eyes skirted over to his father, and I thought for a moment that he was too scared to move. But then, he let out a defeated breath and started towards the truck. Grim and I kept our eyes on Maddox, making sure that he didn’t try to pull something stupid.

Austin opened the back door and waited as Chrissy got out. She was crying and looked terrified. The normally too cool teenager took his sister’s hand and led her up to the house. Once the door closed behind them, I snarled, “You went too far this time.”

Maddox started towards me with his chest puffed and roared, “Who the fuck do you think you are?”

I didn’t answer.

Didn’t need to.

As soon as he got close enough, he threw a wild punch and missed, hitting nothing but air. I grabbed his arm, twisting it back until he let out a howl. I lowered my mouth to his ear and snarled, “You hurt her. You’re gonna pay for that shit.”