Page 19
Chapter Nineteen
Jason
“Jase,” Mom whimpered. I did my best to hold her and the twins. The four of us were curled up beside the tiny princess’s bed.
“He’ll be home soon.”
Sleeping tonight wasn’t an option for either of us. Paul wasn’t a great man twelve years ago and I didn’t dare imagine how much worse he’d gotten. Gabe was a smart kid, though, hopefully he kept his eyes and ears open, and his mouth shut.
My phone had been blowing up with my band brothers checking in, but I had nothing to report so their messages went unanswered. I felt bad about that but I was terrified, though I did my best not to let it show. Mom needed my strength to draw from, not my weakness.
One minute you were up on stage on a high and the next it was crash and burn. Living in the limelight may have brought my family financial security but with it came a downside. How dare that fucker think he could take my brother. He had no right to him and if he wanted a court battle I’d fucking give him the ride of his fucking life.
I just hoped and prayed Gabe was okay.
And once he was, I’d make damn sure Paul wasn’t.
“Mommy, when is Gabe coming home?” Nolan’s innocent question was a shot to the heart. Neither he nor Nicole understood what was going on.
“Soon, baby, soon.”
“I wish Wyatt was here, he’d protect us.”
“He is, sweetheart. He’s just in another room working.”
“I want my nightlight and blankie,” Nolan wined, and I held him tighter.
Mom pulled the comforter off Nicole’s bed and draped it across us. “This will do for now. Why don’t you two cuddle up and think of this as a sleepover with Mommy and Jase.”
“I’m glad Jase is home. I missed you.”
“I missed both of you, too. You know I love you, right?” I felt there little heads bob up and down. “Why don’t I sing you a song?”
“Yes, please.” Nicole may be a bit of a hard ass, but she was just as scared as we were. I broke into their favorite lullaby I’d made up when they were little and by the end, they were sound asleep.
I hated not being a part of what was going on, seeing what Sikes and Snipe saw and keeping an eye out for my brother.
Once the twins were asleep, Mom and I tucked them into Nicole’s bed then leaned against it and held each other. She didn’t deserve any of this anymore than Gabe did.
“Mom, would you please consider finding a work from home job?”
“After this, that’s a given. Know of anyone who’s hiring?”
“As a matter a fact, I do.”
Me: Thank you for helping my family. I know you had a hand in all of this. You are by far one of the best men I know, all of which work for and with you.
Easton: Thank you, but let’s get your brother home safely before you thank me.
Me: Know of anyone hiring a work from home secretary or assistant?
Easton: Thinking of a different career path?
His levity was a warm welcome amidst the chaos and uncertainty.
Me: Nah, singing is in my blood. Looking for a way to keep my mom home with the kids.
Easton: Consider it done.
I turned the phone toward Mom so she could read the screen.
“How did we get so lucky? I mean, they don’t even know me or what my skillset is.”
“We busted our ass and finally found the open door.” That was the best way I could put it. “Don’t worry, within this growing organization there are plenty of opportunities that fit your skillset.”
Me: Consider me a free babysitter for life.
Easton: Oh, we’ll definitely take you up on that. Any update?
Me: No. Something happened and Fizzbo had Sikes and Snipe shut me, Mom, and the twins in the securest room of the house.
Easton: Fingers crossed that means this is nearing an end. Fizzbo is the best in his industry, trust in him.
Me: I do. Sikes and Snipe speak highly of him.
Fucking hell. I hoped so.
At some point, Mom and I dozed off and I woke the next day to a gentle press of lips to mine.
“Is Gabe home?” No good morning, straight to the important point.
Snipe shook his head. “No, but we believe they’re nearby so hopefully soon. Mom says breakfast is ready.”
The kids and Mom were already downstairs when Snipe and I came into the kitchen. Mom’s eyes were red and swollen. My anger shot up at what that piece of shit had done to all of us.
“Have you and Sikes slept yet?”
“The three of us slept in shifts.”
In other words, not much.
“Sikes and Fizzbo are on duty now upstairs. Both already ate. I’ll eat with you then I’ll watch the bottom floor.” Snipe took a seat beside me as Mom set a plate and a cup of coffee in front of us.
“Thanks, Mom,” we both said. She smiled, albeit briefly, and patted our shoulders, then started cleaning up the kitchen.
“I’m worried,” I whispered as low as I could. The twins were on the living room floor playing about twenty feet away from us. “It’s been too long.”
“The good thing is there have been sightings showing them moving this way. Unfortunately, the fucker is one step ahead of us. But if he reaches this point, we’ll be ready.”
“Have the sightings included Gabe or just Paul?”
“Included Gabe.”
How could they be that close yet out of reach? Something wasn’t adding up. Snipe’s pleading eyes asked me not to question the system. I only hoped their need for evidence didn’t put my brother further into harm’s way. At least that’s the assumption I was making. There was no way in hell I’d mention that to Mom, or she’d freak the fuck out. I was on the verge myself but knowing Sikes and Snipe weren’t out there helping, their frustration was as thick as ours and they weren’t who I needed to lash out at.
The kids were supposed to be back at school today but at this point Mom wasn’t even sure she’d ever take them back. We’d both be a nervous wreck with them out of sight. How was I expected to return to the road after this?
You’d regret giving up your career after you’d worked so hard to build it and the financial security that came along with it.
Yeah, but I’d regret losing my family even more. And look where the notoriety got me now.
Was every path in life a damned if you do, damned if you don’t scenario?
My phone was blowing up with everyone from my band brothers all the way up to Sal Masterson checking in on us. While I appreciated it, it was overwhelming at the same time. I typed a message back to Sal then just copied and pasted it to the rest of them. I wanted to shut my phone off but spent more time staring at the camera app than was healthy. But the urge to catch even the slightest glimpse of Gabe pushed me to stay glued to them.
Please, whoever is listening, bring my brother home safely.
The therapist Sikes and Snipe saw was about to add a family of five to her client list. It was unhealthy to feel as much rage as I did. For the first time in my life, I wanted to harm another human and that wasn’t like me. Paul triggered this rage and no matter the reason why he did this to us, it was unforgiveable.
I felt for every person out there searching for their missing loved ones. No one should ever have to feel this fear or this pain.
Heavy footfall overhead drew us from our thoughts. Seconds later Sikes and Fizzbo ran down while Snipe headed out with Fizzbo and Sikes’ hulking figure blocked the doorway.
“Wyatt! Wyatt!” Mom cried out. “Did they find my baby?”
“We have word though it’s unclear. Hayden and Fizzbo were asked to assist.”
If Snipe was called to assist, were they looking for a clean shot?
Sikes closed and locked the door and took a position near the front window just out of sight. “Jason, keep an eye on the cameras with me, please.”
Mom curled up on the floor with the sleeping twins cuddled to her sides. I was glad they fell asleep. They’d had enough these last twenty-four hours to scare them for a lifetime.
“There!” I shouted and pointed to the phone screen. “The house across the street. The trees behind it. There he is!” There was no way the guards didn’t know where he was. What were they waiting for? A written fucking invitation? “Why isn’t anyone stopping him?”
“Look to his right, Jason.”
Fuck.
Mom popped up.
“What is the shiny,” she cut herself off. “He’s got a knife to my baby’s throat!”
On top of that, Gabe’s hands were tied, and his mouth was gagged.
“Dana, I’m begging you. Please stay inside. Do not rush him and risk him hurting Gabe.” Sikes zoomed in on the camera. “Look at Paul. He’s strung out. He’s mumbling nonsense.” These cameras Fizzbo installed were fantastic. The audio and visuals were top notch. We zoomed in and saw the most intricate details and heard Paul’s voice very clearly.
Details so intricate we saw the tears running down Gabe’s face.
“He’s crying. My baby is crying.” And now so was our mother.
Slowly, Paul walked toward the house mumbling about seeing ‘the man’ and how the man was gonna get his when he was rich and took all our money. “I’m not afraid of you!” Paul shouted. His head whipped from side to side as though he had no control over it.
The man was filthy. His arms raw and his facial features had sunk in. He weighed next to nothing and the rags he wore were falling off him. This was not the same man my mother once dated. Not that he was great then but now, he was nothing more than an empty shell.
Guards were everywhere, no longer hidden. They along with the police officers had their guns drawn.
“They’ve got this, Dana, have faith.”
“I’ll have faith when my baby is safely wrapped in my arms again.”
I wanted nothing more than to run out there and get my brother away from him but acting on impulse rather than allowing those trained for these kinds of incidents would only further risk my brother’s life. And that wasn’t a risk I was willing to take.
“Come out, come out wherever you are, bitch!” Paul mumbled, wide-eyed and fidgety. “You and that rich boy of yours are gonna pay for cutting me out. I want my piece of that pie. You owe me.”
When our house came into view Gabe tried to pull away from him.
“Stop fidgeting! I’ll cut you, boy, don’t test me.”
“Let the boy go, Paul.” Fizzbo’s voice came through loud and clear even though he wasn’t visible.
“Is that you, God?” Paul stared up at the sky. “That bitch owes me. I raised that boy of hers that wasn’t mine.” Raised who? He didn’t so much as hand me a cup of water. “Now this one,” he squeezed Gabe tight. “This one’s mine and I might just keep him for myself.”
Fuck. That. Shit.
“Dana, Jason, I promise you there is no way he’s leaving with Gabe. Please, keep the little ones from watching this.”
Sure enough, both faces were glued to the window.
“Hey, do you guys want some ice cream?” Their sad faces stared up at me. “Why don’t you color a picture for Gabe while you eat ice cream so when he comes inside you have a gift for him.”
“Okay, Jase.”
Sikes mouthed thank you as I walked away with them. There was no way Mom was moving from where she was, nor would I expect her to. Sikes stood and wrapped his arm around her. As soon as he did that she full on lost it.
“I don’t like it when Mommy’s sad.” Nicole had such a kind heart.
“Me either, baby girl. But she’ll be fine as soon as Gabe comes inside.”
“I hope that bad man goes to jail,” Nolan shook his head. “Gabe looks sad.”
That he was. “That bad man will go to jail for a very long time.” I gave them a popsicle and sat them at the table. “I’ll be right back with your coloring books. Stay here for me, okay?”
“’Kay, Jase.”
“Can you get my princess one? I want to make Gabe a happy prince picture.”
“You got it.”
I don’t think I’d ever run so fast in my life. Not only did I want the twins set up and occupied but I wanted Gabe back in my line of sight.
“Make then do something, Wyatt. Is that blood? Wyatt, is that blood?”
Sikes and I zoomed in on the cameras and Gabe’s terrified face was like a shot to the fucking heart. But thank fuck it wasn’t his blood.
“Sikes, that’s Paul’s blood.” Not good. Fuck all knows what it was contaminated with. “They need to move and get him away from Gabe.” I knew why no one had fired off a shot yet. Paul’s erratic movements made it hard to get a clear one.
As soon as Sikes moved his arm off Mom, she made a break for it and took off out the front door.
“Mom, no!”
I yelled at the same time Sikes yelled, “Dana, no!”
But there was no stopping her.
“There you are, fucking bitch.” Paul made a grave mistake when he saw her. His hand slipped from Gabe and Gabe took off right for Sikes. Mom was hell bent on confronting Paul. “’Bout time you showed up. Now, where’s my money?”
The next few seconds felt like hours as they unfolded in slow motion. Mom wound up her fist and clocked him right in the face. Paul stumbled back and spit out blood. The cops and guards had their guns on him as Snipe and Fizzbo tackled him to the ground.
“Assault! Assault!” Paul screamed. “I’ll sue you for everything!”
“What assault?” Snipe asked Sikes.
“I didn’t see any assault,” Sikes said, handing Gabe over to Mom. “I didn’t see anything but your dumbass running into a tree.”
“I didn’t run into a tree.”
“Do you want to?” Sikes growled.
“No-no,” Paul stuttered.
“Don’t you ever come near my family again,” Mom told him.
“He won’t,” Fizzbo said as they lifted his ass off the ground. “He’s got a nice shiny jail cell in King County with his name on it. Reservation’s already confirmed.”
One of the cops handcuffed him as he read him his rights.
“You can’t arrest me. I haven’t done anything wrong. That’s my son, I just took him to spend some time with him.”
“Let’s go over the charges, shall we?” Fizzbo raised his hand and ticked them off one by one. “Kidnapping, unlawful detainment, extortion, assault with a deadly weapon, endangering a minor.”
“Not to mention the outstanding open drug and assault charges already pending against him,” the cop said as he loaded Paul into the back of the police cruiser. “You are going away for a long time.”
The police insisted the paramedics come and check Gabe out for any injuries and took pictures of the bumps and bruises Gabe had. Once that was over, Gabe took a shower while we fixed him something to eat. Fuck, that was by far the most terrifying thing that had ever happened to us and that was saying something considering how long we lived in shitsville.
“Gabey,” I hugged him for the millionth time. “Are you sure you’re okay?”
“Yeah, stop babying me.” His protest fell on deaf ears when he whispered, “I love you, Jase.”
“I love you, too, bro.”
“Was he really my dad, Mom?”
“I’m afraid so.”
“He was weird like he was on something. Why did you like him?” Gotta love an honest question from a kid.
“In the beginning he made me laugh and was quite handsome, believe it or not. Then things turned dark, and he took off when I got pregnant with you.”
“I hate him.”
“As do I, my love, though there’s a part of me that’s unable to hate him.”
“Why?”
“Because he gave me you and I love you.”
Gabe jumped up and ran over to the stove and hugged her. “I love you, too, Mom.”
“Mr. Fizzbo, my family can’t thank you enough for bringing Gabe back. Will you join us for dinner?”
“Thank you for the offer, Dana, I appreciate the invite, but I have a husband to get home to and an anniversary to celebrate.”
“Well, make sure and tell that man how lucky he is to have you.” Mom hugged him.
“I’m the lucky man. Kensey is my everything.”
The entire family hugged and thanked Fizzbo before he left. We owed him everything and we made sure he knew that. The second that man needed anything we could give him, it was his. Nothing could replace a brother, mother, sister, lover—anyone who held a piece of your heart.