Finally Found (Doms of Destiny, Colorado 10)

Jacob looked in every direction for Carrie but still couldn’t find her. His gut tightened. She is supposed to be here playing the game.

“There’s Ethel,” Josh said, running beside him. “Maybe she’s seen Carrie.”

“This is an emergency.” Ethel looked up from her cell as they stepped next to her. “Boys, Carrie is in trouble. She told me to call 9-1-1 and ran to Jena’s house. I have the sheriff on the phone. Go. Run.”

* * * *

Still on the floor with Willie bent over her, Carrie heard Kimmie upstairs singing to her music playing loudly on her stereo. Thank God, she can’t hear what is going on.

I brought my monster to the steps of this house, the home of the only family I’ve ever known.

She would make sure Willie left Destiny, the place where she’d found true love with Josh and Jacob. It broke her heart to think she would never see them again, but she had no other choice. Leaving with Willie now was the only way to make sure Kimmie was safe.

“I’ll go with you,” she said, staring into his evil eyes and praying he would leave without harming Kimmie. “Let’s go now. You and me.”

“That’s my girl.” Willie pressed his knee into her chest, making it difficult to breathe. “First things first. Where’s my money?”

“It’s not here.” The truth. “I put it in a safe place back in Texas.” A lie.

He slapped her across the face again, and the smoke thickened in her mind. “Lies, you little slut. Tell me where my money is now if you value your life.” The instant he reached for his gun, she kicked him with all her might in the groin.

He groaned and doubled over on top of her, pinning her to the floor with his weight.

I need to get to Kimmie. I need to get her away to safety.

With every ounce of strength left inside her, she tried to wiggle out from under him, clawing at his face with her fingernails. The smoke was so thick it choked every thought that came across in her mind.

“Fucking bitch!” He wrapped his fingers around her neck and began squeezing until she could no longer breathe. “I want my money, whore. I want it now. Give it to me. It’s mine.”

Trying to fight him off, she remembered telling Ethel to call 9-1-1. Someone must be coming. Kimmie must be safe.

She realized her life was slipping away. Willie continued choking her, but his screams seemed distant, fading with each second that passed.

She closed her eyes, and all she could see was the smoke. The damn smoke. It had haunted her year after year, crushing all her hopes and dreams. Through the smoke, she heard Josh and Jacob’s voices. They loved her, and she loved them.

The smoke vanished and images of Josh and Jacob floated in front of her.

* * * *

Hearing Willie ranting, Josh bolted into the kitchen with Jacob. When he saw the fucker on top of Carrie choking her, an all-consuming fury blasted out of him. No thinking. Just raw, primal action. He and Jacob charged, knocking Willie off of Carrie and flattening the bastard to the ground.

Willie pulled out a gun, but Jacob was able to wrestle it away from the motherfucker.

Josh pounded his fists into the bastard’s face, again and again, until Willie’s head fell back against the tiles with a loud thud, the asshole’s eyes swollen shut and his breathing shallow.

Vibrating with pure rage, it took all Josh’s willpower to stop from killing the man.

“You got him?” Jacob asked, his face tight and his eyes dark.

“Yes. Check on Carrie.” He kept hold of Willie just in case the bastard regained consciousness and glanced back at Carrie. He spotted Jena’s mother lying on the floor across the room. The only thing his eyes had focused on was Carrie when he’d run into the kitchen. Clearly, Carrie wasn’t the only one Willie had harmed.

“Carrie’s breathing, Josh. The color in her face is returning. She’s opening her eyes.”

Thank God. “Check on Jena’s mom.”

Jacob moved quickly to the fallen woman. “Janet is breathing but has a big gash on her forehead. She and Carrie both need medical attention now.” Jacob brought out his cell, but before he could make a call, Sheriff Wolfe and Doc Ryder came in with their guns drawn. Doc also carried his medical bag. Josh recalled Ethel had called 9-1-1. That was the reason the sheriff and Doc had come so quickly. More would be arriving soon.

“Any other intruders?” the sheriff asked, tossing over a pair of handcuffs.