Chapter 24

Sandy jolted up in the bed. Another nightmare of the night Scott had shot her, but this time Ruby stood in front of her full of blood and blaming her for everything. She glanced over to the other side of the bed. Ian was staring up at her. For the last two nights, he’d been waking her up from nightmares and holding her after.

“Do you want to talk about this one?” Ian sat up and pulled her into his arms.

“Ruby was there blaming me for everything.” Sandy swallowed hard. She didn’t have time to be emotional about all this.

“Just so you know, none of this is your fault,” Ian whispered.

Sandy nodded, but she wasn’t sure he was right. If she hadn’t asked Scott about Tessa that night, he never would have gone after her. Evie would have her mother and Sandy would have her little girl.

A couple of deep breaths and she managed to keep the tears from starting again. She glanced out through the window. The sun was just coming over the horizon. It was time to get up and face the day.

“Why don’t you try and get a little more sleep? I’m gonna jump in the shower and head downstairs. Maybe there were some developments overnight.” Ian kissed her cheek and got out of bed. She watched him saunter into the bathroom. The man’s ass made her want to squeeze and bite every inch of it. She was about to jump out of bed and join him, but her phone buzzed.

She snatched it off the side table and looked at the screen. She didn’t recognize the number, and her heart began to pound. She tapped the screen and put the phone to her ear. The first thing she heard was Ruby’s cries for help.

“No, please no,” Ruby begged. “Stop, please.” Then there was a long scream.

“Ruby,” Sandy yelled into the phone.

“Ruby can’t come to the phone right now. She’s entertaining.” She knew that voice.

“Scott, let her go. She didn’t do anything to you. It’s me you want.” Sandy knew it was a stupid thing to say.

“Yes, I do. I want to hear you scream just like this.” Ruby screamed again, and Sandy started to shake. “You really like that don’t you, Rubes?”

“Please, stop.” Ruby sounded weak, but she was alive.

“Tell Sandy you want her to make this stop.” Scott was so sadistic it made Sandy want to vomit.

“Sandy, help me, please.” Ruby cried into the phone. Then another scream.

“Scott, what do you want?” She really should be letting someone know he was on the phone but she wasn’t taking a chance he would hang up before he gave her something.

“I want to make you suffer. I’ve been on the run for nearly nine years because of you and that fucking prick. I’m going to make you both suffer.” He growled into the phone.

“Then come get me. Hurting Ruby isn’t going to make you feel any better. I’m the one you want to make scream. Come get me, Scott.” Sandy taunted.

“Do you think I’m really that stupid? I come get you and one of those fuckers come out and kill me.” He was right. Nobody was going to let him near the house.

“Then I’ll come to you, but you have to let Ruby go.” Sandy was playing with fire.

“You’d trade yourself for her?” Another scream from Ruby.

“I’ll trade myself for Ruby.” What was she saying? Ian was going to be furious, and Keith was going to kick her in the ass, but she didn’t know what else to do. It was her fault Ruby was in this situation.

“Yeah, and then your boys come charging in. I told you I’m not stupid.”

“No, I won’t let them know. Scott, I’ll even leave my phone here and my weapon.” What the hell was she saying? She was going completely against her training as a police officer and the training she received from Newfoundland Security Services.

“You’re really going to trade your life for Ruby?” Scott seemed shocked, but then he laughed. “Now I get it. You feel guilty for Tessa’s death.”

“Just tell me where to meet you and when. I’ll be there. Then you let Ruby go. She has nothing to do with this.” While she waited for him to respond, she ran scenarios of how to pull it off through her head. Scott was quiet for what seemed like forever, and Sandy kept glancing at the bathroom door to make sure Ian didn’t hear her conversation. She could hear the water shutting off, and she started to pace. “Scott, do we have a deal?”

“Keep your phone close. I’ll text you the directions, but if you betray me, Alexandra, I will kill Ruby, and I can assure you it will be slow and painful.”

“I won’t betray you.” Sandy ended the call just as Ian walked out of the bathroom.

“I figured you’d be sleeping.” He rubbed a towel vigorously around his hair.

“I couldn’t go back to sleep. I’m going to grab a shower, and I’ll meet you downstairs.” Sandy hurried around Ian and into the bathroom grasping her phone tightly in her hand. She closed the bathroom door and pressed her back against it. She took a couple of deep breaths to calm her pounding heart. After a few minutes, she’d finally stopped shaking, but her phone buzzed in her hand making her almost drop it.

“I told you to let me know when and where.” Sandy didn’t look at the screen when she answered.

“I’m not sure what you mean, Sandy.” Her father’s voice. Damn it. This was something she really didn’t need.

“Dad, I’m kind of in the middle of something right now…” Sandy started, but her father cut her off with a tone she’d never heard from him since she’d first spoke to him.

“I know what you’re in the middle of my dear. Do you know one of the biggest men I've ever seen in my life has become my shadow? I’m worried about you, Sandy. Why didn’t you ever tell me about this?” He sounded hurt.

“It’s not something I like to talk about, but I promise I’ll make the time to tell you when this is all over,” Sandy said, but then an idea hit her. “You know what dad. I need to get out of here. I’ll come by, and I’ll tell you everything.”

“You will?” The shock in his voice made her feel guilty, but this was probably the only way she was going to be able to sneak off without someone asking questions.

“Yes, I’ll be there in an hour.” Sandy ended the call and held the phone to her chest. Now all she had to do was be able to convince Ian, and Keith let her go by herself or with someone besides either of them. This wasn’t going to be easy.

“You’re not fucking going,” Keith growled.

“I’m going, and I really don’t give a shit what you say. He’s my father, and he’s in the dark about all this.” Sandy snapped.

“Keith, I’ll be with her,” Ian said.

“No,” Sandy said a little louder than she meant to.

“I’m going with you, Sandy.” Ian’s eyes narrowed.

“I want to talk to my dad alone.” Sandy glanced down at her phone. Scott still hadn’t messaged her.

“Listen to me, kiddo. If you go and I’m not saying you are, Either Ian or myself will be going along with Hulk.”

“Yeah, cause the huge guy you have at dad’s place now is not enough,” Sandy said sarcastically. “Who is it anyway?”

“He’s a guy I hired from the United States. He used to be in the military. His name is Caden Dixon, but he goes by Rex.” Keith shook his head. “Don’t try to change the subject.”

“Keith, I’m going.” Sandy grabbed her purse from the counter. When she turned toward the door, Ian was opening the front door and jiggling the keys. Fuck.

“Me or Keith. Which would you rather take a drive with?” Ian smiled, and she wanted to punch him. Of course, she would pick Ian but the fewer people she had to shake the better.

“Fine,” Sandy sighed.

Hulk, aka Bruce Steel, followed behind Ian’s truck in a black car. She kept glancing at her phone and checking her purse. Her weapon was inside because Keith wanted to make sure she had it. Was she really going to see Scott without it? Of course not, she wasn’t an idiot. She just had to hide it when she came face to face with the man.

“What’s wrong, besides the obvious?” Ian must have noticed her distraction.

“I’m just trying to figure out a way to explain all this to him.” Sandy lied, and it hit her in the gut like a punch. She didn’t want to lie to the man she loved, but she had to make sure Ruby was safe.

“Sandy, don’t hand me that bullshit.” Ian didn’t look at her.

“What are you talking about?”

“There is no bloody way the only reason you’re going to see your father is to explain all this. I’m not stupid, and I’m pretty sure Keith isn’t.” He stopped at a red light and glanced at her. “What are you doing?”

“I’m just going to tell dad about all this and then I’m going back home. That’s it.” Sandy wouldn’t look at him because he’d know she was being dishonest.

“For the record. I don’t believe that.” Ian snapped, and her heart felt like it was going to break. It was evident he knew she was lying and he was pissed.

The rest of the drive to her father’s house was quiet. The only time Ian spoke was when he called Keith to let him know they’d made it to town and were pulling onto her father’s property. She had no problem finding the guy Keith had sent to watch over her father. Rex stood outside the front door his hand clasped in front of him as if frozen in place. He was definitely military.

“You must be Caden.” Sandy forced a smile as she walked up the front steps to her father’s house.

“Call me Rex.” His deep voice boomed, and she could hear the slight Georgia accent he was trying to hide.

“Sorry, I don’t usually call the guys by their nicknames,” Sandy said.

“I don’t answer to anything but Rex.” He replied.

“Well, Okay then. Rex this is Ian O’Connor, and that’s Bruce standing next to the truck.” Sandy pointed down to the end of the driveway.

“I already know Hulk, and Rusty sent me photos of both of you,” Rex said.

“I’m gonna go see my dad,” Sandy shook her head and walked by Rex. “Thanks for the enjoyable conversation.” Ian probably didn’t miss the sarcasm because he chuckled.

“He’s waiting in the study,” Rex said.

Sandy could count on her hands how often she’d been inside her father’s huge house. She should feel a little guilty using his huge home to sneak away from everyone, but it was necessary. There was just one small problem. She still hadn’t heard from Scott, and it made her worry he wasn’t going to take the bait.

Ian followed her into her father’s study. At first, she didn’t see her dad until she turned to see him crouched down on the floor in front of a huge cat. She didn’t even know her father had a pet.

“Dad, I’m here.” When her father turned to see her, Sandy gasped. He looked like he’d aged ten years since the last time she saw him, that day in the hospital when Ian kicked him out.

“I see you’re not alone either.” Her father nodded at Ian.

“Mr. Michaels, it’s good to see you again.” Ian reached out his hand.

“You too Dr. O’Connor.” Her father shook Ian’s hand.

“Ian, please.” Ian always seemed to be uncomfortable with anyone calling him Doctor.

“I do want to apologize for that day in the hospital. I’ve recently come to realize that I haven’t been the nicest person for most of my life.” Her father reached out and touched her shoulder hesitantly. “I haven’t been a very good father either.”

“It’s not too late Mr. Michaels.” Leave it to Ian to see the positive in things.

“I’m afraid sometimes it’s hard to repair all the damage you’ve done.” Something about the way her father’s eyes studied her face made her blood run cold.

“Dad, is something wrong?” Sandy glanced at Ian. He seemed to know something was up as well.

“That’s a story for another day. Now tell me how all this got started.” He motioned to the large leather sofa. She felt Ian’s hand on the small of her back as he guided her toward the couch.

Sandy managed to explain everything to her father just before she felt the vibration of her phone in her pocket. She didn’t pull it out because Ian was next to her and would be able to read the screen.

“Dad, I need to use your washroom.” Sandy stood up and headed toward the door to the study.

“Sandy, there’s a bathroom right there.” He pointed to a door in the study.

“I’ll use the one down the hall.” Sandy was out the door of the room before her father could say anything else. It probably looked suspicious to Ian but she needed to be able to sneak out through the back, and she couldn’t do that from the bathroom in the study.

She reached the bathroom at the end of the hallway next to the kitchen. She hurried inside and pulled out her phone. There was a text from Scott.

I know you’ve arrived in St. John’s. Never mind how I know, but I’m assuming the reason you’re at your father’s house is so you can give that boyfriend of yours the slip. It’s going to be interesting to see how you get free of those muscle bound idiots.

How the hell did he know where she was? There was no way he could trace her phone. Smash made sure of that with a program he wrote to block unwanted tracking. The only problem was Smash could still trace her. Scott had to have someone watching her. Her phone buzzed again.

Wondering how I know where you are, Alexandra? Come meet me, and I’ll tell you.

She started and stopped typing a message to him at least four or five times before she came up with the perfect response.

Give me the place, and I’ll be there. You don’t have to worry about anyone following me.

She waited for a response, and at first, it didn’t seem like she was going to get one. Then she saw the text pop up on her screen. Her heart raced as she stared at the address on the screen. How was this even possible. Her father’s house was directly behind the address on her screen. She opened the blind of the small bathroom window and gasped.

The back of her father’s property was not an easy escape. Completely enclosed by trees on the back she didn't know how thick the trees were. She knew there was a subdivision on the other side of the greenbelt because her father recently gotten into the real estate market and had several subdivisions going up around his neighborhood. The address Scott texted was one of those subdivisions. As far as she knew, nobody lived in any of the homes yet. She remembered Kim saying her father was having issues selling the lots. Was it possible Scott was hidden in one of them?

Sandy didn’t have time to figure that out because she needed to get out of the house before Ian or her father came looking for her. She pushed up the window, glanced outside, and took a deep breath. As she propped her foot on the toilet seat and shoved the pocket-sized semi-automatic Derringer into her boot, Sandy kept taking deep breaths. With her purse and cell phone on the back of the toilet, Sandy blessed herself and lifted herself onto the window ledge. She’d set her phone to send a message to Keith in twenty minutes. That would give her enough time to trick Scott into believing she was at his mercy. She looked outside and made sure nobody was doing a check on the back of the house.

“Mom, I hope you’re keeping an eye down here. I really need you to watch over me right now.” Sandy whispered.  She jumped out through the window and crouched down. She took another scan of the back.

“God help me.” Sandy blessed herself and ran as fast as she could into the line of trees. “Please, God. Give me a hand here.