Tank ran to the check-in desk at the hospital.

“Can I help you?” an older lady with white hair asked.

“My name is Tyler Wilde. I got a phone call about my mom, Clara Wilde. She’s been in a car accident.”

The woman gave him a puzzled look. “A car accident? We haven’t received any accident victims today.”

“You haven’t?”

“Tank,” Father hollered from the entrance of the hospital. “I got your message.”

“Why are you here? Why aren’t you with Annie?”

“I sent Sandi. I wanted to be here with you. How’s Clara?”

“I don’t know.” He turned to the receptionist again. “Can you please check again? Clara Wilde. Is she here?”

The lady punched her keyboard. “No sir. No patient by that name.”

“I don’t understand. There has to be. I got a phone call from the hospital…” He stopped.

Shit. No.

No. No. No.

He turned to Father. “We have to go. Something’s not right.”

The bastard. He used his own mother against him.

“What’s going on? I don’t understand?” Father kept pace beside him.

A wailing noise blared from his phone. He looked at the screen; the alarm’s app flashed bright red. “Oh God, Annie.” He darted for the door as a police cruiser flew by. “It’s Duke. He’s after her.”

“I’m coming with you.”

He hopped on his bike and prayed he wasn’t too late. If Duke did anything to hurt Annie, or Nathaniel, he’d kill the man with his own hands.

He sped past the police cruiser. In record time, Tank drove down his long drive. A blue pickup sat in his spot. Alfred lay on the ground, howling, as Sandi sat on the ground beside him.

He ran to his dog. “Oh, buddy.”

“A bullet pierced his hip. I’m trying to stop the bleeding.” She had her diner shirt over Al’s leg. “Don’t worry about Al. Go. Find Annie. I’ll get him to a vet,” she ordered just as Father and the police car pulled in.

“What happened?” Father yelled.

“He’s been shot,” Tank said.

The officer stood outside his unit. “I’ll call the station to alert the vet, let them know he’s coming,” the man said as he reached inside for his radio.

Tank ran through the house. “Annie,” he yelled. “Annie?” Milk covered the floor. He hurried to the back door. Something feathered lay motionless on the grass. He charged back through the front door yelling to the cop and Father. “He’s after her.”

“Who’s after her?” the uniform asked.

“Duke, the Chief of Police. That’s his truck.”

The officer glanced at the vehicle.

“He shot my dog, and he’s after Annie. They’re in the woods. She has a kid with her.”

“Why is Duke after Annie? That’s his fiancée.”

Tank stormed to the cop. “Ex-fiancée because the last time they were together he beat the shit out of her and nearly killed her. Just like he did my dog. Call for backup.”

The cop’s eyes grew wide in fear. There was no time to argue with this dipshit. He had to find Annie.

He ran for the back of his house and stared at the dead duckling in the grass.

“The uniform’s calling for backup.” Father ran after him. “Did Alfred do that?” The man pointed to the pile of feathers.

“No.” He ran toward the water. “Duke did. They’re in the woods.”

Annie knew these woods. She could be anywhere, but he had a feeling of where she might have gone. He started for the other side of the water, hoping his instincts were right. She’d go to a place where she used to feel safe. Her old home.

“Tyler, he has a gun. Wait for backup,” Father yelled.

“Not on your life, old man.” He sloshed through the water. ”Annie and Bear are both out there.”

“I’m coming, too.”

“No,” he shouted. “Get more help. Tell the police to circle around the woods. Annie’s old home is on the other side. She knows these woods better than anyone. They’re in here somewhere.”

“Be careful,” Father called and turned to run back to the house.

His adrenaline charged full steam as he raced into the trees, and prayed he was on the right trail. Why had he left her alone? All of this was his fault. All of it.

He went about fifty yards before he stopped to listen. He felt as if he were running in circles. All of the trees began to look the same.

The faint sound of Duke’s voice vibrated to his left, and what he hoped was backup to his right. Following the sound toward the monster, he was careful not to make too much noise. If he were lucky, he could charge the man from behind and knock his gun out of his grasp. Hold him steady until backup arrived. If I’m lucky.

He shot straight ahead until a little clearing came into sight. The chief stood straight in front of him, his back to him…and a gun in his hand by his side. Ten feet in front of Duke—Annie.

Still alive.

Thank God.

Where’s Bear?

He scanned the grounds, but didn’t see any sign of the boy. His heart hammered and he focused back on Annie. A log clutched in her grasp ready to be swung, her body in a batter’s position. If he charged, the monster could turn and shoot.

The man’s hand shook, his finger pulsing over the trigger as he favored one leg. “Annie, just come home. That’s all I want you to do. It doesn’t have to go this far.”

Beauty made eye contact with him, and he held his finger to his mouth. She quickly reverted her gaze back to the monster.

His mind raced, taking in his surroundings. He could charge straight ahead, but the chance he would get shot was too high. Several sticks and brush lie between him and the man. He glanced to his right—a giant tree, with gnarly limbs…and a branch so long it hung almost directly over the monster’s head.

If the maniac would just stay where he was…

Tank gripped the tree and pointed up to the branch above Duke’s head. Annie’s expressions never changed.

That a girl.

He reached for the branches, the bark digging into his hand. Slowly, he climbed, doing his best not to overexert himself. The last thing he needed was to take in a big breath. One so big and loud the monster could hear. He reached for a limb and it snapped. He stopped his momentum.

“Duke,” Annie raised her voice a little louder, surely to cover the noise he made in the tree. “Just put the gun down, okay? We can talk about me going home with you.”

The distraction worked. Tank slowly continued his ascent, thinking twice about where he placed his hands or his feet.

“Is that what you want, baby? For me to drop the gun?” He raised it up and stared at it, the barrel nonchalantly pointed at Annie.

Tank’s heart quickened as he stood to his full height. He focused his gaze straight ahead. Bear stared at him from an equally high limb across the path. Relief the boy was okay ran through him and tossed him off balance a little. Tightening his core, he focused straight ahead and braced his legs as he walked like on a balance beam out to the farthest end of the branch. He motioned for the boy to stay quiet. Nat nodded.

“Fine, Annie,” Duke said. “I’ll put the gun down. If you drop the stick and come here.” He dangled the gun from his middle finger.”

“O…Okay, Duke. I’ll put the stick down.” Hesitantly, Beauty laid her weapon on the ground and took a step closer.

Her move was his cue to act. He sucked in a deep breath, bent his knees, and leapt off the tree, his stomach flying to his chest as he soared downward. The side of his body crushed into Duke’s shoulder. Stars flashed in Tank’s eyes as his breath jerked from his lungs, and his ribs seared in pain. He lay on his side, fighting for breath as Duke scrambled to his hands and knees.

Move.

He had to move.

“Tyler, the gun,” Annie screamed, her voice quavered through his pain.

He crawled on the leaf-covered ground, reaching for the gun at the same time Duke did. Fighting for control with one hand, Tank reared his other arm back. The impact of his elbow to the man’s skull caused his own bones to ache. The firearm hit the ground as Duke’s eyes rolled back in his head and his body flopped over, motionless.

Rolling painfully to his side, Tank reached for the weapon and slid it out of Duke’s reach.

It was over. It was finally over.

“Oh my God, Tyler.” Annie ran to him and fell to her knees, wrapping her arms around him. “He told me you were dead. I thought you were dead.” She gripped his face, planting kisses on his cheeks, her hold on him weak and shaky.

“I’m here. More help is coming.” He squeezed her tighter, his ribs aching with each new breath he took in. “I am never letting you out of my sight again.”

“Your mom?”

“All a ruse. I never should have left you guys alone. I’m so sorry.”

“Tank, watch out,” Bear screamed from the tree.

He glanced to the side as Duke sat up, gripping another pistol in his hands. Annie let out a shrilling scream as he pushed her on the ground, rolling to cover her with his body. and reached for the other gun.

“Stop,” a voice screamed from the side.

Before he could grasp the pistol, a shot echoed in his ears. He ducked his head, squeezing Annie tighter as he waited to feel the impact, the pain.

“Oh my God, Tyler,” Beauty cried beneath him.

The world around him went silent, as an eerie pause took over…  the pain never setting in.

“It’s done. He’s dead,” the faintly familiar voice said.

Tank glanced at Annie, searching over her body. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah, I’m fine. Are you?”

“Yeah.” He rolled off of her and helped her to her feet, wincing at the sharp pain in his side.

Turning to see their savior, a man stood with his gun poised as Duke lay motionless on the ground, a bullet hole straight through his head.

“Brayden, oh thank God.” Annie leaned her weight into Tank.

He wrapped a protective arm around her as he stared at the man. He dressed in street clothes, but his face, he remembered seeing the officer at the diner. The short cop.

“Are you guys…” Brayden ran a hand over the back of his neck. “Are you guys okay?” Brayden asked.

The deep tone of the man’s voice resonated in Tank’s ears. The fake phone call? He was the one who made it. And the one who saved them?

None of it made sense.

Cops from every direction swarmed out of the woods, one officer holding back a K9. As they came closer, guns drawn, many of them stopped and stared at their dead Chief on the ground.

Tanks body heat soared seeing so many uniforms. His breathing escalated, and his grip on Annie clammed

They’re here to help. Calm down.

“Drop your weapon.” One yelled. He wore a star on his chest. The current sheriff.

Brayden threw his gun to the ground.

“Hands up, everyone.”

Tank let go of Annie and grimaced as he raised his hands over his head.

“What happened here?” The sheriff stepped closer, both hands still on his gun that rested at his side, while another officer came to secure the visible weapons on the ground.

“Officer Brayden, sir. Chief Fields held a gun at point blank range towered Wilde and Annie. I told him to stop, and he turned his weapon on me. I shot in self-defense,” Brayden answered.

“Someone call an EMT, and the coroner. Let’s get this mess cleaned up,” the sheriff demanded.

Another officer came over and demanded they both stand.  The man patted him, Annie, and Brayden down. “All clean, sir.”

The sheriff nodded. “You can all lower your hands. You two,” the leader said to him and Annie. “When you get back home, I’ll need statements. And you.” The man pointed to Brayden. “Why are you in street clothes?”

“I wasn’t on duty today, sir.”

“Then why are you here?”

All questions Tank had and wanted to know answers to.

“I…I…” Brayden stuttered.

“Don’t go too far.” The sheriff pointed a finger at the short cop. “And where is the kid? The officer at the house said a child was involved.” He swiveled his head from side to side.

Loud sobs came from above.

“Bear,” Tank hollered and hobbled toward the tree. “I’m coming.”

God, the poor boy. Beat by his father, and now he’d seen a man shot to death. Father’s counseling skills would have to work miracles.

Tank pushed up the tree, his sweaty palms hindering his grip as his body ached in protest. Still, he reached Bear’s branch. “Here, man. Grab on to my back.” He helped Nat get a good grip. “Just hold on. I’ve got you.”

Slowly, he brought the boy down, and set him on the ground. Lowering to one knee, he held Nat at arm’s length and watched as his lower lip trembled.

“It’s all okay. It’s all going to be okay.” He wrapped the boy in a hug, fresh tears moistening Tank’s shoulder.

Bear pulled back and looked at him in his eyes. “I told you that cop was bad.”

“I know buddy, I know.” He cuffed his hand around the back of Nat’s neck and guided his head back into his shoulder. “Just don’t look. We’re going somewhere safe.”

Annie joined their side, and eased her arms around both of them. “We’re all going to be safe now.”