I wake up the next morning and know before I even walk down the stairs that Jaxson never came home last night.
Where did he go? Is he ever going to come back?
It’s that last thought that sends a fresh wave of tears. Damn it. I wipe under my eyes trying to catch them before they fall, not wanting to wreck my make-up. I walk into the kitchen to see Sawyer and Cade at the table, they’re arguing under harsh tones but stop abruptly when they spot me.
Sawyer stands up, “Hey Julia.”
I give him a sad smile, “Hi. Did you guys hear from him at all?”
They both shake their heads regretfully. “Me either,” I whisper sadly, trying to keep the tears at bay that desperately want to fall.
Sawyer walks over and hugs me, “I’m sure you will hear something today.”
I nod, not feeling very convinced. Suddenly I hear a key in the door. My heart rate kicks up thinking it’s Jaxson but my hopes deflate quickly when Kayla walks in.
She stops short, “Uh hey. I used the key because I didn’t want to wake Jaxson up.” Her gaze takes us all in then she notices my teary eyes, “He’s not here?”
I shake my head.
Kayla flushes red with anger, “Well that son of a bitch. What did he do? I’m going to kick his fucking ass.”
Sawyer grunts, “Get in line.”
Kayla walks over and hugs me, “You should have called me Julia. I would have come over and stayed with you.”
I shook my head, “It’s alright. Sawyer and Cade stayed with me and we have a big day ahead of us. I didn’t want you to be tired for it.”
Kayla looks at me sympathetically, “We don’t need to go today Julia. We can reschedule and just hang here.”
I shake my head immediately, rejecting the idea fast, “No! I’m looking forward to this. We are not going to let this ruin today. Plus it will be good for me, help me keep my mind off him.”
Ya right.
“Are you sure?” Kayla asks again.
“Yes!”
“Alright, we better get moving then to make it on time for the first appointment.”
“Ok just give me a second,” I grab a banana and an oatmeal bar to eat on the way. Then I walk over and hug Sawyer, “Thank you, for everything last night.”
“No problem Julia. You have my cell number, right? If you need anything today make sure you call. Otherwise if that dick-head isn’t back when you get home, we will be.”
I smile and nod, “Ya I have it.”
Next I walk over to Cade, giving him a hug too. He surprises me when he pulls me close, and gives me a real hug, not one of his usual uncomfortable ones.
When we break apart I look at them both, “Will you guys try finding him today? Just check in and make sure he’s alright?”
Cade nods, “Ya we will.”
“Thanks,” I whisper weakly, then I walk out the door with Kayla close behind.
The car ride is filled with silence and sadness. We turn on I-90 heading towards Charleston; the highway is completely deserted.
“Is it me, or does it feel like we’re the only ones alive on this planet right now?” I joke trying to lighten the mood.
Kayla chuckles, “It’s Sunday, everyone’s at church. I have to say though, it’s nice driving with no other traffic.”
It is nice- the sun is shining and we have Kayla’s sun roof open. The heat beaming down on us, with a mixture of fresh air filling the car, brings a little peace to my aching heart.
“Well damn, looks like we spoke too soon,” Kayla says breaking me from my thoughts.
I look behind me to see a silver truck coming up behind us. Turning back around I rest my head against the window and stare out sadly.
“Are you sure you’re going to be okay Julia?
“Ya I…” my words die abruptly and I gasp when my head jerks forward.
“What the fuck?” Kayla says panicked, gripping the steering wheel, “What the hell is he doing?”
I turn around and realize the silver truck just rear ended us and he’s not easing up, he’s staying right on our ass. Kayla pulls in the other lane and he follows tailing close behind us.
“Oh my god, what is his problem?” I ask shakily.
Kayla speeds up and so does he. My stomach sinks with dread and I realize we are in serious trouble. Kayla glances in the rear view mirror, “Do you recognize him? Can you see him? I can’t tell.”
I shake my head, “No, I think he’s wearing a hat and sunglasses. I don’t recognize the truck either.”
Suddenly the truck pulls up along Kayla’s side and the driver turns the wheel sharply, side-swiping us. We both scream, “Holy fuck he’s trying to run us off the road! Julia grab my cell and call 911. Hurry!”
I reach into the console where Kayla’s phone is plugged into the charger. My shaking fingers barely able to dial the three numbers that I need.
The asshole rams us again as I’m dialing.
“Son of a bitch,” Kayla yells in fury, stepping on the gas.
“911, what’s your emergency?”
“Please help us! My friend and I are on I-90 heading west to Charleston, there is a silver truck trying to run us off the road.”
“Okay ma’am just stay calm and…”
That was the last I heard before he hit us again, this time causing the car to spin out of control. Everything happened in slow motion, our screams fill the air, sounding distant even to my own ears. The car flies off into the ditch, rolling several times. Glass shatters and reins all around us, nicking the delicate skin on my face.
The baby.
The quick thought has me throwing my arms around my mid-section, hoping to offer some protection. My seat belt cuts into my hips, painfully restraining me in my seat. Finally the car stops rolling and we land upright in the ditch.
I sit stunned for a minute trying to absorb what just happened. Looking over at Kayla I see her slumped forward on the steering wheel, blood dripping down her forehead.
That snaps me out of my shock, “Oh my god, Kayla? Oh god.” I start sobbing, “Kayla, wake up,” I shake her shoulder then remember I shouldn’t touch her. With trembling hands I undo my seat belt and look for her phone. Realizing I still have my purse around my shoulder I start digging through it trying to find my own when my door flies open startling me.
I look over with a yelp to see Wyatt. “Wyatt!?” Looking around I quickly realize it was him in the silver truck. “What the hell are you doing!?” I scream sobbing, “are you fucking crazy?”
He doesn’t answer, his rough hands grab me and start pulling me out of the car, “No! Let go of me!” I scream at the top of my lungs and start hitting him. I hit the ground and distantly register pain but I’m too hyped with fear and adrenaline to fully feel it.
Grabbing me by my hair he starts dragging me towards his truck. “Ow! Stop it! Get off me you son of a bitch!” I kick and fight feeling my hair being ripped from my scalp. “Kayla! Kayla, wake up!” I scream her name willing her to wake up, terrified she’s never going to.
Wyatt twists our positions so he’s standing over top of me, still holding hand fulls of my hair. He whips his sun glasses off, his eye full of rage. His craze-filled expression has me whimpering in fear.
Finally he speaks for the first time, “Shut the fuck up you dirty whore!” He raises his fist, smashing it into my face, then everything goes black.
A few hours later I’m pulling into the gym. I got a text from Sawyer an hour after leaving Anna’s telling me to meet him here. I told him I wanted to see Julia first but he reminded me that she and Kayla were gone dress shopping today.
Cade, Sawyer and Cooper are all standing by the ring looking pissed when I walk in. Well fuck, I can tell already this is going to get messy. Shaking my head I start towards them. As soon as Sawyer spots me he starts over, meeting me halfway. His posture is relaxed and easy but his eyes are blazing fury.
Before I can fully register his anger he catches me off guard, throwing a left hook to the side of my jaw. My head snaps back and I fall on my ass, not expecting the blow.
“You sorry son of a bitch!” he yells coming at me again.
This time I’m ready for him. Standing up I block his next blow and take a shot of my own.
“Jesus Christ! Take it easy, both of you,” Cooper bellows, pulling me back.
Cade grabs Sawyer and restrains him. I wait for rage to consume me so I can take off Sawyer’s head, but it never comes, because I know I deserved it.
“Is she alright?” I ask quietly.
“No! She’s not fucking alright! What the fuck is wrong with you? I walk in and find your woman on the floor, surrounded by broken glass. Crying her fucking eyes out that you don’t love her or want the damn baby you knocked her up with.”
A sharp ache seizes my chest and I shake my head in defeat, “I know I fucked up.”
“You’re goddamn right you fucked up! And I hope she cans your sorry ass.”
His words set me off and I fight against Cooper’s hold, “Oh I’ll just fucking bet you do. I’m sure you just fucking loved being there for her last night, trying to console her.”
“Oh fuck you, asshole. You know I would never do that to you. I have more respect for both of you than that. But I’ll tell you something, it would have served your ass right. Have someone else step in and take care of her since you sure as hell can’t.”
Our chests are both heaving with fury and I try to calm the rage, knowing everything Sawyer says is true.
Suddenly Cooper’s radio goes off at his hip, “Sheriff?”
Cooper keeps a hand on my chest and reaches down grabbing his radio, “Ya what is it?”
“I’m sorry sir, but you need to get over to the hospital right away. Kayla’s been in a bad accident.”
Julia!
Without a second thought the four of us are running out the door. “Get in,” Cooper yells for us to hop in his cruiser. He flicks on the sirens and hauls ass.
As soon as we break through the emergency doors we hear Kayla crying and yelling, “Please you’re wasting time. You need to find her!”
We follow the sound of her pleas and run into her room. Kayla is sitting up at the side of her bed with a bandage wrapped around her head. Her face is cut and swollen. Grace is sitting beside her, holding her hand and crying.
“Where’s Julia?” I ask looking around frantically.
Before Kayla can answer Cooper pushes me aside and rushes over to her, “Jesus baby, are you alright? What the fuck happened?”
“Oh god, Cooper, you need to help Julia.”
“Where the fuck is she?” I ask again.
My stomach clenches in dread when Kayla starts crying harder, “He took her. He fucking took her.”
Panic threatens to choke me, “Who, goddamn it?”
“Wyatt! He ran us off the road. I passed out but I woke up to her screaming my name. He was dragging her by her hair to his truck, then he hit her.” She starts sobbing uncontrollably, “Oh god Cooper, he hit her so hard that she stopped screaming, he knocked her out.”
My knees threaten to buckle under me. A mixture of fear and rage has my heart pounding so loud it’s all I can hear.
Fuck no! No! No! No!
“Jaxson man, take it easy. We’ll find her.” I hear Sawyer’s voice in the distance.
“Fuck! He’s fucking dead! I’m going to fucking kill him!”
Arms try to grab me while shit flies all over the place. A force knocks into me from behind, taking me to the ground.
“Goddamn it man, get fucking control over yourself. You’re trained for shit like this Jaxson. So get your fucking head together or you’re not going to be able to help her.”
Cade’s words breaks through the rage that consumes me.
My chest heaving with fury and fear I close my eyes and try to calm down, knowing he’s right.
Jesus Julia, I’m so fucking sorry.
“You good?” Cade asks a minute later through an exerted breath.
I nod, “Ya, I’m good.”
He gets off me and helps me up. I look at our surroundings and see the damage I caused. A chair is splintered in a million pieces, a table and tray lay on it’s side, it’s medical tools scattered all over the place.
I run my hand through my hair, “Shit, I’m sorry.”
Grace nods at my apology, looking ghost white. Kayla continues to cry, “Cooper, please. You guys need to go find her.”
I walk over to her, “Kayla, did you hear anything else? Did he say anything about where he was taking her?
She shakes her head crying harder.
A deputy speaks up now, “Sheriff, we have the 911 recording Miss Julia made during the accident. The operator stayed on the line while the crash happened, we have her being taken on tape.”
Cooper nods then looks at Kayla regretfully, “Jesus I don’t want to fucking leave you right now.”
“Cooper listen to me,” Kayla says, taking his face in her hands, “I’m going to be fine. Julia needs you now, more than I do. You’re the best, please go find her.”
“I’ll stay with Kayla,” Grace says through her own tears.
“Alright,” Cooper agrees reluctantly. Then he kisses Kayla, “I love you.”
His three simple words strike a chord deep inside me. I never fucking said them to Julia, all because I was too scared. Now she’s god knows where, scared and alone, thinking I don’t love her or our baby…
Fuck! The baby.
I look at Sawyer and Cade, “Let’s go.” I take off out the door and sprint down the hall.
“Jaxson hold up,” Cooper says catching up behind me, but I don’t stop.
“Goddamn it, I said hold up.” When he grabs my arm I throw him into the wall and get into his face.
“I don’t fucking have time to hold up. I need to find her now.”
“What, you’re going to fucking do it without me?” Cooper asks angrily.
I shake my head regretfully, “I have no choice Cooper, right now the law means nothing to me and it’s not going to. That son of a bitch took my girl and my baby; he’s fucking dead.”
“Listen Jaxson, I get where you’re coming from, I do. I want to kill the bastard myself. But right now you need the law on your side. I have resources that you don’t. Working together is only going to find her faster.”
“He’s right Jaxson,” Sawyer says cutting in, “think about Julia and the baby, they need you when this is over.”
I keep my eyes trained on Cooper, “Do you understand what I’m telling you? The only thing that matters to me is getting Julia and my baby out alive, and I will stop at nothing to do it, even if it means breaking the fucking law. Are you prepared for that?”
“Do you really think my first priority isn’t the same as yours? She means a lot to me too Jaxson.”
I nod knowing he’s right, “Alright then, let’s fucking go, time’s wasting.”
“Sheriff?” a deputy yells coming over, “I just got word from Reynolds that Wyatt’s home has been searched and cleared, no sign of either him or Miss Julia.”
“Alright, I want all property records pulled under Jennings, that includes his old man. Also bring Ray in for questioning, we’ll meet you there.”
“Yes sir.”
The four of us hop in Cooper’s police cruiser and head to the station.
Jesus Julia, hold on baby, please, just hold on.