Page 22 of Big Daddy Sheriff

Alyssa awoke with a start.

She sat up abruptly to find she was covered in a cold sweat. She reached desperately for her phone, but her fingers only found emptiness on the side of the bed where her nightstand usually was. In a panic, she grappled in the darkness some more until she realized where she was.

Quinn’s house.

A sense of calm washed over her.

The dream had been vivid. So vivid, in fact, that she’d mistaken it for reality.

She drew a deep breath, exhaled, then reached where the nightstand actually was. She found her phone and checked the time. It was just past one in the morning.

With a heavy sigh, she laid down and closed her eyes. She stayed that way for twenty agonizing minutes, yet sleep nevercame. Alyssa tossed and turned. At one point, she even kicked the covers off.

Nothing worked.

She knew what she needed. Or ratherwhoshe needed.

Had Quinn truly meant it when he said to wake him regardless of the time?

She felt foolish for needing him. But maybe he would drive the nightmares away. Perhaps in his arms she’d no longer dream of Lana and the awful fate that awaited if she ever found her.

In Quinn’s arms? Listen to yourself, Alyssa. Do you expect him to just hold you all night? He doesn’t think of you that way. Sure, maybe he’s entertained the notion. But it’s only because you’re around. He’s a Daddy in search of a Little and you happen to be convenient. He doesn’t want the fat girl, though. No Daddy does.

She tried another five minutes to fall asleep on her own, but now the self-consciousness and doubt mixed with the fear to form a nearly overwhelming wave of anxiety. It threatened to sweep her away into an abyss of hopelessness.

She hurried from the guest bedroom, across the living room, and straight to Quinn’s bedside.

He must have sensed her presence because he said, “What’s wrong?”

He was up quickly.

“I, uh… I’m scared!” she cried.

Her shoulders shook violently as she burst into uncontrolled tears.

“Honey,” Quinn said softly. “You’re safe here. Come on. Uncle Quinn’s got you.”

He put his arms around her and reeled her close. She couldn’t explain how it happened, but the moment her cheek was resting against his strong chest, she felt safe. Everything else just melted away.

As she lay nestled closely against him, she drifted off to sleep in a matter of moments.

It was the sweetest sleep of her life.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

Hector and Bruce arrived in Big Cedar with the morning sun.

They’d left Little Rock early. It took them a little under three hours to reach their destination. Neither of them wanted to be there longer than they had to be. There was no reason to drag this out. So, they figured an early start would help move the proceedings along.

With any luck, they’d have this wrapped up by lunchtime.

How hard could it be, after all?

They were after one girl in a sleepy little hick mountain town. Should be an easy job.

“Does Lana want us to kill her here?” Bruce asked.

“Nope,” Hector said. “Wants us to bring her back.”

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