Page 74 of Echoes of Fear

“What? No, Papa, it’s dark. I’ll get lost. I’ll die in the woods all lost and alone. Reynolds. Birdhouse. Key. Safe.”

Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.

“You will listen to what I’m saying, Pup,” I say with a voice of steel. “Stop moving and listen to me now. Go into the woods and hide.”

When I hear no movement from his end, I try not to scream in frustration. I know he’s regressed and is scared. But I’m terrified he’s going to get hurt by whoever the fuck is on my land.

“Now,” I growl.

“Hide,” Knox says. “Woods. Escape. Hide.”

“Good boy. Hide, and I will find you. I promise, baby boy.”

“King and Steel are on their way,” Reynolds says. “Blaze is sending the last members home and will be there soon. Ghost is leaving Venom in charge of the ring and Jax in charge of the bar. He’ll be there soon, too. Hayes might beat us to the house and everyone else is working doors at the Cage.”

“You hear that, Pup? We’re all on our way to you now.”

“Hide,” Knox pants. “Ouch. Stupid tree. Oh no. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to call you stupid. It’s not your fault I can’t see.”

If I wasn’t so damn terrified, I would smile at my boy apologizing to a tree.

“Oh no! My phone is beeping. I think it’s going to die.”

Don’t panic. Don’t fuckin Panic, Taylor.

“That’s okay, Pup,” I say as calmly as I can. “Just hide. Don’t come out unless you hear one of our voices.”

“What if it’s…” his voice drops, which means his fuckin’ phone just died.

“DAMN IT,” I shout, punching the dashboard.

“We’re almost there, brother. Clear your head so that you can focus.”

“Who the fuck would be stupid enough to break into our homes?” I ask.

“Let’s find out,” Reynolds says as he slams on the brakes in my driveway.

Hayes walks out of my house just as we leave the car.

“Ghost and King are going to your house,” Hayes tells Reynolds. “Whoever was here is gone. But from what little Icould see with my phone, they trashed the place. And they left you a message.”

I turn towards the woods and hope beyond hope that my boy is safe. Then, ignoring my heart, I turn and head inside my house.

“Where?” I ask.

Hayes grabs a piece of paper from the table and hands it to me. Using my phone’s light, I can see that each letter was cut out from a magazine and glued down.

“Give me back what’s mine before I take what’s yours,” I read out loud.

“Wow,” Reynolds exclaims. “That man is a real idiot. Not only did he try to keep his fingerprints from this note, but he also told us exactly who he is.”

“As if his prints would matter,” I growl. “The second I get my hands on him, he’s fuckin’ dead.”

Sweets. The former president of the Dark Sentinels.

“Why the hell would Sweets follow us?” Hayes asks. “After you ran him off, we all voted to leave Heath, Kentucky. The bastard could have just moved back and started a new club.”

“Which wouldn’t have been a good thing,” Reynolds reminds him. “I’m sure you remember how much of a fucker he was when he was your Pres.”

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