Page 70 of Big Red

He nods and releases Cara. We give him a quick goodbye before racing out the door and to the clubhouse. By the time we get there, everyone is accounted for.

“Okay, listen up. Axel, you’re going to be taking half the brothers, and the other half will be coming with me. We have to split up because the kids are in a different location from Red and Alice. Grab your earpieces from Cara, and let's head out.”

After everyone has an earpiece, I tell Axel to go after the kids and who he’s taking. Mounting my bike, I notice Cara loading Duke and Daisy up in her truck. I huff, knowing at some point, I’m going to have to reel her and her killer dogs in.

Cranking up my bike, I take off out of the gate with Cara and the brothers hot on my heels.

Hang on, Red. We’re coming.

CINDY

I just wantto go home. I thought the day my biological mother came back would be a happy time. But I didn’t like the look in her eyes from the moment she did.

My Aunt Cara said eye contact was always important when talking to someone. She said you could always feel their intentions and to always trust my gut. When she showed up at the beach, she didn’t seem really happy to see us. And that guy she was with gave me the creeps.

Now she has us. Colt hasn’t stopped shaking and crying since we saw Dad on the ground, not moving. I tried getting to him, but Chloe threatened to hurt Colt if I didn’t cooperate.

As soon as she said that, I knew I was right about her.

She’s not my mom.

Alice is.

I just want her and Dad back. Our family was finally perfect. It’s not fair!

Now, we’re in some dirty motel with stains on the ceiling. I huddle in the corner of the room with Colt, watching Chloe and her friend's every move. I need to figure out how to get us out of here.

Dad always said if he wasn’t around, I was in charge since I was the oldest.

I have to protect Colt and myself.

“Chloe, what kind of place is this?” the man asks angrily.

“We need to lie low. We can't go to a five-star hotel. Regardless of those brats being mine, it’s still kidnapping.”

Colt whimpers beside me, hearing her cruel words. Balling my fist up, I try to resist the urge to let out the years of hurt I have inside me.

Chloe turns to us with an evil smile. “Colt, come with me. Cindy, you stay and keep Jeffery company.”

Jeffery eyes me and licks his lips. My stomach churns as Chloe makes her way toward us. When she reaches out to grab Colt, something snaps inside me. Grabbing her wrist, I squeeze down on her pressure point, just like Aunt Cara taught me.

Chloe winces, and I shove her backward. “Don’t touch him.” I take a defensive stance, blocking my brother. I won't let her take him.

Chloe's face fills with rage. “You dare put your hands on me!”

She charges toward me again. When she reaches back to slap me, I punch her in the stomach, causing her to double over. Grabbing the back of her head, I slam my knee in her face, breaking her nose.

If you had asked me a year ago if breaking my own mother's nose would make me feel bad, I would have said yes. But once you hurt my dad, my brother, and now Alice…

All bets are off.

“Oh my God! My nose! She broke it!” Chloe screams. Getting up, she runs into the bathroom and slams the door.

“Now look here, you little brat!” Jeffery growls, stalking toward me.

Oh, he wants some, too? Okay. That’s perfectly fine with me.

When he’s close enough, I kick him right where the sun doesn’t shine. He drops to his knees, holding himself.

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