Page 72 of Chasing Amber

Cassandra jumps up and runs toward the house, but before she can get there, Spence, Ben, and Dagger rush out of the back door.

Daddy rises, pulling Jacob with him. He pins his arms behind his back. “What the fuck are you doing here?” he shouts.

“I’m sorry. I’m sorry. I’m sorry,” Jacob mumbles. “I just wanted to see Amber. They told me I couldn’t.”

“That’s right. You can’t. There’s a restraining order against you, Jacob. When you go to prison for kidnapping and extortion, you can’t ever contact the person you held hostage ever again,” he shouts, sarcasm lacing his voice. “Have you been following us?”

Jacob nods. His eyes are wide as he takes in the three large men approaching him, hands fisted at their sides, scowls on their faces.

I hurry forward. Something in my gut tells me I should hear what Jacob has to say. I don’t think he means any harm. I hurry past my brother and shake loose when he grabs the back of my dress.

“Amber, stop,” Daddy orders. He continues to grip Jacob’s wrists behind his back with one hand and uses the other to pat down his pockets. “Do you have any weapons?”

“What? You mean like a gun?” Jacob’s eyes bug out. “No.” He starts shaking his head violently. It’s a wonder he doesn’t get dizzy. “I’ve never touched a gun in my life.”

I continue forward against Daddy’s orders but slower. I’m only a few yards away. “Why have you been following me?” I ask him gently.

He’s shaking as he glances past me, undoubtedly intimidated by my brother, Ben, and Dagger. I think he might piss himself. And then he starts sniffling. “Please don’t call the cops. They’ll send me back there. I can’t go back there.”

I turn to face Spence and the others. “He’s not going to hurt me.” All three men look fit to kill.

Spence glances at me before he takes one step back.One. Ben and Dagger join him, but they all have their hands fisted and ready.

I turn back to Jacob. “What do you want?”

“I-I-I just wanted to make sure you’re okay. My brother and his friends… They shouldn’t have done that to you. I shouldn’t have let them. I should’ve called the police and turned them in. I wanted to make sure you’re okay.”

A part of me wants to yell and tell him no, I’m not fucking okay. I’ve had nightmares and counseling for ten years. I can’t leave my house without worrying someone will take me. I’ve never been alone because I have bodyguards around the clock. I didn’t finish college. I never got a job outside my home. I don’t have friends. My life went off course the week those assholes took me. I’ll never get it back. I lost my twenties.

But another part of me—the more rational part—points out that if none of this had happened, I wouldn’t have Isaac. I wouldn’t have the best thing that ever happened to me. I wouldn’t trade the stress of the last ten years for anything if it meant giving up my Daddy.

“I’m fine, Jacob. I’m good. I’m happy. You need to go back to the halfway house, do the things you’re supposed to do, and make a life for yourself. You need to get a job and find your own happiness. It’s out there for you. You just have to find it.”

He sniffles. “I did bad things to you.”

I shake my head. “You didn’t. You helped me. You brought me water and food. You gave me some sweatpants. You stuck up for me when your brother was mean to me. Who knows what he might have done to you if you hadn’t obeyed his orders? You did the best you could. Now, you need to stop worrying about me. If you get caught near me, you’ll end up back in prison. Can you do that, Jacob?”

He swallows and nods, tears running down his face. “Yes.”

Daddy gives him a tug, forcing him to turn around, and guides him around the house.

Ben and Dagger rush past me to follow Daddy and Jacob.

I stand there for a long time, rubbing my hands together, staring at nothing. After a minute, my brother wraps his arms around me and pulls me into a hug. He holds me close, saying nothing.

I don’t cry. I don’t need to. Everything is going to be okay.

When Daddy returns, Spence turns me over to him. Daddy hugs me even closer. He kisses the top of my head. “I’m so proud of you, baby.”

That isn’t what I expected him to say. I was imagining him reprimanding me for coming so close and taking risks. “You’re not mad at me?” I tip my head back.

He frowns. “No, baby, I’m not mad. Your instincts were correct. He was no threat.”

“Were you mean to him after you took him away?”

“No, baby. That wasn’t necessary. Ben and Dagger are giving him a lecture about the things he needs to do to stay out of prison, but you’ve already covered it well. I think heunderstands.” Daddy cups my face and leans down to kiss me. “I love you, baby.”

“I love you, too, Daddy.”

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