Page 27 of Fire

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GRACE

I feel like I’m lost in a fog. Nothing is clear. I stare up at Ford, but his face is kind of hazy. He’s holding me in his arms, but his body doesn’t feel warm at all. He’s smiling, laughing down at me, while he and Asher play some silly board game. It looks like maybe Chutes and Ladders. I love seeing them interact. Asher’s never had someone in his life that cared, and Ford really seems to. I wish I could get this roaring out of my ears so I could listen to what the two of them are talking about.

“Mommy?” Asher asks. I still can’t hear that well, but I do make it out.

“Asher,” I whisper. I feel like there’s something I need to tell my son, but I can’t figure out what it is.

“Do you think Ford will be my new daddy?”

Panic hits me. I feel my face heat. Will Ford think I put my son up to this? “Well, I don’t … I mean?—”

I stop talking when Ford shifts me in his lap to sit on the sofa. Then he goes down on his knees, facing my son. “Of course I will, Asher. I love you and your mommy. You’re my home.

“Your home? Does that mean we’re all going to live here in North Carolina?”

“Sometimes, Asher, a home is a person or people you love. I love you both very much. That means, anywhere you are, is where I want to be. Although, I’m hoping you’ll agree to move to Virginia so you can get to know Lyla.”

“Who’s Lyla?”

“She’s my daughter. That means she’s going to be your big sister.”

“Girls are kind of icky.”

“Lyla’s not. You’ll like her, plus she loves to play video games.”

“I gotta go get ready then!”

“Where are you going?” I ask when Asher stands and starts to walk away.

“I’m going to Virginia to be with my new daddy. Don’t you want to go with me?”

“Yes, but I don’t think I can,” I tell him honestly. Going back to Virginia is too dangerous. I can’t help feeling like I’m forgetting something. Why is everything so hard for me to grasp right now?

“Yes, you can, Mommy. All you have to do is wake up.”

My brow creases as he tells me that.What’s Asher talking about?“What?” I question, not understanding at all.

“Wake up, Mom. You need to wake up before my dad takes you away from me and Ford forever,” he says, leaning over so he’s the only thing I see in my vision.

I blink. My heart starts beating rapidly in my chest. “Asher?” I whisper as his face starts fading.

“Hurry, Mom. You’re running out of time,” he says, before completely disappearing. I look around and my living room goes completely black. “Asher!” I scream.

I feel this tight pain as something yanks my hair and I realize my eyes are closed. I force them to open and immediately wish I hadn’t when I see Benny looking down at me. He pulls meup into a sitting position on the bed—just by the hold he has on my hair. I want to fight him, but I’m feeling way too weak. Reality is quickly coming back. I’ve been here at least two days—everything seems to be running together. They’re not feeding me. I get water once a day, but I’m starting to think there’s some kind of drug in it that makes me sleep.

“Are you dreaming about our son?” he laughs. “How sweet and just in time, because I just found out where you’ve hidden our boy. I’m going to go pick him up. I thought you’d like to come with me.”

He found Asher?

“I warn you, though, Grace. If you give me any trouble, I’ll kill you and leave you lying on the side of the road like the trash you are. You know I’ll do it, too. You’re nothing. In my book, you deserve to bleed out on the asphalt just like those two idiots who tried to kidnap you. Do you understand?”

I nod my head slowly, trying to ignore how dizzy I am. I’m terrified. I have to be there when he goes and gets my son. If not, he will express his anger on Asher. I have to keep my wits about me. I need to do anything I can to make sure Asher isn’t harmed in all of this.

“Just don’t hurt Asher, Benny. He’s innocent in all of this.Please.I’ll do whatever you want as long as you don’t hurt him.”

Benny laughs mockingly. “If I knew having a kid would make you so easy to handle, I would have knocked you up immediately after I married your ass,” he taunts. He picks up a dress from the nightstand and throws it at me.

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