Page 28 of Fire

“Go to the bathroom and clean up so you don’t scare our son. Once we get him, I’ll give you a chance to explain why you thought you could ever keep my son from me.”

Benny starts laughing—the sound almost maniacal to my ears. I watch as he walks out the door, and only once he is out of sight do I crumble and let my tears overtake me. Theystream down my face as I sob. My body is shaking, but I still immediately start getting dressed. I can’t afford to upset the man worse. I need to do whatever I can to make sure Asher is safe at all times.

I just hope I can stay healthy enough to help, Asher. That’s my only goal at the moment. Right now, I don’t think I could protect my son from a fly. Maybe I can ask Benny for food. If it was just me involved, I’d rather die than ask Benny to help me. I would swallow my pride any day and every day if it means my son is safe from this monster.

I’d do anything for him.

21

FORD

I pull the covers up to Asher’s neck, bending down to kiss his forehead. It’s an action I used to do all the time for my Lyla. I don’t think I realized how much I had missed it until this moment. I wonder if Grace might be open to having more kids in the future. I’m getting older, but one more to spoil wouldn’t be a bad thing. I shake the thoughts away because I know I need to get Grace back and somehow win her over and agree not to kick me to the curb first. That’s not going to be easy. I’m fully aware of that.

“You promise you’re going to bring Mommy home soon?” Asher asks me.

I let out a sigh. I didn’t want him to know his mother had been kidnapped. Unfortunately, I forgot how little kids have big ears. He overheard me talking with Grunt and it took me hours to calm him down and reassure him I’d bring his mom home. I can see tonight that although he’s calmer, he is still very worried. I’m not exactly sure how to handle this. It has been a while since I’ve been in charge of a small child. I’m afraid I’m screwing everything up.

I’ve had Asher for two days. It has been two days of happiness because he’s a great kid, but also it has been filled with stress, worry, and frustration as I wait for Ivan to call me back. At the moment, poor Asher’s staring up at me with eyes that look so much like his mom’s. They’re shining with unshed tears. He’s trying so hard to be strong. It’s going to take him a long time to get over this. Hell, he might always worry from here on out. That’s yet another thing that Benny Martelli needs to suffer for.

“Hey, I promised you I’d bring your momma home, didn’t I?”

Asher nods his head, sniffling quietly. I let my hand slide against the side of his face tenderly. “Buddy, I promise I’m going to bring your momma home. I already have people out there finding her, and the minute I know, I’m getting her. That’s a promise.”

“You like my mommy? Like she was your girlfriend, I mean.”

“I do. She’s very important to me, Asher. You both are.”

“I’m scared,” he whispers, as if he’s ashamed.

“It’s okay to be afraid. Everyone gets scared, Asher.”

“You don’t.”

“I do. I’m worried right now because I want you and your mom with me. I get scared I won’t be able to do that because it’s so important. That’s why I called in all of my friends and we’re all working together to bring your mom home safely to us.”

“Your friends?”

“Exactly. I have the best people in the world all working together, and Iknowthat we’re going to bring your mom back.”

“Do you promise, Ford?”

“I promise. Now, do you know what else I know about your mom?”

“What?” he asks.

“If she finds out you’ve been crying over her, she’ll be upset. Your mom is very strong. She’ll be fine and when she gets here, she’ll want to know you’re okay.”

“I’ll be better. You really think your friends can find my mommy?”

“I do. They do this kind of thing all the time. They’re like … real life superheroes,” I invent. I don’t add that instead of powers, they’re trained in torture and getting information others can’t.

“Superheroes?” he repeats, his eyes going large with wonder.

“Exactly,” I tell him with a big grin. “So, you go to sleep and I’m going to check in with them and work on bringing your mommy home.”

“Thank you, Ford,” he says, sitting up suddenly and wrapping his arms around my neck. “I love you.”

Emotion hits me and I try to swallow it down. “I love you, too, little man. I love you, too.”

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