Page 97 of All Along The Watchtower

My ears rang from the gunshots, blood pulsing so loud it drowned out the surf. I kept both girls pinned beneath me, afraid to lift my head. Afraid of what I’d find if I looked.

Hands grabbed my shoulders, and I tensed until Ford’s voice cut through the chaos in my head. “Bree! Are you hit?”

I shook my head, still protecting the girls.

“Let me see. I need to see you’re okay.”

He dragged me up, and I fell into his arms. His hands ran over me, checking for injuries.

“You’re fucking insane.” His voice broke. “And I love you so much.”

He yanked me against his chest, then reached for Peyton. Madison got swept up too, as he pulled us all into a crushing embrace.

Peyton burst into tears, clutching Ford’s shirt. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry, Daddy. We just wanted to find?—”

“Shh.” He pressed his lips to the top of her head. “You’re safe. That’s all that matters right now.”

I couldn’t stop shaking, the adrenaline crash hitting hard. Ford’s arm tightened around my waist, holding me up.

Madison sobbed against my shoulder. “I want my mom.”

Over Ford’s shoulder, I spotted Sawyer and Daniel securing the gunmen with zip ties. The men cursed and struggled, but they weren’t going anywhere.

Then movement on the water caught my eye. “The boat!” I pointed toward the dark shape lurking offshore. “There’s a boat running without lights!”

Daniel’s head snapped up. He squinted through the darkness, then grabbed his radio and took off running down the beach.

Ford pulled back just enough to look at Peyton’s face. “Are you hurt? Did they touch you?”

She shook her head, wiping at her tears. “No, we’re okay. I knew you’d find us.”

“Always.” He pressed another kiss to her hair. “But please, never do anything like this again. You scared years off my life.”

“I’m sorry.” Her voice wobbled. “We thought we could figure it out ourselves. I didn’t mean for any of this to happen.”

“I know, baby.” He gathered her close again. “Everything’s going to be okay now. They’ll be locked away where they can’t get to you anymore.”

Madison sniffled against my shoulder. “Are they really going to jail?”

“Yes.” I smoothed her wet hair back. “They absolutely will.”

Gabi materialized with a bright smile. “Police are on their way, but how about y’all let me check you over while we wait?”

“But we’re not hurt,” Peyton protested.

“Humor us,” Ford said. “Please.”

She burrowed deeper into his embrace. “Okay, Daddy.”

CHAPTER 44

FORD

Though exhaustion dragged at every cell of my body, sleep wouldn’t come. I still felt cold down to my very core, as if I’d never be warm again, despite Bree’s comforting weight curled against me in bed. I simply couldn’t let go of the fear of what could have happened to Peyton and Madison. In the course of giving initial statements to the police, I’d heard Bree report what the kidnappers had said.

They’d intended to traffic my daughter and her friend.

If we’d been any later…

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