Page 108 of Hold the Line

Deacon

Calebraceddownaroad so familiar I could have driven it with my eyes closed. When I was younger, I’d taken this route into town more times than I could count.

Since I’d been back, I’d gone out of my way not to take it again.

My hands were so damn numb, I wasn’t sure I could have gripped the wheel if I’d tried. Caleb had no such problem. His grip was tight and steady, his focus razor sharp.

It’d been thirteen minutes since the call had cut off.

Thirteen long, agonizing minutes.

The only break in the silence had come at minute six when Caleb had said,“She’s going to be fine.”He’d been telling himself that more than me.

His words lay on my skull, not sinking in in the slightest. That scream. That gunshot. I’d seen too much. Lost too much to believe in luck. But I couldn’t afford to think about what it would mean if she wasn’t fine.

So, I remained numb.

Until a girl stumbled into the middle of the road. If Caleb had been less steady, he would have hit her. Cursing, he wrenched the wheel. Tires screeched as the truck veered, and he slammed the brakes just before we ended up in a ditch.

He twisted around in his seat to look at her. “Is that…is that your sister?”

The numbness disappeared in an instant, replaced by a rush of fire in my veins. I ripped off my seat belt, threw the door open, and hit the pavement hard as I rounded the truck.

Horror slapped me at the sight of my sister cowering on the shoulder, dirt streaking across her face, eyes wild and brimming with tears.

“Hailey!” I barked, rushing toward her.

She flinched at first, staggering back. When recognition hit, she launched herself at me. I caught her as we collided, her arms and legs wrapping around me like vines.

“Deke…” She sobbed into my shoulder. “Richie has her. She made me run. I didn’t want to, but she made me. And my phone, I left it in her trunk. I didn’t know what to do, so I just started walking.”

A fresh wave of horror crashed over me. He’d done this to her. Our brother hadn’t just taken my girl. He’d kidnapped and terrorized his own sister.

Suddenly, Hailey tore herself away and bolted toward the truck.

“We have to go back. We have to save Phoebe right now!”

Caleb was already moving, catching her by the arms and helping her into the back seat. I climbed in, slamming the door as Caleb threw the truck into gear and peeled back onto the road.

I turned around to scan as much of Hailey as I could see. “Are you hurt?”

She shook her head, still breathing hard. “No, no, Phoebe protected me. But Richie…he used those plastic things, zip ties, and strapped her to a chair.” Her shaky hand went to her lips. “She can’t run, even if she gets the chance. She’s trapped, and I left her…”

I swallowed down the primal scream trying to work its way up my throat so I wouldn’t scare her. Hailey had already seen one brother turn into a monster. I refused to let her see another.

“I talked to her. She knows we’re coming.” I gripped her trembling hand, forcing myself to be calm and keep the fear buried deep. “You did the right thing, buddy. You did all you could to get help and keep yourself safe.”

Caleb cleared his throat. “Is it just Richie and Phoebe there?”

Hailey jerked at his sudden question then nodded. “I didn’t see anyone else. If Mom and Dad were home, they stayed inside.”

“Okay. That’s good.” His tone turned steely with determination. “Then we’re just dealing with Richie. Between Deke and me, we can handle him.”

I thought about the third voice I’d heard but shoved it aside. I’d focus on what I knew and roll with whatever waited for us when we got there. If I started worrying about thecould-besandmight-bes, I’d lose it. Facts were the only thing keeping me from spiraling.

Caleb turned onto the drive leading to my parents’ house, and bile burned my throat. I’d sworn never to come back here, never to have a reason to, but Richie had found a way to drag me in.

My hands clenched as Caleb sped past the house that had been just as much a prison as the cell I’d been locked in for four years.

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