Page 55 of Clara's Secure Hideaway

“Tinsdale will transport the individuals that don’t need to go to the hospital to the shelter. You’re clear to take Davey and Avery to the station. Use the door we came through.”

Sadie didn’t have to say why he should escort the kids through the front. If the other children were in the kitchen, he didn’t want to imagine what condition they’d been found. If he could spare exposing Avery and Davey to even more travesties, he would.

“Okay guys. I just need to do one more thing before we go.” As fast as he wanted to get out of there, he’d promised to let Clara know as soon as the kids were safe. Grabbing his phone, he called her number then waited for her to answer.

The line rang until her voicemail message picked up.

Panic tightened his gut.

“I want to see Mommy.” Tears filled Avery’s eyes, and her words were drawn into little whines.

“I know, honey,” he said. “We’re going to go see her. I promise. Let me just make one more call.”

Before he could redial Clara’s number, a call from the sheriff’s station came through. Relief wound through his tension, and he answered the call. “Clara? Is that you? I have the kids.”

“Deputy Sterling, this is Mike Wells.”

His stomach dropped when he heard his boss’ voice on the line. “Sheriff. What’s going on?”

“I was called to the station. One of our deputy’s was shot and Clara Parson is missing.”

Shock swept through his system and stole his breath. He stared at the cherub-like faces in front of him and struggled not to break down. He’d left Clara’s side and Mitch had found a way to get his hands on her.

Again.

* * *

Clara keptin step with Mitch as he gripped her bicep and dragged her past Silas’ motionless body on the sidewalk and to his truck. She struggled to keep her breath steady and not throw up. She prayed someone would find him before it was too late.

“Come on,” Mitch snapped. “Hurry up.”

She swallowed hard and focused on not tripping over her own feet. Her limbs were shaky, her nerves so tight they might snap. At least once she got into the truck, she’d have her kids back. Then she’d figure out how to get Silas help and escape Mitch.

“Get in the truck.” Mitch’s sneer pulled her attention back to him. He yanked open the passenger door and shoved her inside before rounding the hood and climbing behind the wheel.

She scurried into the vehicle and searched the narrow back seat, both relieved and disappointed not to find her kids. “What did you do with Davey and Avery?”

He snorted. “As soon as those two brats came into the world, that’s all you cared about. Always coddling them and hovering. Giving them all your attention. It was disgusting.”

“So why take them?”

Shrugging, he gripped the wheel and kept his attention fixed straight ahead, as though she wasn’t worth a second look—wasn’t a threat.

Why would he think she was? She’d been his punching bag for so many years. Always tip-toeing around him, careful not to rock the boat too much. But that woman was gone.

“To make you pay,” he said, answering her earlier question. “To hurt you. To show you that I’m still in charge.”

“Did you take them to that house? Leave them in some hellhole with no care as to what happened to them?” Adrenaline and fear shook her voice. She hadn’t heard from Heath before Mitch stormed into the sheriff’s department. She had no idea if he’d found the kids or not.

“I had to put them somewhere, but you and your boyfriend messed that up, too.”

Relief melted her against the seatback. Being trapped with Mitch wasn’t ideal, but if Heath got to Davey and Avery, she only had herself to worry about.

“What’s that look?” Mitch asked, sparing her a glance before focusing back on the road. “You think they’re safe just because Deputy Dipshit found them?”

“Yes,” she said. “He won’t let anything happen to them.”

Mitch laughed. “You thought he’d keep you safe, too, yet here you are. I’ll get my hands on them again. They’re mine. Not some hotshot deputy’s who’s parading around town like he’s protector of the year. He’s not as smart as he thinks he is, and I’ll make sure everyone knows it.”

---