Page 20 of Sofa King Safe

I don’t want to go home.I want to keep looking, but Boss won’t let me put him down, and he won’t let anyone else come near him.Plus, there’s not a place in Cottonwood that isn’t already being combed for any sign of Quinn.

“Okay,” I finally say, and Boss rubs his head under my chin in a comforting gesture.

“Why don’t I come with you?”Macy offers.“Hannah is with the kids, and it might be good if you’re not alone right now.”

“It’s fine.”Nothing is fine, not without Quinn, but there’s no need for Macy to come with me and sulk.

“Tell you what, I’ll follow you home to make sure you get there safely, and then I’ll leave.”

I shrug, because I know Macy, and I’m not talking her out of anything.If she wants to follow me, she’s going to do it.

When I get in my truck, Boss goes over to where Quinn sits and meows like he’s asking for her.

“I know, buddy, I want her too.”My throat tightens because I have no clue where she is or if she’s okay.

The sheriff assured me that it’s being reported in the surrounding counties, and they’ve issued an alert for anyone matching her description.It doesn’t feel like enough, though.As sad as I am, I’m fucking shaking with the need to go after her.Or to find the motherfucker that took her and tear him in half with my bare hands.

Boss comes over and places a paw on my thigh like he’s trying to calm me down.I take a deep breath and nod in understanding.

“You’re right, there’s no need to get worked up now.We should save our strength for when we find her.”

He meows softly in agreement as I drive toward home.The drive feels like it takes seconds because my mind is all over the place.Maybe that’s why I don’t notice the light on in the living room until I pull up.

Sure enough, Macy pulls in behind me just like she said she would.She rolls down her window to say something, but I put a finger to my lips.Boss hops out of the truck and creeps slowly beside me, right against my leg.

“What’s going on?”Macy whispers, and I shake my head.

“Don’t know, but that light was off when I left this morning.”

“Are you sure?You could have forgotten?—”

“I was holding Quinn in my arms so she had to reach over and do it.I remember.”

“Want me to call the sheriff?”

I glance back at Macy and nod.“Reception is spotty out here in the woods.That’s why I have a landline.Drive to the end of the road and you’ll get a signal.”

“On it,” she says and backs out of the driveway.

Before I can reach down and get Boss and stick him back in the truck, he takes off for the front door.

“Boss!”I whisper-hiss and crouch down as I chase after him.

When I get on the porch, I glance inside, and something is definitely off.The rug in the living room is flipped up at the edges, and the chair is pushed out of the way.Almost like someone needed to move it to get by.Then I see that the coffee table is turned over, and a chill goes down my spine.It looks like someone was dragged through there.

The alarm system is off, so either Quinn is here, or the man that took her put in the code.If he has the code, then he knows a lot more than he should, and I need to be prepared for that scenario.I can’t go in assuming anything.

My guns are in my closet, but I’m not without weapons.I grab the hatchet I keep at the end of the porch for chopping kindling and grip it tightly.

“Stay here,” I tell Boss, and he plops down on his butt like a dog.“Good boy.”

As quietly as possible, I turn the knob to the front door and gently push it open.I stay crouched on the ground as the door swings in, and I wait and listen.There’s a loud thud followed by a scream, and my blood runs cold.

Quinn is here, and that fucking monster has her.

There's another loud sound, and then I hear his voice.“You were going to kill me.”It’s followed by a sinister laugh.“I think I’ll use this to kill your lover, and your punishment will be to watch.”

I creep along the back of the couch, telling myself to stay calm.When I have a line of sight to the bedroom, I see him standing next to the bed, and Quinn’s on it, crying.He’s got my handgun, and he’s waving it around like a lunatic.

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