Page 146 of Callahan

He looked me in the eye when he replied, “I know you will. Now, get going.”

Chapter Fifty-Three

Lainey

I blinked my eyes open but didn’t lift my head off what felt like wood beneath my face as I surveyed my surroundings.

It was as if my limbs were made of lead, and while my fingers quietly explored my arms, I was able to deduce my wrists were manacled with shackles connected to a heavy metal chain that would make noise if I moved. So, I stayed as still as possible.

I remembered Earl came into the bakery after Paulina left and acted surprised when I said I wasn’t paying him anything. Then he threatened to evict me, citing his wife’s actions had nothing to do with our lease.

I decided it wasn’t worth the fight and relented. I’d get my money back in court. He followed me upstairs to where my purse was and as I opened my pocketbook and counted out his hundred dollars, he pulled a gun and threatened if I wanted my son to live, I’d do what he said.

That’s all that needed to be said to make me comply, and he marched down the outside stairs and up the alley about twenty yards to where a white van was waiting.

I’d wanted to admonish him on how cliché that was but thought better of it.

The side door opened and a younger man around my age felt me up as he dragged me inside. A few seconds later, I felt a prick on my skin and everything went dark.

My stomach turned as I thought about what had probably occurred while I’d been blacked out. My only consolation was that, as far as I could tell, I was still dressed at least.

But for how long?

My thoughts went to Conor, and I knew I needed to do whatever was necessary in order to stay alive for him. My son was not going to be orphaned by both his parents.

“I know you’re awake,” the younger man sneered. “It’s time to get up,princess, so Uncle Earl and I can have some fun.”

Chapter Fifty-Four

Adam

By the time I returned to the bakery, it had been turned into a mini command center.

Alan was nowhere to be found, but before I could ask where he’d gone, Brian caught my eye and subtly shook his head.

My brother did some illegal shit then got the hell outta here. Got it.

I gestured with my head for him to step away, out of earshot of everyone else.

“What happened.”

“Alan found where the cameras were.”

“Where?”

“In her shower and bedroom.”

I felt my blood pressure spike, thinking about how badly her privacy had been violated.

I guess, mine too, if I thought about it. But that didn’t make me want to kill someone with my bare hands like the thought of someone watching her when she’d been most vulnerable did.

“Where’s it coming from?”

He glanced around. “The Schillings’ farm.”

“What the fuck are we doing here, then? Someone’s going to the hospital tonight. Or the morgue.”

Brian put his hand on my arm. “Calm down. I need you with a clear head. Angus is getting a warrant, and he’ll legally find out everything Alan just did.”

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