Page 65 of The Leaving Road

I ran my hand through my hair, knowing Remi probably didn’t get the message, but also knew my dad would more than likely be at Montgomery’s and would have tried to be in two places at once instead of asking for help. I felt a bit relieved she wasn’t here when he said that.

“Remi’s boy is sick,” I said in a nonchalant voice. Ireallydidn’t mind helping my employees; I only minded that I had to leave Magnolia behind.

Here I go, thinking about her again.

“I could just kill that guy.” His voice held venom, and it usually did when referring to Remi’s baby daddy, thepiece of shit.

“He isn’t worth going to jail for, but I agree.”

“Remi is.”

His confession shocked me, and I looked at him in question, but he just shrugged me off and made his way to the back kitchen to get everything ready for tonight. I’d probably need to address that later.

The night started off steady, but it felt like it was dragging, since most of the customers were families or couples, leaving the bar relatively slow. I decided to get a start on some liquor inventory since I was here. I needed something to distract me as much as possible, or I was going to head out despite my staff possibly needing me later if it picked up. I glanced at the clock and groaned; I’d barely been here an hour.

With my thoughts distracted, I almost missed my phone going off in my pocket, but thankfully, I didn’t. I wasn’t even going to bother hiding the fact that I was thrilled it was Magnolia’s name flashing on my screen.

“Hey pretty gi—”

“I said keep your hands up!”

I heard a voice bellow over the line I didn’t recognize, and I pulled my phone away to make sure I hadn’t just daydreamed that Magnolia had called me.

“Magnolia!”

Fear gripped me at the words I heard next, and I started to put it together that she’d figured out a way to call me.

Where the fuck is Jace? Where’s Lexie?

“Show me where the drugs are kept.”

I heard a rustling after that, and then the phone disconnected. My feet started moving once my mind put together where she was.She’s at the fucking clinic, and I’d bet everything I own that she’s alone.

Terror like I’ve never felt before trickled up my spine, causing my entire body to be hyper-aware of my surroundings. I ran to my car, not stopping to tell anyone anything. Imighthave shouted that I had to go, but all I could think about was getting toher.

My tires squealed as I threw the car into reverse while dialing 911. After filling dispatch in, they told me tostand downuntil officers arrived.Like hell I will. I hung up on them and tossed my phone into the passenger seat, flying down the road as fast as I possibly could without being a danger to anyone else that might be coming.

It took mesevengoddamnminutes to get to the clinic.Seven minuteswhile my mind played reel after reel of “what if’s” and worse case scenarios. I was close to tittering on the edge of a full-blown panic attack, but I knew I had to keep it together to get her safe.

She has to be safe.

I relaxed my speed and turned off my headlights once I made it into the clinic’s parking lot. I didn’t have a plan, but I didn’t care. If I knew her at all, then I knew she didn’t lock the door and she didn’t set the alarm.

Keeping my sound as quiet as possible, I quickly pulled open the front door of the clinic and the sight before me and the physical fear I felt had me almost falling to my knees. A man who might have been in shape once upon a time—however, it was clear the drugs had gotten to him—was towering over her, standing extremely close and pointing a gun at her chest. Magnolia had her body positioned so she was clearly standing between him and Peaches, and my heart lurched.

My girls.

Peaches barked and snarls filled the room.

“Get that dog to shut up!” he screamed in her face, causing her to jump in surprise. Her eyes met mine over his shoulder and rounded in shock and surprise.

Her jumping startled him, and he backed up a few paces, effectively giving me an in I wasn’t going to waste. I ran toward them and put myself between the girl and dog who owned my heart and the one thing that could take me away from them.

Chapter 40

Magnolia

Despite the seriousness of the situation, my heart leapt as my eyes connected with Sloan’s and then stopped as soon as he moved in front of me.No, no, no. He shouldn’t be here.I found my hands grabbing his T-shirt, even though he was facing away from me, half trying to convince myself he was here and that he came for me. The other half tried to convince myself that this was a bad dream, and it wasn’t Sloan who had a gun pointed at his chest. A gun that was pointed at my chest just a few seconds ago, and a chest that took my place with zero hesitation.

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