Page 33 of Forget Me Not
“Baby? Can you hear me?”
“I’m in here. Help me,” she cried out.
“Stand back. I’m going to break the door open.”
Just like the last three, I wedged the flat tip into the door’s edge. I heaved myself against the metal bar, pressing into it until the frame gave way. The door flew open, revealing a very dirty and scared Mackenzie.
“I got you.” I reached out and pulled her into my arms, cradling her against me. “Are you okay?”
She said nothing, her eyes vacant and distant. I had no idea if they had hurt her or if she was just in shock. I carried her out of the dirty cell and up the steps. The sun shined down on us, warming our bodies as we stepped into the light. The area was a flurry of activity as the Feds finally arrived.
“Mackenzie, are you hurt?” I carried her to a nearby car and sat her down on the hood. “Baby. Look at me. Can you hear me?”
Her eyes held a mixture of confusion and hurt. I ran my palm down her cheek and held her gaze.
Her next words were like a shotgun blast to my chest. “Let me go, Danny.”
Mackenzie
I was grateful he had come for me, but my heart couldn’t get past the pain. With my eyes shut, I took a deep breath and held it. I wanted to scream. I wanted to punch him. But most of all, I wanted to pull him close and hold him. And that scared me. I shouldn’t want to be near him—not after the lies. But seeing his fear of potentially losing me had my heart stuttering.
Right now, I needed distance. I slid off the hood of the car and walked toward some of the other agents.
“Excuse me,” I called out. “Can I go?”
“Ma’am, I’m Agent Patrick. I need to get your statement first. Do you need medical attention?”
“No. They didn’t hurt me.”
“Mackenzie,” Drake—Danny called out to me, but I ignored him.
“Can someone do that now? I need to get home to my son.”
He glanced behind me, noticing Drake/Danny standing there. “Sure. Let’s go over here.”
For the next twenty minutes, I gave my recollection of the last couple of days. I learned I had been here for two days—two fucking days away from my son. Drake/Danny stood off to the side, listening to me speak. The agent never pushed, he simply listened and took notes.
“Alright, I think I have enough. Let me get someone to take you home.”
“I can do it,” Drake/Danny spoke up.
“No.” I blinked. “Please find someone else to do it. I don’t wanthishelp.”
He glanced between the two of us. “Sure. Follow me.”
“Kenzie, please. Let me explain.”
I closed my eyes and walked past him, once again ignoring his pleas. I wasn’t ready to listen to his lies. The first two men I had let into my heart had turned into bullshit.
The agent helped me into the car and pulled out. He didn’t say anything at first, but as we pulled into my driveway, he finally broke the silence.
“I’m taking it you knew Drake Powell?”
“Yes.”
“Look. The Guardians of America have a way of making life sound grand to young guys. Their agency is definitely a huge help to us, and I’m not knocking it—but they have a tendency to make promises without giving all the details to their recruits. Once you sign with them, there is no going back.”
“Agent, I appreciate you telling me this, but he lied and let us believe he was dead. Do you know what it’s like to lose someone you’re supposed to spend forever with?”
