Page 152 of Sin With Me
I add another blanket over the baby and admire how happy Raven looks, even if it's temporary.
"Bailey looks like you," I whisper, then kiss her cheek and whisper in her ear, "Please be careful and remember what I promised."
She nods once. "You too."
"Alright, let's go." Wesley grabs my arm, pulling me back.
Then he holds up a set of handcuffs and grabs Raven's wrist.
"Is that necessary?" I scowl. "She just had a baby. It's not like she can run."
He snaps it into place and then attaches the other side to the headrail. "I'm not takin' any chances."
That's what he must've done when he left to find Jonah's truck.
Raven doesn't fight it and continues holding the baby with her other hand.
"Down the stairs, go," he orders.
With one more glance over my shoulder, I meet Raven's eyes, making sure she knows I'll be back for her.
When I get to the bottom of the stairs, I get a better look at what this building is.
"Was this a car repair shop?"
"Yeah, my grandpop was a mechanic years ago. He raised me and taught me everythin' I know about cars. I was the one who found him in his home garage, inside his truck with the engine runnin' and the windows down. He died of carbon monoxide poisoning."
"Oh God, that's horrible," I say as we continue walking through the building.
Wait a minute...
I wonder if that's around the time he started hitting Raven and?—
"Sugarland Creek PD! Hands up!"
A dozen officers barge through the door with guns raised. Wesley moves behind me, wraps his arm tightly around my neck, then shoves his weapon into my skull.
"Wesley, put the gun down..." Sheriff Wagner calls out. "Let her go."
"No way. You're on private property. Get out!"
"You know we're not leavin' without the girls. Surrender and no one gets hurt."
"Wesley..." I whisper his name to get his attention. "Your grandpop wouldn't want you to do this. I think you're sufferin' from PTSD and grief disorder. You can get help for that."
I learned all about that in my grief counseling sessions. And now I'm kicking myself for not seeing the signs. I wish I'd known he'd recently lost someone close to him.
"He left me behind," he grits between his teeth.
"That doesn't mean he loved you any less. Or that you don't miss him."
"Shut up."
"Wesley..." Sheriff Wagner warns.
Next, we hear a helicopter flying ahead.
"Holy shit," I murmur.
