Page 9 of Daddy Reed

“Where is she, Reed?” Devon croaks. “Oh my God. We have to find her.”

I know this, but I can’t think. My brain is jumbled, and all I can see is her mangled body shredded to bits by a fucking bear.

“Do you think someone took her?” Devon asks, voice going shrill. “What if they stole my baby from me? What if they hurt her?”

Devon was Raegan’s age when she was brutally raped by those monsters. It nearly broke her. I had to nurse my girl back to a healthy mental state, and it was no easy feat. Imagining such terrible shit happening to Raegan is enough to have me collapse to my knees. The world goes dark around me.

Reed. Reed. Reed. Reed. Reed.

Devon’s chanting voice gets smaller and further away as the darkness closes in around me.

Smack!

Pain rips me from the void, and I snap my head up to find Devon glowering at me, hand shaking and poised to smack me again.

“Breathe, goddammit. I can’t lose you, too,” she shrieks. “You’re having a panic attack, Reed, but I need you to get it together.”

On her command, I suck in a long breath, filling my oxygen-starved lungs. Tears prickle in my eyes, but I quickly blink them away. Devon is right. My family needs me. They need me to hunt down our little girl wherever she may be and bring her home.

I can do this.

I will find her.

Shakily, I rise to my feet and give my wife a clipped nod. I make my way into the house to locate a weapon. If I encounter any adversaries on my hunt, I will kill them without a second’s hesitation. Anything to protect my child.

By the time I exit the big house, the entire family—aside from Raegan—is gathered by the fire pit. Each one of us wears a worried expression. I scrub a palm over my face, noting my fingers still smell like Devon. Her scent calms me and gives me the strength to continue on.

“Rowdy, check down by the river and over at Eve’s old place.” I point toward the river and gesture at the fence near the goat pen. “Ronan, check all the lookout posts. Ryder, you can search all her favorite hangout spots outside the fence, and I’ll check the west side woods. Meet back here in an hour if you haven’t found her.”

We all scatter, and I trot out the gate.

The sun is beginning to peek through the trees, signaling that morning is officially here. I’m thankful for the added light, as it’ll make our search that much easier.

And if we find her dead body?

I’ll be able to see every gruesome detail on full display, glittering in the sunlight.

Don’t think about that shit, man.

I continue to prowl through the woods, listening hard for any human-like sounds amongst the increasingly noisy forest as the birds begin to greet the day with their chirps. When I come to one of our first deer blinds, I pause to look for anything that might give me any clues.

Nothing.

It’s times like these—when I feel so out of control—that I long for civilization. Back when we had a city home and a pool and neighbors and a fucking car. If we weren’t living off the grid, I could call the police and have them aid me in searching for my daughter.

All I have is my family.

We will find her.

We have to.

A life without Raegan isn’t one I can live.

Chapter4

Devon

They’ll find her.

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