Page 72 of Savage

“Okay.” I could hear her engine whine as she accelerated. I was hoping she’d be able to get the speed she needed to ditch him until I heard her say, “He’s staying right behind me... It’s like he’s trying to hit me.”

“You gotta turn around.”

“I can’t.” Her voice was riddled with fear as she explained, “It’s a one-lane road. There’s nowhere to turn around... And if I pull over, they could block me in.”

“Where are you?”

“Out on Tate’s drive.”

The words had barely left her mouth when the line went silent. I called out her name over and over but got no response. Seconds later, the call ended. “God damnit!”

I was on my way out the door when Dad stepped in front of me and asked, “What’s going on?”

“Someone’s tailing Londyn. I’m pretty sure it’s one of the Stingers.”

“Okay, okay. I know you’re worried, but she’s a smart girl.” Dad kept his tone steady as he said, “She’ll make it out of this.”

“You don’t get it,” I snapped back. “It’s not just her in that car. Dalton is with her!”

“Who the hell is Dalton?”

Dad’s eyes were locked on mine as he waited for me to answer. “He’s my son.”

“Your son? What the hell are you talking about?”

“I can’t get into it right now.”

“The hell you can’t!” he roared. “Since when do you have a son?”

I turned to face him, but I didn’t respond. I was too busy trying to dial Londyn’s number again. The phone started to ring, and it wasn’t long before I heard her say, “Hey.”

“Are you okay?”

“Yeah, I’m sorry. The call just dropped. The reception...out...” The line was filled with static, but I was able to hear her say, “This car is still following me.”

“Give me the phone,” Dad ordered.

I was hesitant but knew better than to argue. “Hey, Londyn. I’m giving the phone to Dad.”

Without waiting for her to respond, I placed the phone in Dad’s hand, then listened as he told her, “Londyn, it’s Cotton. Can you give me your exact location?”

“I just passed the Grave’s farm.”

“Okay. Here’s what I’m gonna need you to do...” Dad’s steady tone never wavered as he told her, “The Johnsons live right up the road.”

He paused, then nodded, “Yeah, that’s it. I’m going to need you to turn left there. That’ll put you on Elm. Stay on that until you get to a fork and take another left.”

I’d been through some pretty rough spots, but nothing had ever gotten to me like this. I’d never felt as powerless as when I listened to Dad tell her which turns to take. It wasn’t fair. I’d just gotten them back, and the thought of losing them terrified me.

I was drawn back to the conversation when Dad said, “Yeah, that’s exactly what we’re doing. You take another left on Mason, and that will put you on the road back here, and me and the boys will be waiting for you up by the Shell station.”

She replied, and then he answered, “No. You just keep driving, and we’ll take care of the rest. I’m giving the phone back to Malcomb. If you need anything, you tell him, and he’ll relay it back to me.”

He seemed so chill, so confident, as he handed the phone back to me. I, on the other hand, was hanging by a string when I asked him, “What are you gonna do?”

“I’m gonna go get your girl and your kid back.”

“Then I’m going with you.”

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