Page 10 of Retribution

Finding the number to the hospital, I call them.

“Hello, hi, yes, I’m checking if my wife has been admitted, Allie Breckenridge, blonde hair, slim–”

“Hi Sir, please slow down.”

My chest heaves with anxiety. I need to know, is she one of the surviving or one of the deceased.

“Sir?”

“Yes, yes. My wife. Allie Breckenridge. I believe she was involved in a traffic collision, route one-four-one”

I hear typing in the background. A pause.

…

“Sir, can I ask your relationship to Miss Allie?”

My frustration bursts its seams, “She’s my wife!” I scream, agitated with the clearly incompetent receptionist.

“Sir, I need to ask you to remain calm during this–”

The next moment, everything becomes a blur. I fall to the ground, crushed by the words that were being spoken to me.

Peeling off my suit jacket, the phone drops to the floor beneath me. My head sinks into my hands as her words play over in my head.

“…we have her in surgery at the moment, she’s a fighter…”

There is no way.

Picking up the phone and placing it back to my ear, I brace myself.

“I’m so sorry, Sir. We are trying everything we can. We will call you with any updates.” Fuck that, I need to see this for myself.

I end the phone call and dial Allie’s sister, Britney. As much as we despise each other, it is the least of my worries right now.

It rings out, going to voicemail.

Standing up and pulling on my hair, I scream, loathing with anger, “Fuck!”

Hearing the door creak open, I freeze.

My darling daughter enters the living room, confusion written across her sweet face.

“Daddy?” Her voice is lined with sleep.

Crouching down, I wrap her into the tightest embrace and kiss her head as the smell of her strawberry-scented shampoo comforts me.

“Willow baby, everything is going to be okay. Daddy’s here, I’ve got you,” I assure her as I continue to kiss her luscious brown locks of hair.

She latches to me like a koala bear, exactly how she used to when she was so much smaller.

“Daddy’s got you, princess,” I whisper into her neck as her arms tighten around mine.

I stand, carrying her with me to her bedroom, my eyes grimacing with tears from the love I feel towards her. My little girl deserves the world. I would do anything for her.

My phone rings out downstairs as I place Willow into her bed, making sure she is content before rushing back to the living room. I grab my phone, on what I predict is the last ring, and swipe right.

“Britney.”

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