Page 19 of Silk & Bones Reunion

“You think I don’t know that? You’re a bastard if you think I’m not worried about her.” Mountain growled. “Where the hell is she? Is it her blood in the car or someone else’s?”

“I don’t know man, I just don’t know. The cops don’t know yet, this just happened hours ago, according to them,” Sam told him. “I’m staying at the house today with Shaw. TBone went to school. If you get any ideas about how to find her and bring her home, you better come see me.”

“And if she comes home, you’d better let me know.” Mountain growled back before he ended the call.

The morning passed slowly and with the time passing, it made Sam’s skin crawl. He was a mess by the time the clock struck noon. He was about to fix Shaw some lunch when he looked up and saw Melora and another man with a child walk through the backyard.

They appeared tired and worn out. Melora was a mess with her clothes all dirty and there was a streak of dirt on her face.

Rushing over to the patio door, he flung it open and hurried outside. He looked her over carefully and didn’t find any blood on her so he grabbed her and tugged her close to him. “Where in the fuckin’ hell have you been, woman?” He growled in her ear. His heart was beating like a fucking drum as he held her tight.

Melora didn’t seem to mind him holding her at all. “Oh Sam, you wouldn’t believe me if I told you.” She wept as she hugged him close to her. “We need to get inside first, then I’ll tell you everything.”

Sam glanced at the young man standing behind her and stared at his blood soaked shirt. Then he sighed at the sight of the little girl with him. She looked scared to death and the young man looked like he might pass out at any time. He ushered Melora and them inside.

When Shaw saw her mother, she held up her arms and cried for her.

Melora stumbled over to the playpen and grabbed her daughter up into her arms. “Oh my baby girl,” she cried as she hugged Shaw.

Sam glanced over at the young man and snarled, “Who the hell are you?”

The man stared at him with a weary expression on his face. “I’m Melora’s friend, Danny and this is my daughter, Breanna.” He sighed and almost fell to his knees.

Sam grabbed hold of him to guide him over to the couch and sat him down.

Danny closed his eyes and leaned back against the sofa.

The little girl clung to Danny’s arm and wouldn't let go. She looked terrified. She crawled onto her dad’s lap and wouldn’t let him go.

Danny groaned but raised his arms to hold her to him.

Sam shook his head and stared at Danny. “Are you okay, man?”

Danny winced and nodded. “I will be. I just need rest and something to eat. We haven’t eaten since some time yesterday.”

Feeling frustrated, Sam let out a breath. Looking over at Melora, he demanded. “Silk, you’d better tell me what’s going on here before I explode. Tell me why the police came here looking for you and telling me your car was abandoned in a ditch and there were eight bullet holes in it. Not only that but there was blood in there too.” Sam’s voice gained in volume.

When he was finished, Breanna was crying and Shaw was picking up on the tension in the room as well. Now she was wailing because Breanna was. Sam gazed up at the ceiling and growled.

“Cut it out, Sam. You’re scaring the girls,” Melora chided him as she tried to hush Shaw.

Danny wrapped his arms around his own daughter and held her close.

Sam looked at the little girl sitting on his sofa and shook his head. “Honey, I’m sorry I yelled.” He went over to the sofa and Breanna leaned as far away from him as she could get. “Honey, you don’t have to be afraid of me. I’m not going to hurt you or your daddy. I was wrong to yell, wasn’t I? I’m sorry.” He glanced over at Shaw and she seemed to be settling down. He again turned his head to look at Danny and his daughter. “How about if I make you something to eat? Would you like that?”

Breanna laid back against her dad’s chest and Danny winced but he held onto his pain. Breanna stuck her thumb into her mouth and just stared at Sam. Her tears were drying up but they left a trail down her dirty face.

Shaking his head, Sam got up and went to the kitchen. He poured two cups of coffee then grabbed a juice box for Breanna and a sippy cup for Shaw. Carrying everything into the living room, he passed out the drinks and then went to sit next to Melora.

Grabbing her hand, he whispered, “Thank God you’re home. I was worried about you.” Sam knew he had to be reasonable and not give in to his rage, or at least try until he had more information.

Chapter Ten

“I called your dad,” Sam said. “I’d better or he will be hard to handle later on.”

Melora nodded. “Ok. Well, do you remember the other night when I was telling you how I grew up?”

Sam nodded.

---