Page 63 of Chasing Redemption

“Oh, she never said anything. Deanna had a lot to say when I called. So did Lana. And Abby, the neighbor. A list of disappointed women you left in your wake, Stevie.” I shook my head, slow and mocking. “It started with your mom, didn’t it?” It never failed to set men off whenever you implied that they had mommy issues. Steven was no different.

His face went redder, which I didn’t think was possible. I smashed down the glee that rose to the surface. He was fun to screw with.

“I know I said I’d let you get the first hit, Lyle, man. But this bitch needs to learn her place,” Steven said through a clenched jaw. He slipped off his blazer and strode over to the crates, carefully placing it there. He ate up the distance between us, pulled his fist back, and punched me in the face.

Pain exploded in my cheek, my head snapping to the side. Stars dotted my vision, but I schooled myself as years of training kicked in. Breathing through the pain, I turned my head back to face him.

His hate warped his face as he hit me again and again. Each hit gave me a moment to yank on the ropes. After three hits, I had the rope dangling in my hands.

Fuck.I hated the hits to the face. Slowly, I brought my head back, ignored the throbbing pain on the left side of my face, and smiled.

Steven’s face pulled into a grimace. “This is your fault. I have to hurt her because of you!” He pointed at Sophia, who finally picked up her head and stared at me. I waited until she looked me in the eyes and gave a subtle nod.

I’m okay.I tried to say it without words.It’s fine. I wanted this to happen.I wasn’t sure if Sophia got my message, but I hoped she did.

“Don’t you ever tire of blaming everyone else?” I asked, though talking hurt my jaw. “You have the worst close rate in the entire police department. Everyone knows if you’re on the case, it’s never getting solved.” I laughed mirthlessly, keeping their focus on my face so they didn’t notice my arms straining while I continued working at the knot. “Lose at poker? The other guys are counting cards. Can’t get a recommendation to move up ranks, not because you suck, but because the other guys were jealous. Wife runs? She was ungrateful.” I paused for dramatic effect. “It’s called accountability, Steven. Look it up. Then grow a pair and act like a fucking man.”

My pointer finger moved through a loop I’d made, and I twisted my wrist, ignoring the twinge of pain from trying to turn it in a way it wasn’t meant to. The rope unraveled in my hands as Steven cocked his arm back.

Two fast punches struck, one to the other side of my face, causing my mouth to fill with blood, and the other to the gut. I heaved gulps of air, trying to tamp down the pain, knowing that any reaction I gave would only fuel and empower him.

Picking my head up, I spat a wad of blood at him and was disappointed when it landed on his shoe. Steven lunged at me only to have Chad finally step in as a barrier between Steven and me. In the tussle, I spotted the gun Steven had under the waistband at his back.

Chad muttered something in his ear, too low for me to hear. Steven deflated and shoved Chad off him. He glared at me as he walked to the other side of the room and leaned on the wall. I shot him my best bloody smile.

Lyle frowned at Steven before coming back to me. “I didn’t realize how much I underestimated you the first time we met. I thought you were just some computer nerd. Not a mistake I’ll make again. Tell me what I want to know or I’ll let Steven off his leash.” I resisted rolling my eyes. “Tell me where my wife is.” Lyle didn’t scream; he enunciated every word with deathly calm fury.

I’d learned that people who could refrain from screaming and throwing things in their rage were far more dangerous than those who lacked such discipline. Such control over emotional reactions belied the hidden darkness within and put anyone who failed to recognize the warning in grave peril.

Pursing my lips, I shifted in my seat before letting my shoulders sag. “Fine. I’ll tell you where she is.” Sophia let out a sharp cry. Lyle’s eyes gleamed, his excitement barely contained. “She’s in Paris.”

“Paris?” Lyle’s mouth got tight. Behind him, Chad stood taller, and his hands came from out of his pockets. Steven gave a humorless laugh.

“No, sorry. Not anymore.” I shook my head and pretended to think really hard. “Rome, has to be.” I sucked air between my teeth. “She’s taking a much-needed vacation, traveling Europe and enjoying her freedom, so it’s a bit hard to remember.”

“How did she get there, when everyone in the country is searching for her? She doesn’t have her passport or the kid’s passport.” He spun around, pacing and pulling at his hair.

“She isn’t in Rome, you moron.” I rolled my eyes. “Get real, man. She’s smart, she has a kid to look out for. Tallulah was always going to find the strength to leave you.”

Lyle’s leash on his anger finally snapped. He charged at me from the other side of the barn, and I gripped the rope, waiting.

Ten feet. Six. Three.

I jumped to my feet, keeping my shoulder and body low like a football player. Lyle was too close, moving too fast to stop. I braced my feet, angling my body so he ran into my shoulder, then I stood up, using his momentum to lift him off the ground and send him flipping over my chair. He landed hard on his back, air whooshing out of him.

Everyone stared, too shocked to react. I used their distraction to stand in front of Sophia, blocking her from Steven’s view, then shielded her with my body when the side of the barn exploded, sending wood and debris everywhere, using my body as her shield.

The smile on my face hurt. My girls knew how to make an entrance.

Smoke filled the air, stinging my eyes initially but I blinked through it. I grabbed Sophia who was huddled behind me in a ball. The men had scattered, but they weren’t my priority. Sophia was.

My feet were swept out from under me, and I fell hard on my side. I sat up fast, but Steven already had Sophia by the throat and was struggling to drag her back by her hair. Instead of fighting him, she’d gone limp, making it nearly impossible for him to maneuver her.

“He has her!” I yelled out, knowing someone would go after them. I was too far away.

I got to my feet, but Lyle launched himself at me, tackling me back to the ground. His legs straddled my waist, his hands wrapping around my throat. “Tell me where she is!” Air became a luxury with my throat locked in his vise-like grip. Pushing my arms between his, I shoved my elbows out, breaking his grip.

Glorious oxygen filled my lungs, but he came back, pulling my hair hard enough to rip it from my skull, and bashed his fits anywhere he could reach. Blocking his wild hits, I kicked at him to get space and pushed my legs between us. Lyle lacked the skills to stop me from pressing my feet to his chest and send him flying backward. Except he was heavier than he looked and didn’t go far. I only managed to bring him up. His weight knocked the wind out of me when he came back down. Gripping my hair, he smashed my head on the ground, and my brain bounced against my skull.

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