Page 39 of Broken Bodyguard
“I don’t give a fuck what you do. I’m taking my daughter.” Jericho barreled past my father, who shouted and lunged for Jericho. But Jericho darted away, eluding his grasp, and stormed toward me.
“Jericho, stop!” My voice came out shrill, betraying every ounce of fear that I felt. Before Jericho reached me, my father grabbed at his shoulders, hauling him back. Jericho swung his fist as he turned, landing a solid punch to my father’s face. His gruff shout filled the front hall.
“Jericho! What has gotten into you?” my mother screamed.
“I’m calling the police.” My announcement withered in the chaos now filling the living room. But I didn’t reach for my cell phone. Even amid my frozen limbs and high anxiety, I remembered what I was supposed to do. I reached for the telephone on the small table near the landing, but Jericho reached it first.
“The fuck you are.” He swatted the phone out of my hand so forcefully the entire thing toppled to the floor. “Besides, it won’t even matter. You think I don’t know enough of the police force? That I don’t have them in my back pocket?” His smile grew sinister. “Get out of my fucking way. I’m taking Grace now.”
“No you aren’t!” My voice trembled. I had no way to stop him, and he knew it.
He tipped his head, a creepy smile twisting at his lips. “Yes I am.”
Time. I just needed more time. That’s all I could think about. “You’re not going up there, Jericho. If you try anything at all, you’ll never get custodial rights. The fact that you just punched my dad has you fucked. And you know it. Think clearly, please!”
“I’m thinking clearly for the first time in my life.” His words fell like a threat and when he stepped forward, I didn’t budge. “Get. Out. Of. My. Way.” Jericho shoved me aside, and even though I’d braced myself, I toppled under the angry force. I hit the wall hard with my shoulder and lost my balance, sliding to the floor, but I kicked my leg out to trip him as he headed for the stairs.
Jericho stumbled over my feet, swearing loudly. “You fucking whore.”
He glanced behind him, finding my parents distracted with my father’s bloody nose and potentially broken nose. Jericho grabbed me by the hair and brought his face close to mine.
“I should have fucking done this years ago,” he hissed, and then he slammed my head into the wall.
Everything went black.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
TROY
TheLamberthouseholdwasa mess when I pulled up. Jericho’s Lexus blocked the whole driveway. The front door hung open, muffled sobs drifting out into the front yard.
I’m coming girls.It was the only thing on my mind as I surveyed the state of affairs and adjusted my plan. Inside the two-story house, I found Mr. and Mrs. Lambert crouched over Maddie. She was out cold, her silky brown hair matted to a bleeding gash on the side of her head.
My gut turned into a lead knot. They’d stay with her for now. I needed to secure Grace. I touched Mrs. Lambert’s shoulder gently. She looked up at me with red-rimmed eyes.
I still hadn’t met her parents face-to-face, but this wasn’t the ideal time for introductions. I pressed a finger to my lips and then pointed up the staircase. She nodded, and I started a slow, silent creep up the stairs. As I ascended, I could hear the forced gentleness of a male voice.
“Come on Grace. It’s me. It’s time to go.”
Jericho. At the landing, I peered around the corner. He stood at the end of the hallway, in front of an open bedroom door.
“It’s me. Daddy. We’re going now.” He sounded agitated. Grace’s whimpers leaked out of the bedroom.
“Why are you acting like this?” Jericho stomped into the room and I took my chance to slip down the hallway. I listened in for a second, calculating the best plan given his potential reaction. I didn’t want Grace to see anything scary, even though I knew Jericho’s entire presence was terrifying enough right now. I needed to subdue Jericho and drag his ass out of this house, without Grace seeing any of it.
A tall order, given the layout of this house. But I’d figure out a way.
“We need to go. Now. Where is your coat?” Jericho snapped.
“I want Mommy,” Grace whimpered.
“She’s not coming. You’re coming with Daddy. What is so fucking hard to understand about that?” Jericho let out a frustrated sigh. “Listen, do you want any of these toys or whatever? Pick out something, let’s go.”
“Where’s Mommy?” Grace was sobbing now. I couldn’t stand another second of it. I stepped into the doorway, pinning Jericho with my gaze. He blanched when he spotted me.
“Toy!” Grace’s bottom lip trembled and she moved toward me, but Jericho yanked at her arm.
“You’re not going with him. He’s bad. A bad man. You’re coming with Daddy.”
