Page 37 of Securing His Family
Patrick was a fool to think Steve and the others hadn’t thought of everything. Wouldn’t know this was a trap. Patrick’s arrogance thinking he was better than the men arriving would be his downfall.
There was no way they’d make silly mistakes that would endanger them and her and Charlee. Patrick, however, would and so she would ensure that her daughter wouldn’t be caught in the crossfire.
She would sacrifice her life for her daughter without question.
“I need you to come here, Lauren. Now.” He pointed to a spot next to him. “Come watch while the traps I’ve set take out these so-called experts.”
Had the man forgotten that she couldn’t move freely? “I can’t. You handcuffed me to the bed. Remember?”
Patrick stormed over and slapped her hard across the cheek. Charlee screamed, and the force of the hit snapped Lauren’s neck to the right. Pain radiated up to the base of her skull. “I’m okay, Charlee.”
If she kept Patrick’s focus on her, it would give Steve and the others time to get close to the cabin. These guys were used to situations like this. There’s no way they’d just rush in without considering the possibility that Patrick would’ve made it difficult for them to approach the structure easily.
“Yeah,Charlee,your mum is fine. Charlee. What a fucking stupid name! If I’d been around when you’d been born, I never would’ve allowed your slut of a mother to name you that.” Patrick stalked toward her, leaning down so he could get in her face. “Only good thing about you deciding to have my baby is, she’s going to get me a pretty penny and make someone very happy. I might even be able to negotiate for you too. Double my payday.”
Lauren’s blood chilled as the implication of what Patrick said sunk in. He was going to sell both her and Charlee to sex traffickers. Beside her Charlee whimpered and Lauren pulled her close.
“You won’t get away with this, Patrick.” Lauren ground out.
“Won’t I?” he taunted and held up the handcuff key. “I have all the power here. You can’t do shit.”
The sound of wood splintering was the only warning she and Patrick got that something was about to happen.
“No, but I can, asshole.” A voice ground out.
Patrick didn’t even get a chance to move. His eyes widened in surprise before they rolled up and he fell to the floor with a thud. Not moving.
There’s no blood. If he’d been shot there would be blood, right?
Charlee screamed again pulling her from her thoughts, but her gaze was fixed on the person standing where Partrick had been.
Am I dreaming?
“Reed?”
“Hey Ren, I’m here.” He limped over to pluck the key off the floor, where it had landed when Patrick had fallen. He unlocked the handcuffs and had her and Charlee in his embrace in seconds.
“You’re real,” she whispered. “I’m not dreaming.”
“It’s real, babe. I’m here.”
Lauren was aware of movement around her but all her attention was on the man who held both her and her daughter. Charlee was crying. Hearing her daughter’s emotions, unlocked the key to Lauren’s own. The damn burst and tears started. She’d thought she’d cried herself dry last night, but she hadn’t.
“It’s okay, Ren. You’re okay. Charlee’s okay.” Reed’s words assured her but did nothing to stop the rivers of tears trickling down her cheeks.
“I thought you were dead. You weren’t moving. There was so much blood.”
“I’m here. I’m alive. You’re both safe now. He’s not going to hurt you anymore.”
“Is he…” she couldn’t finish the words.
“No, just neutralized,” Reed responded.
Lauren didn’t know what to feel. Should she be sad that her daughter’s father wasn’t dead? She believed Reed when he said that Patrick couldn’t hurt them anymore. But he was still alive, there was always a chance he could try again. Only next time, he could succeed. Next time she and Charlee might not be so lucky.
A full body shiver wracked her body and her teeth started to chatter as shock set in.
Reed stroked her back soothingly. “I know what you’re thinking, Ren, but it’s not going to happen. I’m going to make sure Patrick gets the book thrown at him and he doesn’t see the light of day.”
