Shatter Me (The Jaded Series, #1) (34 page)

“Why are you just now telling me this?” Jaxon asks me angrily.

Mia comes to my defense. “She hasn’t had the opportunity yet, Jaxon. Leave the attitude out of it.”

After looking at Mia for a minute, he brings his eyes back to me. He pulls me to him and says against my hair, “Sorry, Angel.”

I pull back and cup his jaw. “It’s okay. I didn’t tell you because we need to focus on Anna right now. She’s more important at the moment. We need to get her away from him.”

“And keep you safe in the process,” Jaxon adds.

I nod my head, but know it may not be that easy. Their sole focus needs to be on Anna. She’s the one in immediate danger. My heart squeezes at what she may be going through right at this moment.

After going through possible places Steven may have taken Anna, Mac calls in reinforcements. Several uniformed officers show up a few minutes later. Jaxon is torn between staying behind and protecting me himself or going out with the search party to look for Anna.

I pull him to the side and make him look at me. “You need to go with them and look for her. Mac said he would have an officer drive me to your place and stay with me and I know Andrew will be more than willing to look after me as well.” I add Andrew in there because I know that will make Jaxon feel better knowing someone that cares for me will be there to help protect me.

He still looks tortured, but realizes I’m right. Anna is his sister and he needs to help in the hunt to find her. If he didn’t, it would drive him crazy just sitting at home doing nothing.

I give him an encouraging smile. “I’ll be okay, Jaxon. You go out and bring Anna home, alright?”

He dips his head and slants his mouth over mine in a scorching kiss. His tongue plunders my mouth like this is his last chance to do so. The kiss is heated and swoon-worthy, but goes no further.

When we break apart, he grabs my hand and we all walk out of Jaxon’s office and make our way back up front. Jaxon tells Mia to go ahead and shut down the bar, even though it’s still half full. Too much is going on at the moment to keep it open. Andrew has to come with me and Mia can’t be expected to work the bar in light of her sister being abducted.

Jaxon gestures for Andrew to come over so he can explain what’s happening. He’s already caught up on everything except for what’s gone down tonight. Jaxon finishes by asking him to go with me back home to help protect me.

“Of course man, you know I’ll do anything for her.” His words touch my heart and I reach over to give his hand a squeeze to show my affection and gratitude.

Jaxon turns to give me one last kiss.

After pulling away, he rests his forehead against mine. “Stay safe. I’ll be home as soon as I can. I love you.”

“I love you, too. And please be careful. Steven is extremely tricky and will use whatever tool he can find, literally and figuratively, to beat you.”

He nods his head and faces Andrew.

“Keep her safe.” He says to him.

“Done.” Is his one-word reply.

When Jaxon starts walking off Andrew calls his name. Jaxon stops and turns his head. “You stay safe as well.”

Jaxon just gives him a chin lift, turns back around, and moves to stand beside Mac and Nick. A few minutes later they all walk out the door, leaving Andrew, Mia, an officer, and myself alone.

The atmosphere when we reach Jaxon’s house is quiet and tense. The usual playfulness that radiates off Andrew is no longer present. Mia is more quiet than usual. Instead of going home, she opted to come back to Jaxon’s with us. I think that was a great idea. We all need to stick together. The officer is currently standing by the front door, being ever so vigilant. He wouldn’t let us enter the house until he did a sweep and deemed it safe. I am grateful for the carefulness.

Mia spoke with their mom on the way over and let her know what was going on. The usual strong woman that I am getting to know broke down over the phone. I could hear her sobs as Mia talked to her.

The guilt that I feel is crushing me. This is my fault. If I hadn’t come to town, then Anna would be safe and sound, with no cares in the world. I feel helpless.

Knowing that none of us will be getting any sleep tonight I put on a pot of coffee and ask if anyone would like something to eat. Everyone says no to the food, but yes to the coffee.

We all sit around in silence for a couple of hours. No word has come in yet from Jaxon, Nick, or Mac. We all fidget and can’t stay still for long. The T.V. has been on for just as long, but no one watches it. Another thirty minutes pass before I can’t take it anymore.

I jump up from my seat at the bar. “I’m going to take a shower,” I tell the group.

No one actually pays any attention to me except for Mia. She looks at me with a worried expression.

After gathering my clothes, I walk into the bathroom and turn the shower on. Even though I have a big urge to take one of my blistering hot showers I promised Jaxon I wouldn’t. Yes, I feel dirty again because of Steven but this isn’t about me, it’s about Anna. I have to stay strong.

After washing my hair and scrubbing down my body, I get out and dry off. Just before I get dressed my phone dings to indicate an incoming text. Quickly snatching it off the counter and hoping it’s from Jaxon I bring up my text app.

My shoulders slump when I realize it’s not Jaxon, but tense up when I see it’s a picture text from an unknown number.  Nothing has ever gone well for me when an unknown number pops up.

With shaking fingers, I push the button to download the picture. It feels like it takes ten minutes to download but I know it’s only been a few seconds. When the picture finally appears on the screen, I almost drop to my knees at what I see.

It’s Anna, but it’s not. What once was the beautiful, spirited, carefree girl is now a beaten and bloody mess. The picture is of just her face. I can see bruises, cuts, and burn marks all along her cheeks, eyes, chin, and forehead. Her hair is matted and strands of it fall on her face. A sick feeling forms in my stomach when I see a whitish clearish substance smudged on her cheeks and lips. Her eyes are barely open and look lifeless.

“Oh Anna, I’m so sorry,” I whisper to no one. A sob escapes my throat. I know that if she makes it out of this alive, she’ll never be the same again. I knew what Steven is capable of, but I had hoped, prayed, that it wouldn’t come to this.

Another ding sounds from my phone and I frantically push the button to pull up a new text. The next series of texts has me shaking so hard I can barely hold my phone.

Unknown:
If you want her to stay alive then do what I say.

Me:
What do you want?

Unknown:
You know what I want, My Pet.

I do know what he wants. Me. As much as I don’t want to go to him I have no choice. I have to get Anna out of there. My body and mind are used to Steven’s form of torture, Anna’s isn’t. From the looks of her in the picture, she’s barely hanging on. I would do anything to get her away from him, even sacrifice myself. That’s what family and friends do.

Taking a deep breath, I sent my next text.

Me:
Where?

Unknown:
There’s an old hunting lodge off Route 14. Delete these messages and the picture, and leave your phone. Tell no one and come alone. You have one hour.

Me:
Okay. Please don’t hurt her anymore.

Unknown:
If I find you haven’t followed my directions, me and my friend here will continue to have our fun with Anna. I can’t promise how much more she can handle.

Me:
Okay.

As soon as I send the last text I delete the messages and the picture. I have to find a way to get out of the house without alerting anyone.

A knock sounds at the door and I hear Mia’s voice through it. “Bailey, are you okay in there?”

Knowing that I have to put on the performance of a lifetime, I push my arms into the robe that was hanging on a hook, compose my face as best as I can, and crack open the door.

I force my lips to resemble a small smile. “Yes, I’m fine. I lost track of time while I was in the shower. Has there been any word?”

She eyes me suspiciously for a few seconds before replying, “No.”

We stand there watching each other with the door barely open between us. The air from the bedroom seeps inside the warm bathroom and gives me chills, reminding me I’m still in my robe. An idea forms in my head.

“I’m going to run out to the garage and grab my bag that has my fresh clothes. We left them out there the other night when we got home.” I tell her hoping that she won’t question me.

“I can get them for you.” She says and starts to walk off.

Thinking quickly, I grab her arm through the crack to stop her. “No, please. I’ll get it. I was wondering if you could make me a sandwich. With everything that’s happened lately I haven’t been eating much and I’m starting to get a little shaky.”

Just in time to prove my point my fingers begin to shake on her arm, but not from lack of food. They're shaking because of what I’m about to do. I silently send a prayer to God that Mia believes me.

Just before I start to fidget and probably reveal my nerves Mia gives me a nod and walks off towards the bedroom door.

As soon as she passes through I run from the bathroom, through the bedroom, and stop at the alarm panel on the wall beside the garage door. I quickly enter the code and slip through the door and squat down to the bag just outside. I have to be quick because I know I only have a few minutes before someone looks for me.

Flinging clothes all over the place, I pick out undergarments, a pair of worn jeans and a black t-shirt and put them on. I glance over and pick up a pair of my tennis shoes and put them on, sans socks.

Standing up, I grab a flashlight off a bench and rush to the side door that leads outside. After unlocking it, I slip outside and start running towards the road. I don’t have a car, but I know that the hunting lodge isn’t too far. If I run, I can make it there in time. I know exactly where Steven is at. Jaxon pointed out the small and barely visible access road to me one day when we were on our way to work. I haven’t actually seen the hunting lodge, but Jaxon told me it was there about a mile down the road.

Staying off the road in case someone comes along but close enough that I don’t get lost I finally make it to the access road. Stopping and doubling over I try and steady my breathing. Taking several deep breaths, I start jogging down the small overgrown dirt road. With the light of my flashlight, I can see tire tracks. Some of the overgrown grass has been matted down as though it has been traveled on recently.

Just as I’m about to stop to take another breather the road opens up and I see lights from a window of a cabin. I halt in my tracks and look around. Just beyond the house I see the tail end of a vehicle. Other than the window I see no other lights.

I slowly start to walk forward. My breaths are coming in pants and not just from the harsh run but mostly from fear. I approach the rickety porch and climb the dilapidated steps. Standing in front of the door, I notice a ruffle of the curtains off to my right. Lifting my hand, I knock three times.

After several seconds, the door creaks open and standing in front of me is Steven.

“So nice to see you again, My Pet.” And with that he snakes his hand around my throat and drags me inside.

Jaxon

M
y fist slams against the dashboard of my truck when I get back inside. Nothing. Not one Goddamn place we went to tonight has produced any clues as to where that sick fuck has taken Anna. We’ve been all over town and searched every place that Steven would have access to. Now we’ve run out of options. There’s nowhere else to look.

“Fuck!” I roar and grip the steering wheel hard. There’s no telling what he’s done to her so far. He’s had her for three days now. My sweet innocent little sister is out there somewhere in the hands of a sadistic bastard.

I pull out my phone and shoot a text to the others to see if they’ve had any luck. I know it’s pointless though. If they had found her, they would’ve notified me already.

A couple minutes later confirms it. No one’s found her. Mac sends me another message to say everyone is going to his place to regroup and go over their options.
Options. What fucking options? There are no more fucking options!

I crank my truck and pull away from the abandoned barn that sits right on the outskirts of town. Twenty minutes later I pull up at my house at the same time as Mac and Nick do. There are already several squad cars parked throughout the yard.

All three of us quietly make our way to the porch. I glance over at Nick and from the porch light I can see he looks haggard. His hair is a mess and his eyes are rimmed with red.

Just as we approach the door, it flings open and Andrew is on the other side looking worried. A sick feeling hits my gut and I immediately know something is wrong.

“What happened?” I demand and take a step towards him. Before he has a chance to answer I barrel past him into the house. I barely notice the officer that is quietly talking on his phone.