and the baby… from them.”
“How many times?” The three words left my mouth before I realized I said them.
“Twice that I know of.”
Ryder quickly brushed his hand over his face, finding out what happened to his child shattering the strength he tried to emanate. I wanted to join him, to cry over what happened to Zoe, but the fury boiling in my veins needed to be fed first. So instead of focusing on my despair, I harnessed the rage, sculpting it into the weapon I’d need to destroy any of them we found alive.
“We should go,” he finally said, straightening his posture and reaching for the passenger door. After he tucked Braylen inside, he squeezed my shoulder. “We’ll make them pay. I promise.”
Words failed me as I opened the back door once more. Careful not to wake Zoe, I folded myself inside, my vision clouding over again, every muscle in my body tightening with the need to expel the wrath and fear inside me.
I wanted to touch her, but I didn’t dare lay a finger on her for fear I’d do more harm than good. I must’ve stared at her the entire drive to the cabin, counting how many times she twitched in her sleep, listening to her soft whimpers, shoving away the need to draw her into my lap so I could comfort her, even in her dreams.
The SUV bounced as Ryder veered off the main road, a long dirt driveway visible up ahead. Rows of trees on both sides of the pathway whizzed by when he pressed down on the accelerator, and while I wanted to yell at him to slow down because we didn’t know where we were going, I wanted to demand he go faster.
Soon, the cabin came into view and my eyes almost popped out of my head at the sheer size of it. The night sky shrouded the surroundings but several of the lights were on inside, illuminating the floor-to-ceiling windows. My first thought was how could this place be safe when you could see directly inside, but then I doubted many people even knew of its existence. It was set so far back from the road no one would know it was here unless they had firsthand knowledge.
When Ryder finally pulled to a stop, he killed the engine, watching his wife exit before hopping out. He then opened the back door where Zoe was still passed out.
“I got her,” I practically growled at him.
Braylen came up behind him. “Come on, honey.” She tugged at his arm, her bottom lip trembling again when she gazed down at her stepdaughter. “He’ll take care of her.” Her eyes met mine briefly before she managed to pull him away toward the cabin.
The front door opened, and Trigger walked out onto the porch. I assumed someone called to tell him we were on our way, but I was oblivious to any conversations, all my focus on Zoe and getting her back here so Addy could look her over. Ryder and Braylen brushed past him, leaving me to sort out how to wake Zoe without alarming her.
I leaned into the back seat, my hands moving toward her, but I snatched them back in my hesitancy. “Zoe,” I whispered, getting closer when she didn’t show any signs of stirring. “Zoe.” My voice was louder that time, and while she didn’t wake up, she said something, but it was too muddled for me to make out. “Fuck.” Now it was my turn to start mumbling.
Going back and forth over the best way to get her out of there, I slid my arm behind her back and the other under her bent knees, lifting her, then cradling her against me. A sharp pain shot through my leg when I took a step back, jostling her a little before I righted myself. I thought for sure she was gonna wake up and start freaking out, but her eyes remained closed, her steady breathing keeping her trapped in another world for right now. Her arms were limp, and I had to remind myself that she was, in fact, still alive because she looked the opposite.
“Oh my God!” Addy rushed toward us. “Is she…?” She couldn’t finish her question, but I didn’t keep her in suspense long.
“No. Just passed out.”
She scoured the length of her, trying to muffle her cries as she walked next to me up the steps and into the house. I barely got a chance to take in the interior before she