Custom Built (Fast & Fury #1) - Chantal Fernando Page 0,71
case, and now that we’ve gotten to the bottom of it, I just feel sad about how it all turned out.
“This is the first time I’m bringing Quinn to your headstone, but I’m going to make sure we come every week at least. I wish you could have held her. She’d have you wrapped around her little finger,” I say, smiling sadly. I take a deep breath. “I miss you, Dad, so much. But I know that you are watching over us.”
Not too closely, because Crow and I have been all over each other every single night as of recent, and I hope he can’t see that.
“And just know that you are so loved, and that you’re the best dad I could have ever asked for. I love you. We love you.”
We sit there for a while longer, and then move to Billie’s headstone. I place her flowers down and talk to her until Quinn gets a little fussy, so we head home. I’m putting her in her car seat when, in a flash, I’m pushed into the back seat, and the door is slammed behind me.
Two people get in the front: a blond woman and a dark-haired man.
“What are you doing? Let us out, please, you can take the car and anything else in it,” I beg them, looking at Quinn safely strapped in her car seat. Fear fills me, and I don’t know what to do.
They start to drive off, and I could easily jump out, but not with Quinn.
“Help!” I yell, trying to get someone’s attention. There is no one close by, and the ones on the other side of the cemetery can’t hear me.
“Stay quiet, shut up!” the woman yells. “Or your daughter won’t make it.”
Pure panic takes over me, and I start to freak out. I figure if they kick me out, maybe it’s better to have my daughter in my arms? Letting them drive off with her isn’t an option—there’s no saying what they would do to her. I unbuckle Quinn’s belt but then reconsider. What if they crash the car? I don’t know what to do. Which is going to be the safest option for us?
“Please don’t hurt her,” I say, glancing between them as they speed off. I realize that I recognize the woman—she’s the one who came up to us in the grocery store to tell me how cute Quinn was. Has she been following me that entire time? That was months ago.
I pull out my phone and send Crow a quick message. I know that he can track me from my phone. Just in case he doesn’t check his, I send the same message on the group chat with all the Knights in there.
Someone will come for me, I know that, but is it going to be in time?
The two of them obviously aren’t professional criminals—they didn’t take my phone away from me—so I have no idea what they want. They haven’t stolen anything. What is their motive?
“Just stay quiet,” the woman says. “You’ll get what you deserve.”
What I deserve?
What have I done to any of them?
I’m missing something, and I need to figure out what it is before it’s too late.
What is the connection here?
This has to be one of the boldest kidnappings in broad daylight, but because of Quinn there’s not much I can do. I can’t fight both of them off, I can’t take her and jump, and I can’t kick and scream and attack them in case they crash the car and hurt my baby. I’m vulnerable, and they know it.
“I don’t even know who you are, but whatever you want, please. I will give it to you, just do not hurt my daughter,” I continue, hoping they can get it through their thick skulls.
I’ll give anything to keep her safe, even my life without a second thought.
“Put this on your head, and she will get to our destination safely,” the man says, handing me a fabric sack.
I hesitate for a second, and he starts yelling, saying he will hurt Quinn if I don’t comply.
I don’t have much of an option.
Praying, I put the sack on my head, and all I can see is darkness. I hold on to Quinn’s leg so that I know she’s still there right next to me. I don’t think I’ve ever been so scared in my life. My daughter wakes to all the noise, but luckily goes back to sleep, completely unaware of the danger we are in.