going to be watching you. You try to get a knife or something, and you’ll pay, you understand?”
“I understand. I just want to get her some orange juice.” Zoe turned to Sophia. “Stay right here. I’ll be back in a second.”
“No, Mom—”
“Shh. You need some sugar. Do as I say, sweetie.” She tried to comfort Sophia while watching the man with the gun. His impatience escalated, and she backed toward the kitchen. Sophia’s lower lip trembled.
Aaron moved closer to Sophia. “It’ll be a bit awkward, but you can hold my hand, honey. Your mom will be right back.”
Sophia’s eyes darted back and forth between her mother and Aaron, and she nodded. Zoe suspected she was feeling a bit dizzy as she simply laid her head against the back of the couch and shut her eyes.
Zoe moved toward the kitchen, not wanting to leave Sophia, but knowing the man beside her baby was an honorable one—at least according to everything she’d heard about him during the short time she’d been in town—and wouldn’t let anyone hurt Sophia if at all possible.
Zoe acted fast. She could feel Cody’s eyes on her, watching, waiting for her to make a wrong move. She grabbed the orange juice from the refrigerator and a glass from the cabinet. Her hands were shaking so hard she was afraid she’d spill the liquid. She stopped for a second and took a calming breath.
Then she picked up the carton and poured the juice into the glass. Sophia didn’t usually have a problem with her diabetes when she ate right, got her exercise and did what she was supposed to do, but it had been a stressful few weeks and her body was reacting to it. This situation definitely wasn’t helping.
Zoe hurried back into the den and over to Sophia. “Here, honey, drink this.”
Sophia wrapped her hand around the glass while Zoe helped her. Her daughter drank the juice while Zoe’s eyes met Aaron’s. His shoulders gave a slight twitch, and she realized he was using her as a shield while he worked on getting his hands free. She stood over Sophia for as long as she dared then turned to find their two captors in conversation. Discussing how to kill them? Bitterness welled and she tamped it down. God, get us out of this, please.
“Sit down,” Pete said and jabbed her with his weapon.
Aaron stilled, and Zoe sat beside Sophia who seemed to already be doing better with the juice. Zoe set the glass on the table then turned back to Sophia. She ran a hand over her daughter’s face and pulled her close. Pete and his partner, the one he called Cody, moved to look out the window then went back to their discussion. Aaron leaned closer. “What do they want?” he whispered.
“I don’t know.” She wasn’t going to tell him what the man had said about wanting Sophia. Not while her daughter was listening to every word.
“How many are there?” Aaron asked.
“I’ve only seen the two.”
Pete turned a sharp eye in their direction, and she snapped her mouth shut then leaned over to kiss the top of Sophia’s head. A ringing phone broke the tense stillness.
Pete turned away to answer, and Cody disappeared out the door. “Lance is on his way out here,” Aaron said, his voice so low she had to strain to hear it. Pete bent his head and muttered something into the phone. “He may be here already.”
“Who’s Lance?”
“A deputy sheriff. I called him and told him something was wrong out here. He said he’d head over and check it out.”
Hope blossomed and she prayed.
“I got my hands free,” he whispered. “Sit tight. Better do this while there’s only one. While I distract Pete, you grab Sophia and run.”
“Don’t—”
Pete hung up and walked back into the den. “Looks like we’re stuck here a bit longer.”
“What are you waiting for?” Aaron asked.
“Instructions.”
He turned slightly, and Aaron sprang from the couch. He slammed into Pete, and they both went to the floor. Sophia screamed, and Zoe clutched her close. Aaron grunted as a fist caught him across the cheek. Zoe looked for a weapon she could use to help. Aaron rolled, avoiding another fist in the face. “Run, Zoe!”
Zoe pushed Sophia toward the front door. “Go. Run as fast as you can into the trees. Hide until you hear me calling. I’ll find you.” She wanted her child safe, but she wasn’t going to leave Aaron to fight alone.
Sophia ran for the door and unlocked it. Zoe grabbed a vase from the end table next to the sofa.
The back door crashed in and a deputy stepped into the kitchen. She could see him assessing the situation in a lightning-fast second. He moved through the small hall into the den and aimed his weapon at the men on the floor. “Police! Freeze!”
Aaron rammed a punch into Pete’s gut, and the man gasped, rolled to his knees and put his head on the floor.
Aaron stumbled back. Sophia froze near the front door then ran back to Zoe who set the vase back onto the table and gathered her child close.
Lance moved quickly and cuffed the man on the floor while Aaron went to the window to peer out. “There’s another one. He left just a minute ago.”
The front door slammed open.
Zoe gasped and spun to find Cody and yet a third man standing there with weapons aimed at them. Lance lifted his gun and aimed it at the two men. “Drop your weapons.”
The third man stepped closer. “I don’t think so.” He simply shifted his gun so that it was pointed at Sophia. “Now everyone is going to settle down.” His gaze darted between Lance, Aaron and the man on the ground. He came back to Lance. “Lose your weapon and your phone and uncuff Pete.” Lance glared but didn’t argue, placing his gun and cell phone on the table with the others. Aaron sank back onto the couch, dabbing his bruised cheek. The newcomer waited until Pete was on his feet before he spoke. “Thought you said you had him tied up.”
“He was,” Pete grunted with a scowl.
“Tape him up again. Put his hands in front of him so we can see what he’s doing with them.” He flicked a glance at Lance. “Both of them.”
Despair welled in Zoe as Aaron and Lance submitted to having their hands bound in front of them. She wanted to wail in frustration. They’d been so close. So very close. She huddled with Sophia and prayed—in spite of the fact that she was convinced that God didn’t care what happened to those she loved.
Pete got up from the floor and turned his dark eyes on Aaron. The venom there sent a cold shiver of fear through him. And certain knowledge that Pete wanted to kill him. Aaron figured if the man got his hands on a gun, it would all be over. Aaron had made an enemy for life. One he’d better not ever let have access to his back. He felt sure he could take the man in a one-on-one fight, but Aaron knew he was no match with bound hands. He kept his gaze steady, refusing to flinch.
