Page 39 of The Protector’s Daughter

The man slaps a hand over my mouth.

I bite him.

He curses and strikes me across the side of the head.

Light explodes behind my eyes.

My knees buckle.

The last thing I hear before the darkness takes me is Sean’s voice coming through the phone.

“Hayley! Hayley, answer me!”

5

SEAN

“Hayley!”

Her name tears out of me.

A man curses on the other end of the call. I hear a car door open, Hayley struggling, and the unmistakable sound of a fist striking flesh.

Then silence.

“Hayley, answer me.”

An engine starts.

Tires squeal.

The phone remains connected, but Hayley is no longer near it. The sounds fade until all I hear is the distant rumble of traffic.

“Sean?”

I turn.

Sage stands in the kitchen doorway, staring at me.

The sheriff’s deputies have taken the two men into custody. Arthur is speaking to one of them beside the patrol vehicles. Taylor and Will are waiting at the kitchen table, where Sage’s cinnamon rolls remain untouched.

The smell that filled my house with warmth only minutes ago has turned sickeningly sweet.

“Was that her?” Sage asks. “Was that Hayley?”

I can’t lie to her.

“Yes.”

Her hand flies to her mouth.

Taylor is already moving. “Did she say where she was?”

“No. She called the Iron Ridge number and asked for me. Then someone grabbed her.”

“Is the call still connected?” Will asks.

I check the screen.