Page 72 of Defended By Bam
He tugged me to standing by my hair and the zip ties, then released my hair and smacked a hand to my back so hard I fell from his grasp. I landed face first without being able to balance with my hands tied behind my back.
A took a sharp breath, but landing on my face shocked me. I couldn’t see Glenda, but I heard blow after blow, and each gasp from her. Tears finally flooded my eyes as I was hoisted back to my feet.
Glenda wasn’t moving, and her face was covered in blood. “Stop it, you motherfucker!” I shouted before I started trying to break free from my captive again. “Don’t touch her!”
“Get her in the fucking truck! Let’s go!”
I was dragged backwards, and I let myself fall to the ground.Be dead weight. Don’t make it easy.
“Goddamn bitch,” my captor said from behind me.
“Glenda!” I shakily yelled.
The man that walked away from Glenda rushed over, and his closed fist flew at me, popping as it hit my temple. The hit stunned me again momentarily. Adrenaline flooded through meonce more as he grabbed my legs from the side and they both lifted me after the sound of a truck door rolled open.
I squirmed and started shouting, “No, no, no! Help! Fire! Fire!”
“What the fuck is she yelling?” one of them said as they tossed me into the truck like a sack of potatoes.
The floor was hard, and my shoulder and hip pinched after having my weight dumped onto them.
“Some shit they teach women,” the other said as they climbed in and rolled the door down. Small lights, nearly the size of Christmas tree light bulbs, lined the top of the inside of the truck. It was hot and musty, but there was a small box in one corner that must have been some kind of air conditioner because it wasn’t as hot as a box truck would be in the warm temps.
I lay there, knowing the small amount of pain I felt then was nothing compared to what it would be once the adrenaline wore off.
One of them banged on the wall of the truck, then we started to roll as they sat on a bench attached to the back wall.
Tears stung my eyes again and my body heated from the inside out. Ollie was dead. Glenda was dead. Both of them killed, right before my eyes. All because I wanted some creamer for my fucking coffee.
And I’d probably never see Sofie or Bama again. What a cruel, cruel world it was. I finally found peace. I finally felt safe. I finally thought my daughter was safe. We were happy. Loved. And we loved. Maybe some people just aren’t meant to have their happy endings. Having years of practice, I cried in silence… waiting to see what kind of hell awaited me.
I love you both,I thought to myself, hoping somehow they heard me. At least I knew after this, Sofie would be safe. He’d never let her out of his sight. At least one of us could have a life. One with the best man and dad. For the rest of the ride, the tearsrolled quietly down the side of my face as I willed them over and over to hear me say I love you, one last time.
Chapter 38
Bama
Checking my phone, I was relieved I only had a few more minutes before it was time to line up at the daycare. It was only in the eighties today, and the humidity wasn’t bad. Still, hanging out in the truck all day, occasionally stretching my legs, wasn’t my idea of a good time.
The truck was too old to leave running all day, and I had to be on alert. We stopped for breakfast and we both got coffee, even though Linny said no. I needed the caffeine, and hopefully she’d forgive me for getting Sofie a small latte. It was practically all cream and sugar with just a splash of coffee. I got regular coffee, even though Sofie said it was too hot for hot coffee. I never did like iced coffee, but her latte was iced, and she loved it.
Even with the extra caffeine, sitting in the warm truck all day had me trying to get drowsy. I only took my eyes off the school and parking lot to check the time all day.
Finally, when a few other cars started to pull up in front of the school, I started my truck, pulled out of the convenient store parking lot across the street, and got in line.
Only a couple of minutes passed, and the doors opened and all the kids that didn’t stay for after-school came pouring out with two teachers. The teachers halted them all, instructing them to line up and wait until they were called.
It was like herding cattle. The teachers really deserved more than what they were paid. Sofie was a good kid, but she was still a kid. I couldn’t imagine having to wrangle twenty or more at a time. Give me shifty deals in a back lot over that anyday.
I saw Sofie in line and smiled, but waited for the teacher to dismiss her. She ran to the truck, so I reached over and pushed the door open for her. “Hey, sweet girl, hop in.”
She tossed her bag into the floorboard and then reached for my hand. The truck was still a little tall for her. I stuck mine out and she took it, grabbing the seat with her other hand for leverage.
Her blonde hair was wild from the breeze that always kicked up in the parking lot. It was like a wind tunnel.
She got settled in her booster, buckled in, then said, “What a day,” with a big sigh.
“Oh yeah? Wanna tell me about it?” I asked as I put the truck in gear and pulled out slowly.
