Page 18 of Now that I Found You
Chapter Seven
Callum
The adrenaline coursing through me right now is the only thing fueling my body to move. The thought of what Ellie experienced the last time she was in danger urges me to move as quickly as I can to get to her.
Anyone who doesn’t know Ellie’s story would think Royal was just a friend of ours. Only the people closest to her would know it’s the name of the sick, vile scum of the earth who put his hands on her when she was still a child. The man who broke her down and hurt her in ways no person should ever have to experience, especially by someone you’re supposed to be able to trust.
The only thing protecting that sick son of a bitch now is the fact he’s behind bars for the rest of his life. If he were to see freedom outside of that steel cell he’s currently spending his life in, I’d be the one to see to it he’s put where he truly belongs, and that’s burning in hell for eternity.
Unlike the last time, I know how to find her. My hands shake as I log into my computer and pull up her Apple iCloud account. As soon as she mentioned having lunch with Royal, I needed to know if she was still at work like she should’ve been. What if she didn’t make it to work? What if something happened on the way?
Once the GPS loaded on my screen, I nearly flipped the chair backward, shoving it away from the desk against the wall. Randy, my stepfather, knew something was up when I shouted at him to call the police and send them to Hudson’s Grocery. Whoever she’s with is not someone she felt safe with, and I won’t feel right until she’s in my arms again.
I’m grateful my office at Whitt Construction is not far from where Ellie works. Tearing out of the parking lot and down the road, I quickly dial Hudson’s number. My stomach twists when he answers the call with a simple “Callum” in his jolly voice. It’s clear he has no idea what’s happening at the store, so I try to be quick and calm as I fill him in on my conversation with Ellie.
“She said she was with Royal?” he asks. The fear and trepidation in his voice matches my own.
“That’s what she said. Do you know if anyone was there with her before you left?”
“No, we were slow today. It was just the two of us, but I left about thirty minutes ago to have lunch with June. I was going to stop by the bank to make a deposit on my way back to the store.”
Pulling into the back of the parking lot of Hudson’s, I breathe a small sigh of relief when I spot Ellie’s car parked in the back of the lot.
“I’m here now. Do me a favor and stay away. I have the cops on their way, but they’re coming from Everton, so it could still be a few minutes. The door in the back of the store, any chance you’d leave it unlocked?”
“Not normally, but I was unloading boxes from a shipment we got in earlier this morning. It should still be unlocked.”
“Thanks,” I say, cutting off the conversation and ending the call. I don’t have time to chat. I only have one focus on my mind and that is getting to Ellie.
Grabbing the gun from the holster where it sits in my center console, I check to make sure it’s loaded before jumping out of the truck and sliding it in the back of my jeans. Jogging across the lot toward the loading dock, I’m cautious to avoid making too much noise.
The sound of a buzzer goes off, and I hurry to grab the handle to pull the door closed behind me.
“Motherfucker,” I whisper to myself, frantically looking around to make sure no one might have heard me.
I’ve never been in the back of the store before, but I opt to cut across to the other side. If Hudson is on lunch, I know it’s not possible she’s on her break too. I quickly check the rooms in the back for any sign of Ellie. When I find the break room in the back corner, I quickly flip on the light and see Ellie’s purse hanging from the wall before turning the light back off.
I decide to come around from the back of the store, knowing if she is with someone, the element of surprise will be in my favor if I approach from behind. Pulling the gun from my waistband, I reach up and wipe the sweat from my brow with the sleeve of my shirt.
The closer I get, the more I make out the sound of his voice. What I hear next makes the blood in my veins run cold.
“You can take anything you want, anything. I’ll give you all the money in the register, but please, just don’t hurt me.” Her voice comes out a whimper. The sound makes me want to run to her and wrap her in my arms.
Hearing him threaten to hurt her flips a switch inside me, one that I’ve worked to contain for so long after Ellie was hurt.
Keeping the gun pressed against my side, I look over the aisle and see a man pacing back and forth in front of the counter where the register sits. He takes a step forward and Ellie’s beautiful and heartbroken face comes into my view and the ache in my chest lessens.
Her face is red, tears streaming, as she’s struggling to contain her emotions. There’s a bruise forming on her face. The anger coiling in me tightens like a knot deep in my gut. Her arms are raised in the air, but the way her shoulders sag, I know the pain of holding her hands up is weighing on her.
His pacing continues. By the look of his jerky movements and unsure footing, he’s been drinking. If I had to guess, he’s probably had one too many which works in my favor.
When he stops in front of Ellie again, pointing the knife in her face, he demands she stop crying. He runs a hand through his hair before adjusting his hat, muttering to himself, but his words are hard to make out.
“You’re gonna have to come with me,” he finally says. My eyes are wide with fear. I can’t let her leave with him.
Thinking about where he could take her, what could happen to her, I won’t let it happen.
“Wh-why?” Ellie stammers. “Where are you going to take me?”
