Page 74 of Domino
“How are we going to find it, man?” Derek asks.
“Cosmo, can you stay with them? Make sure they’re all right?”
He nods. “What are you going to do?”
“I’m going to call Sheriff Singer and tell him I need his men looking for that Xterra.”
“Yeah, that should go well.”
I make the call knowing Singer could possibly rebuff me outright. I explain the entire situation to him, and he listens quietly. And when he speaks, he surprises me.
“I’ll have my guys keep an eye out for it,” he says. “And as a courtesy to you, and only because it’s got nothin’ to do with this cartel shit, I’ll let you know when we find it.”
“I appreciate that, Sheriff.”
“We’ll settle up later.”
“Fair enough.”
With Cosmo staying with Missy and Mark, it falls to Derek and me having to go bad guy hunting.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Ashley
My hands bound with a pair of plastic cuffs, I huddle in the back of the car with Cole, holding him tightly to me as best as I can, as we rocket down the highway. He’s gone completely still and silent. He’s not crying, not fussing, and not doing anything other than sitting there, staring straight ahead like he’s gone catatonic. It terrifies me more than if he were melting down.
“Let us go, Ryan. Do you see what you’re doing to Cole?”
“This is all your fault, Ash. Don’t even try to turn this shit around on me. If you’d done what I told you and come home, none of this shit would be happenin’ right now,” he spits.
“Stop the car, Ryan. Let us out.”
“What was it you told me? Not. Gonna. Happen. That was it, wasn’t it, you ungrateful bitch?”
There’s a manic energy in him that’s frightening. His voice is high pitched and cracking, and he sounds like he’s gone completely insane.
“Where are you taking us?” I demand.
“We’re goin’ home. Where you belong. And believe me, you’re in a shitload of trouble, girl. I’m going to punish you for this.”
I have no doubt he’s going to punish me if he gets me home. The mere thought of it sends a cold chill racing up my spine. The relief I felt when I heard his voice on the phone was immediate, but it was quickly overwhelmed by the sheer terror of the moment. Ryan had kicked in the door before I could do anything else and slapped the phone out of my hand… and then slapped me for good measure.
I say a silent word, praying that Max can find us and put a stop to this. I have no idea how he’s going to accomplish it, but I’m praying for a miracle right now.
“It’s going to be okay, baby. Don’t worry, everything’s going to be fine.”
“Don’t lie to my son, bitch.”
“Ryan—”
“Cole, your mommy’s in big, fat trouble. She did a very bad thing and she’s going to be punished for it. And you’re going to watch as I punish her. You’re going to learn what happens when mommy disobeys daddy. When she tries to keep you from me. You’re going to learn there’s a price to be paid for making daddy mad. You got it, buddy?”
“Ryan, stop it. You’re scaring him.”
“The kid needs to be toughened up. You’ve turned him into a sniveling pussy. And no son of mine is going to be a sniveling pussy. He’s going to learn to be a man.”
“If you’re the measure of a man, I hope he never becomes one.”
