Chapter Fifty Nine
Aralyn parked the motorcycle down the street and hid it in the bushes with her helmet. Heading for the house, she relied on the moonlight to guide her, having forgotten a flashlight. She stepped carefully, grateful she was wearing her old cowboy boots again and the thick protection they provided her.
Creeping up on the house, she stayed hidden in the shadows while she studied it. No lights. Just the night bugs making their noise. Some frogs nearby. That meant there was some sort of water source. Aralyn vaguely remember some old fountains; by now they probably held only stagnant rainwater. The grass was so thick she knew there could be snakes hiding, though the weather was getting cold enough that they might already be in winter dens. She was grateful she had her boots on, and not her sneakers.
The old cement walls were crumbling, and the gate looked rickety but she spotted the new padlock on the rusty iron gate. Testing the walls, she scaled it easily and slipped over it, dropping to the ground softly. The low heels of her boots sunk into the soft ground and she briefly reconsidered fi she should have worn her sneakers. Tugging her dark hat over her damp curls, she stealthily made her way towards the house, using the overgrown shrubs and trees as cover, just in case someone was looking out a window. She glanced down frequently, watching for snakes or other critters that might be hiding.
Aralyn crept around to the back of the house slowly. There was an old, beat up pickup in the back drive, well hidden from the street. Someone was here all right. That new padlock no doubt belonged to the owner od the truck, and she was positive it was McQuade.
She bit her lip and wished Tim was with her. He was going to wring her neck for sneaking out, when he caught up to her. Aralyn knew she should have told the others where she was going. Tim would have backed her up without hesitation. Cam might have tried to talk her out of it but would have come along in the end. Dean used to go on some of their adventures with them when they were kids and probably would have been game. Nat and Lyris would have definitely tried to talk her out of this. But she really wished she had Tim at her back right now. She should have brought her friends, she thought. She should have had faith in them. It was too late to call them in now, she thought sadly. By now, they’d know she was gone and probably have alerted Bo. She needed to move fast and find out if Tiffany was here, before her dad arrived with the team and sirens blaring, and lights flashing.
Circling the house while trying to stay hidden, she thought she saw the small windows to the basement on the backside of the house. She wished she had thought to grab a flashlight. Of course, this hadn’t really been planned. Mentally, she kicked herself. This was the exact sort of thing she was supposed to be working on, not being so damned impulsive! She could hear Duncan's Scottish brogue now. “So what did you learn from this?”, while he was standing in front of her, arms crossed over that fantastically broad chest, looking gorgeous in one of his lovely sweaters. She pushed the thought from her mind. Duncan had made it clear to her she was just a lost kid he was helping out, he was a mentor, and a friend, there were no romantic feelings. But he was still damn hot, for being her father’s age.
Focus, Duke, she thought, irritated with herself. What I’ve learned is that when when my best friend is in danger, I forget everything we’ve worked on the last four months and go running into a potentially dangerous situation, half-cocked, without backup. She had limited time to locate her cousin.
Pausing near one window, she realized the flickering light was from a tv. She couldn’t see through the dirt and grime encrusted window, but someone was home. On this side of the house, no one would notice the light. The house had electricity; someone was paying the bill. Evidently the owner had it on. It certainly wasn’t for groundskeeping.
She kept moving around the house, looking for basement windows, crawling through overgrown bushes. Finally, she found them, and crawled up close to get a good look at them. They were filthy, and almost impossible to see through. Squinting she realized it was covered in something black. Paper, maybe, or trash bag. Why? she wondered. Obviously, there was something being hidden. Tiffany. She was sure of it.
Hang on, Tiff, she thought, I’m coming for you.
***
Tiffany Duke lay quietly on the cold concrete, wishing for a blanket or jacket. She was chilled through to the bone, disoriented and dehydrated. Even once she had worked her blindfold off, the room was pitch black, and cold. Terrified of spiders and rats, she didn’t try to feel her way around.
Upon awakening down here, she knew immediately what had happened. Panicking would do no good. It hadn’t taken long to lose track of time. Several times she had been led up some stairs to a dingy bathroom, which made her think she was in a basement. She had been fed burgers and fries by the scary man holding her captive. He didn’t answer her questions, but other than once, he didn’t hurt her, other than tying her up and leaving her in a dark basement. Tiffany had never been afraid of the dark but now she hated it.
She had tried to fight once, but had backhanded her so hard across the face that she fell, turning her ankle hard, and her face was still sore. Her head itched from lack of washing her hair and she could smell herself. Her teeth felt fuzzy from lack of brushing and her throat was dry. Her captor didn’t bring her anything to drink between meals, and she was so sick of fast food; she vowed to never eat it again once she got out of here.
She would get out of here, she knew. It would just a matter of time.
She had to stay calm, she reminded herself, quelling the scream that started to build in her throat. It was her nature to be calm, to be levelheaded one. Luke would find her. Luke, Bo and Dan wouldn’t rest until they found her, she knew that. They were three of the top Marshals in the service, and they would move heaven and earth to find her, even if they were benched from the case because they were family. Her mother and grandfather would use every bit of money and influence at their disposal. Trixie had her PI license still, and did occasional freelance work for old friends “in the business”. She had called on them to help find Aralyn, she would call on them to find her, and every seedy contact and snitch they had. Tiffany knew her family was looking for her and they wouldn’t give up. They hadn’t give up looking for her missing cousin, she knew.
She focused her breathing, remembering the training her grandfather had insisted she and Jace go through in case they were ever kidnapped and used as weapon against him. They had been taught to remain calm, work with the kidnappers, convince them they could make an easy $20 million dollars in cash by simply handing them over to Matthew without any harm. One phone call, and they’d have enough cash to disappear into the world and live freely, no questions, no chase given, as long as she was returned unharmed.
But this guy didn’t want money, which meant this was personal.
Tiffany exhaled. Tiffany wasn’t prone to panicking anyway, but being tied up in the dark was anotehr story. She made a note to herself to buy some more lamps for her room and spend more time in the sun, harmful UV rays be damned. Tiffany had missed Jace’s football game this week; she was sure. It was her little brother’s senior year, and he was the star of the football team. She had been at every game this fall, cheering him on. Her favorite horse, Moonbeam, would be missing her. She had been riding a lot more lately, keeping Valerra company, visiting with Regan and helping teach Natala to ride. Tiffany wanted to be out on her horse, in the sunshine. She wanted to be at the lake with Aralyn and Natala, soaking up the rays and laughing about boys and eating ice cream.
She couldn’t think about Aralyn. It hurt too much to think about her cousin and best friend who had taken off so abruptly a few months before. Tim occasionally relayed a message, always the same, Ari loves you, Ari loves you, she’ll be home soon. But it had been months and Aralyn hadn’t come back. Did Aralyn know what had happened? Had Tim been notified and had he called her? She had the vague impression that Ari checked in with him but Tiffany suspected he knew exactly where their cousin was. She had even gone to Annapolis that first week, where Tim looked her in the eye and said she wasn’t there. She knew he wasn’t lying, but he was holding back information. She didn’t press and deliberately didn’t ask if he knew where she was. Tim was clearly in an awkward position and Tiffany didn’t think her heart could take if Tim lied to her face, and she knew he would, if it meant protecting Aralyn. She had left Annapolis more heart broken than ever.
A surge of hot anger went through her. If she died down here, Aralyn would regret her running off. Tiffany knew her cousin would never forgive herself for this as it was. It would serve Aralyn right if something happened to her, Tiffany! They weren’t supposed to be split up like this! They were the Dynamic Duo, the Awesome Twosome, The Inseparables. As much as Tiffany loved Natala and had relied on her these past few months, she wasn’t Aralyn. Tiffany and Aralyn had been together since birth. And Aralyn had ruined all of it.
Aralyn’s twentieth birthday had been last week. Tiffany had gone over to the house to check on Trixie in the afternoon after meeting up with Nat, Cam and Dean, and found her second mother sitting at the kitchen table, listless, staring at a freshly made homemade chocolate cake, with chocolate frosting, blue roses and Happy Birthday Aralyn. A 20 candle was nestled in the frosting.
“I keep hoping she’ll call,” Trixie said sadly, looking up as Tiffany sat across from her and took her hand. Her blue eyes filled with tears. “But I have a feeling she won’t. I’d give anything to hear her voice, Tiffany, just for a moment.”
Tiffany nodded in understanding. She’d stayed for dinner, but Trixie burst into tears before she could cut the cake, and fled the kitchen. Bo left to comfort her, and even the twins couldn’t force any humor, their dejected expressions too much to bear.
Sean stood abruptly and smashed his fist into the cake, and flung it across the kitchen before he fled the room.
“I’ll take care of him,” Leif said quietly, rising from his chair. “He’s had a lot of setbacks like this with Ari gone. Logan, can you clean it up?”
His twin nodded and rose, his dinner untouched. Tiffany stayed to help him.
Even Dixie despaired, placing her big muzzle on Tiffany’s leg, her blue eyes sad. Tiffany stroked the big, soft, gray head.
“I’m going to brain Aralyn when she comes home,” Logan said bitterly. “She’s single handedly destroying this family because she’s a selfish bitch.”
“She’s troubled, Logan,” Tiffany said softly, still loyal to her best friend, despite her own anger towards her. “She needs to work out some problems.”
“That’s what the shrink was for!” he snapped. “Tiff, you see it happening. We’re coming apart at the seams because she’s got her head up her ass and she’s off gallivanting around somewhere!”
“She’ll be back, Logan. I know she will.”
“Before we completely implode?” he demanded.
That, she couldn’t answer.
A hot tear slid down Tiffany’s frozen cheek, falling onto the grime of the floor. It was so cold down here.
Her anger gave way to despair. She’d forgive Aralyn anything if she could see her just one more time. She didn’t want to die down here in this frigid, dark basement, without seeing her cousin’s thousand watt Duke smile one last time, without hearing her infectious laugh one more time. Was Tim searching for her now? Could he find her and bring her home?
Tiffany hoped her father had more of clue than she did as to who was holding her. He muttered sometimes about Luke and Bo, and she had quickly realized this someone they had put away. He was close to 80, she guessed, maybe older, but still strong. He had evidently been working out the last number of years; his upper body strength was surprisingly good. She wondered how long he had been in prison.
A crackling noise almost made her scream and she looked around futilely in the dark when she heard it again. Dear God, don’t let it be rats, she thought. She hated rats. If there were rats down here, she really would lose her mind.
*
Aralyn had no way to cut the glass. As she turned her phone on, she hoped her dad’s GPS tracker was still active. This was recon only, she thought. No heroics. Find Tiffany and call Dad; that was plan. She hoped the tv was loud enough to cover the sound, and using her booted foot, gently kicked the glass. It was old and brittle and shattered easily under the force of her kick.
“Tiffany?” she called in a loud whisper into the basement.
*
Tiffany realized the sound she heard was glass breaking. It sounded funny, she thought, muffled, like it was wrapped in paper.
“Tiffany?” She heard a whisper as a beam of moonlight appeared up above her. A window! “Tiffany Duke, you in there?”
“Ari?” It couldn’t be. She was hallucinating now. Tiffany wanted to cry. She was hallucinating her cousin had come to save her. Hallucinations were a sign of oxygen deprivation, right before you passed out and died, she knew.
“Tiffany!”
“Ari, is it you?”
“Yes. Can you get over here to the window?”
Talking hallucinations? Tears slid down Tiffany's face. “Aralyn? Is it really you?” she sobbed.
“In the flesh, cousin. One custom-made Duke rescue mission, at your service.”
“I don’t know if I can get that far,” Tiff whispered back, “I think my ankle is sprained, and I’m tied pretty tightly.”
“There’s no way I can get through this window. Try and wiggle over here so I can pull you out!” Aralyn ordered, removing the large pieces of glass carefully. “I’m calling Dad now.”
She dialed Bo. She wasn’t going to play hero, she thought. Time to bring in the professionals.
She wasn’t dreaming, Tiffany thought, her heart leaping with joy. Aralyn was really here. Wherever she had been, Aralyn had come for her. Tim had found her!
“Well, well, well. Look what we have here.” A raspy voice broke into her thoughts.
Heart sinking, Aralyn turned and looked into the unshaven, grisly face of Quirt McQuade.
***
“You know,” Dan smirked, “Aralyn reminds me another young hothead blonde girl I knew that liked to go rushing off into trouble without thinking.”
Trixie buried her head in her hands. “This is my karmic payback for everything I put Moms and Dad through! A daughter twice as reckless!”
“Now, sweetheart, she could be worse,” Bo said soothingly as he kissed his wife’s cheek. “But she’s in for one hell of a punishment when I get her home.”
Dan shoved his phone in his pocket. “Let’s roll. We need to move fast to get in there before the FBI realizes we’re on the move. Tim's positive that's where our girl went.”
Bo’s cell phone rang with a number he hadn’t seen in months. “It’s Aralyn!” He answered with, “Child of mine, what the Hell do you think you’re doin’?”
“Well, well, well. Look what we have here.” He heard the male voice before the phone call was ended.
Bo stared at the phone in horror. Seconds later, his GPS tracker flashed up her location.
***
Aralyn let McQuade guide her into the house. He hadn’t searched her but she didn’t have her gun anyway. She had almost brought it. Almost. Instead, she decided she was going to rely on her brain and muscles. Now, she was starting to regret that decision. Four months of training under Duncan suddenly seemed completely inadequate.
“So Bo’s girl finally surfaces,” he snarled.
“Nothing gets past you,” she said sarcastically, which earned her a jab in the back with the gun barrel.
“You were supposed to be there when I snatched the other one,” he muttered. “You two always runnin’ around with that dark haired girl. Shoulda got all three of ya but you went missing an’ that other one wasn’t there neither. Got tireda waitin’. Been waitin’ years for this.”
“How do you know what we do?” she asked.
Grinning with his broken and rotted teeth, McQuade chuckled. “I been followin’ your family for months, since I got out. Gave up on you but shoulda gotten that other dark haired girl, the other cousin.”
Natala, Aralyn thought.
“I had a date,” Aralyn replied, her eyes scanning the room, searching for escape routes. Two hallways, no idea where either led. The place was filled with trash, dust and covered furniture. Plenty of windows big enough to go through, she thought uneasily. Not ideal, but she’d take it. A glass window was preferable to the gun. There were plenty of bushes to break her fall.
“Otherwise I’d have had two, maybe even three of you the whole time. But that’s ok, I’ll go ahead and double the ransom. Your family has the money and I know they adore their firstborn girls.”
Aralyn knew she had to keep him talking and distracted so she could find a way out of this and rescue her cousin.
“That they do,” she agreed. “But I’m pretty sure you were offered twenty million already for Tiffany. Why’d you pass that up? Why do you have it out for Dad and Luke?”
“They helped put me away years ago. I was one of the most feared heads of organized crime in the south! I had them all at my feet, and then those two had to come along and bust up my operations!”
“Yeah, they’re good at that,” Aralyn stood while he flipped a light on. The gun was aimed right at her chest. The man was taller than her, and strong. Even at his age, she could see the muscle outlines. He hadn’t been idle in prison. And he had an axe to grind. Having a purpose made him more dangerous.
“How’d you know I was out there?” she asked.
“I been waiting for you,” he chuckled. “I knew with your cousin missing, it was only a matter of time before you surfaced. You’re every bit as reckless as your old man. It was just a matter of time before you popped up, and found me. I know they’re closing in on me, but I know better than to underestimate the bond of Duke cousins. I saw you and the Mangan boy ride up on your fancy bikes, knew it would be a matter of hours before you came snooping around.”
“You’ve been watching our houses?” she whispered.
He laughed. “For months, girlie.”
Aralyn swallowed. Tiffany had been in danger before she ever left town. Guilt washed over her. She should have known. She should have been here to protect her cousin.
“So this is payback?”
“Aren’t you a smart one,” he said sarcastically. “Since they ruined my life, I figured a little payback was in order. Pocketbook hurts but not when you got money like Luke’s little wifey. No, I know what the Dukes love above all else is family. Now I got you, I figure I might even go for three. What they’ll pay for one, they’ll double for two, and so on. And watching them suffer as I snatch you all one by one…”
“Did you hurt my cousin?” Aralyn hissed. Watch the eyes, Duncan’s Scottish lilt echoed in her head. Always watch the eyes, they’ll tell you what he’s going to do. Not the hands.
“What’s a little girl like you gonna do about it?” he chortled. He threw his head back and laughed, and Aralyn moved fast, kicking the gun from his hand.
“You little bitch!” he roared, trying to go for the gun.
Aralyn kicked his shin out from under him and then kicked the gun across the room. He grabbed her ankle and pulled her down.
“You think a few little moves are gonna stop me? No snot nosed little brat is going to ruin my plans!” he shouted, advancing.
Aralyn swung her leg at his face but blocked her with his arm. Instead she punched him in the nose. He let her go and she scrambled to her feet. Holding his nose, with blood leaking from it, he got to his feet as well.
“You’re gonna pay for that!” he hissed, lunging forward.
Aralyn took a defensive stance and dodged his first few blows but he spun quickly and suddenly and grabbed her, throwing her against the wall. Crying out as she hit the wall, Aralyn let her body slump down as her hat fell off. She could fake this, even though she was a little dizzy.
“Damn kid,” he growled, leaning over her. He grabbed a handful of her curly hair, making her eyes water at the pain. “You didn’t have to play the hero and get hurt, you stupid little girl.”
Pain screaming through her scalp, Aralyn kicked upwards, her boots connected with his groin and he doubled over, releasing her hair and howling as she grabbed his head and slammed his face into her knee, before throwing him to the side, away from the dropped gun. Scrambling to her feet, trying to ignore the stars swimming over her head, she didn’t see his leg sweep out and knock her feet out from under her. Hitting the floor, she didn’t move fast enough before he was on her, growling with his fetid breath in her face.
“I’ll give you the same as I gave your cousin in there!” he snarled.
Aralyn’s vision cleared and she struggled against the bigger man. Wriggling enough she finally slammed her forehead into his and he howled. With every bit of strength she could muster into her limbs she threw him off of her, shoving him with her long legs, trying to see through the stars in front of her from the forehead blow. As he rolled on the floor in agony, clutching his head, she got to her feet and anger rushed through her. This bastard had kidnapped her cousin, blackmailed her family and now had the nerve to try and take her prisoner too.
Aralyn’s boot caught his stomach as she kicked him.
“That’s for my cousin!” she shouted.
Her anger blinded her seeing his leg move until it was too late and she lost her footing, hitting the creaky old floor hard with her knee. Pain exploded through her leg. McQuade got to his feet and lumbered towards her as Aralyn scrambled to get up and stay up, but her knee didn’t want to cooperate. Ignoring the pain, and getting her foot securely down for balance she kicked hard with the other leg, catching him in the chest and sending him to the floor, gasping for air. She snatched his gun from the floor, shifting her weight to the other leg.
“Stay down!” she shouted, holding it on him.
“Little girl gonna shoot me?” he jeered through the blood on his face, “I bet you don’t know how to use it.”
He lunged and she kicked again, her boot smashing into his face, and he crumpled.
Aralyn clicked the gun off safety. “I’m getting real sick of men who think that girls don’t know how to handle a gun,” she snapped. “If you know anything about my family, then you know even my smallest cousin can pick up a gun and hit his target. And if you’ve been watching my family, then you’d know I’m one Duke who didn’t miss the last time a man said that to me.”
She placed her boot heel on his crotch and pressed down. He whimpered as blood streamed from his nose, covering his mouth and chin.
“The safety is off, asshole. If you so much as twitch, I’ll stomp down so hard you’ll be taking a leak through a tube for the rest of your life, and forget about ever getting it up again.”
She pressed down with her foot and he moaned.
“The only reason I’m not putting a bullet between your eyes right now, asshole, is because I want you to pay five hundred times over for every moment you’ve tortured my cousin.”
“I ain’t hurt her,” he groaned, “at all.”
“You think hitting a girl over the head, drugging her, kidnapping her, and tying her up in a dark basement isn’t a form of torture, douchebag?”
She reached in her pocket for her phone.
“I ain’t drugged her.”
Aralyn ignored him as she dialed.
“You callin’ the cops?” he asked, coughing on the blood that ran into his mouth.
“Worse, asshat, I’m calling my father.”
“Aralyn, stand down, we’re here.” Bo’s voice came from behind her.
Around her, she could see Marshals moving in, guns drawn and aimed on McQuade.
“Tiffany’s in the basement. I don’t know how to get down there,” Aralyn answered. “She’ll need paramedics, I know she’s tied up, and she said she thinks her ankle is sprained. And the air felt cold, she’s going to need blankets.”
“I got her,” Dan dashed down the hallway, followed by two other Marshals. Another was calling for an ambulance.
Aralyn hung up her phone and slipped it into her pocket, never taking her eyes or gun off of McQuade. Or her foot.
“Put the gun down, sweetheart,” Bo moved slowly around to her side, so she could see him. She wasn’t relaxing her grip and it was starting to worry him.
“He took her, Dad,” Aralyn whispered, tears welling in her eyes. “He took Tiffany!”
“I know that, Princess, and Dan’s goin’ to get her right now. We’ll get her to a hospital, and then home. She’ll be safe now.”
“What if he did something even more awful to her?”
McQuade was staring at her in fear, shaking his head no.
“The courts will handle it, Aralyn. You ain’t judge, jury and executioner.”
But she could be, she thought, staring at the man. “He took Tiffany. He needs to pay.”
“And he will. But you don’t get to decide how. Give me the gun.”
She didn’t.
“Aralyn, listen to me. You think Luke ain’t gonna want his pound of his flesh for this? You think Honey don’t wish she was here, holdin’ that gun on the bastard who took her little girl? You think Tiffany would want you throwin’ your life away on a piece of trash like this, when she ain’t seen you in months? Stand down, sweetheart, and give me the gun. Leave justice to the courts. We’ve got him, dead to rights.” Bo’s hand moved slowly toward hers.
Aralyn didn’t answer, his eyes on the man under her boot.
“There’s four guns on him, Aralyn, who are better shots than you. If he moves, his brains will be splattered on the walls. Let go,” Bo ordered, using a tone he had rarely ever used with his daughter. His hand covered hers and she released her grip, letting him take the gun. He slipped his arm around his daughter’s waist and pulled her back from McQuade.
McQuade closed his eyes in relief as the Marshals moved in on him and hauled him to his feet.
“I wanna sue!” he yelled. “That crazy bitch was gonna shoot me!”
“The world wouldn’t mind,” one of the Marshals muttered, cuffing McQuade as he began to recite the Miranda warning.
“You’re a convicted felon, jackass,” another Marshal chuckled. “I doubt anyone is gonna care what you say. But I bet your buddies in your old cell block will get a kick out of the fact a teenage girl kicked your ass. I know I’m enjoying it immensely.”
Bo held Aralyn in a secure hug and she wrapped her arms around his waist tightly, letting some of the tension ease out of her.
More men in black suits started appearing, looking cross. The FBI was not happy at the Marshals getting the jump on them.
Bo didn’t release her, feeling her take a deep, shaky breath. He rested his cheek on her blue hair.
“I’m all right Daddy,” she murmured. “Really.”
“Your renegade days are over,” he said gruffly, thanking God she was all right. “You’re just like your mama, rushin’ in when your best friend is in trouble, with no hesitation or plan.”
There was muffled shouting from the back of the house.
A moment later Dan appeared, handsome face grim as he carried a half-conscious Tiffany in his arms. He had wrapped his jacket around her for warmth but her fair skin was waxy and pale, her lips were an unhealthy shade of light purple and dry and cracked. Her left temple and cheek were bruised, and her head was resting against Dan’s chest, tears leaking down her face.
“Tiff!” Aralyn tore from Bo’s embrace to fly to her cousin.
Tiffany’s eyes opened slightly.
“Ari? I thought I dreamed you,” she whispered. “I was sure I was hallucinating from lack of oxygen or losing my mind.”
“No, cuz, I’m here.” Aralyn smoothed her cousin’s lank hair back as paramedics made their way inside with a gurney.
“She’s in shock and possible early hypothermia,” Dan told them. They were bringing the gurney to Dan and Tiffany but she grabbed Aralyn by the hand.
“You’re here,” Tiffany murmured. “You’re really here.”
Aralyn bent over her cousin. “Yes, I’m here, Tiff. I came as soon as I could. I can’t let you have all the adventures, now can I?” She smiled, blinking back tears and trying to hide her worry.
Tiffany’s mouth turned up in the barest of smiles as Dan laid her gently on a gurney. She didn’t let go of Aralyn’s hand.
“What’d you do to your hair?” she asked as blankets were laid over her.
“I lost a bet.”
“Miss, we need to move her.”
“Tiff, you’ve gotta go with the paramedics now. They’re gonna pump you full of good stuff, I think, and get you warm.”
“Come with me,” Tiffany whispered.
“Dan will ride with you, your folks are gonna meet you there, I bet. I’ll be there soon, I promise. I’ve got to go do the legal stuff and I think I’m gonna get an ass chewing or ten...I promise you, I will be there as soon as I can, when Mom is done with me, but I’ve got to go see her. I promise you, I will be there. Pinky swear.” Aralyn wrapped her pinky around her cousin’s. “I promise, as soon as I can.”
“Are you back for good?” Tiffany’s hazel eyes were pleading and streaming tears.
The desperation in her cousin’s eyes broke Aralyn’s heart. What had she done? What kind of suffering had she caused her best friend, and her family? “Yes, I am. I swear. Now, go.” Aralyn leaned over and kissed her cousin’s forehead, before Tiffany was whisked away, escorted by Dan, who was hanging up his phone.
“Miss? Can we take a look at you?” It was another paramedic. She sat patiently while small bandages were applied to her face, and she was given a cold pack for the black eye. “I think you have a concussion, you should come with us.”
Aralyn waved him off. “I’m fine. I just got knocked around a bit.”
“Sweetheart—”
“Dad, I’m fine. Promise.”
“You’re gonna be awfully sore the next few days,” the paramedic told her. “You should see a doctor.”
“I’ll call my uncle. He’s used to patching me up,” she said dryly.
Moments later, she stood facing her father, conflicting emotions going across his face.
“I didn’t mean to sneak off, Daddy, I really didn’t,” she said earnestly. “I didn’t think, I just…did it. I thought I could scout the place easier than a team of Marshals swarming in. I was doing recon only, I swear. I even left my bike down the road, so I wouldn’t be heard, but I didn’t realize he was waiting for us, well, me, really. I was dialing you when he got the jump on me.”
“That was incredibly reckless, Aralyn, even for you,” Bo said sternly. “If the boys and Nat and Lyris hadn’t figured out where you had gone, we might not have made it in time! What were you thinkin’?”
“That I could maybe make things right by helping find Tiffany,” she said in a small voice. “I screwed up so much, Daddy, I just wanted to try and make it right. I thought I could make things right. ”
Bo sighed. “Oh, sweetheart. That’s not your job, it’s ours. Your job was just to come home and give your mama and Honey and Luke some comfort. Just having you there helped, and that was all you needed to do. Just be there with them.”
He hugged her to him, holding her tight.
“I’m sorry, Daddy. I didn’t mean to upset everyone by leaving this summer. But I had to.”
He kissed the top of her head and cupped her face in his big hands. “I can’t say I understand, sweetheart, because I don’t. But please, don’t ever run out on us like that again. At least come to me and tell me that you need some space. You scared the livin’ daylights outta us and your mama ain’t been the same. Nothin’ has.” He held her tight, resting his cheek on her head.
Aralyn didn’t mention she had noticed the new gray in both of her parents’ hair, and the new worry lines around her father’s eyes. Those were her fault, she knew. It felt so good to have her father’s arms around her, and now she and Tiffany were both safe now.
“Come on, sweetheart. I promised your mama I’d bring you home in one piece. Statements can wait until tomorrow.”
Aralyn wondered which ass chewing she was going to get first. She had a pretty good idea who would be first in line.
***
She was right.
She was engulfed in a hug from Trixie that squeezed the breath out of her, and eventually released. Trixie’s relief shifted to fury in the blink of an eye. The petite woman faced off against her Amazon daughter. By now, the entire Clan had been summoned and gathered.
“What the Hell were you thinking?” Trixie Duke shouted at her daughter. “You take off without any notice for months at a time, send us into a panic, come roaring back into town when your cousin is kidnapped then go tearing off into the night to save her? Where’s your brain, Aralyn Duke? Your father is a trained professional at finding people! What makes you think you can go roaming around playing hero? Look at yourself! You’ve been beaten up, worried us sick again, and then come back here expecting a hero’s welcome? You’re just like your father, rushing into a situation without thinking it out because you’re a hotheaded Duke!”
Mart Belden opened his mouth to point out his niece came by it honestly, given who her mother was, but his wife Diana nudged him to be quiet.
Aralyn didn’t answer. She deserved to be dressed down and her mother was rightfully first in line. Her father had already forgiven her. She didn’t care that the majority of her family was watching. They were all rightfully pissed at her.
“You foolish girl! You’re lucky all you have a few bruises and cuts! That man could have killed you, or raped you! He had no qualms about tying Tiffany up and you just went barging in without any regard to your safety, or any of us! Did you think for one second, what any of might have been going through, wondering where the Hell you were? At any point over the last four months, have you given one thought of consideration to the rest of us? If your cousins and friends hadn’t figured out where you went and called us, you’d still be there with that wretched man and God knows what condition you’d be in!” Trixie shouted. “Where’s your brain? What the Hell were you thinking? You were raised better than that! You could have been killed or worse and we wouldn’t be standing here and Tiffany might not be safe at the hospital! How would you feel then, you stupid, selfish girl!”
Trixie burst into tears and Bo reached for her but she shoved him away, grabbing her daughter in another fierce hug. Aralyn held her petite mother tightly, letting Trixie cry, and knowing she had been forgiven.
Trixie finally let Bo wrap his arms around his girls and then the hugs and gentler scolding of Aralyn started. The twins, always ready to lighten the mood bowed to her as she were royalty, pretending to be her loyal servants and making everyone laugh to diffuse the tension. But Aralyn didn’t miss the flash of anger in her brother’s Logan’s eye and knew that over the next few days, she’d be hearing more private chewings.
***
Luke and Honey Duke had been waiting at the hospital by the time the ambulance carrying Tiffany and Dan arrived.
Honey and Luke were allowed only a moment with her before she was whisked away into a room to be examined, promised they could be with her shortly. Honey kissed her daughter and assured her they’d be right outside and waiting.
Honey hugged Dan tightly. “Thank you,” she wept.
Dan kissed the top of her head. “Thank Aralyn. That crazy girl is the one who found her.”
“Is Ari all right?” Luke asked, worried about his second daughter.
“A little bruised. She went hand-to-hand with McQuade.”
Honey gasped. Luke shook his head in disbelief. Dan chuckled.
“She held her own. The kid got the best of him and had a gun on him when we got there. She never flinched and she held the gun steady. Whatever she’s been doing these past few months…it worked. She was completely in charge. In fact, it was a little scary. Bo talked her down, got her under control. But I’d say she’s back to her old self. She was ready to make the old man pay for taking Tiffany.”
Honey wiped her eyes.
“In some ways, it was like looking at Trixie years ago,” Dan chuckled. “Seeing that fire, the determination, the ferocity in protecting someone she loved.”
“I was about to say it sounded like Bo,” Luke laughed. “Charging on in without a plan.”
“That’s Trixie too,” Honey said dryly.
Dan nodded. “Trixie would have done the exact same thing if it had been you, Honey. No hesitation at all.”
Honey nodded. “I know. Though I’m sure Trixie will blame the Dukes genes.”
Dan and Luke laughed. “Most likely,” Dan admitted. “But Aralyn swore to Tiffany she was back for good, so maybe we can back this family back on track.”
“Thank goodness Tim figured out what she was up to,” Honey sighed.
Dan nodded. “He says it was a team effort, though. You know who that group of kids reminds me of, don’t you.”
Honey nodded with a proud smile. “Yes. There’re even seven of them when Lyris is around. It warms my heart to think of them working together like that. I’ve always hoped there would be a second generation of us somewhere along the line.”
***
When she was free for a moment, Aralyn cornered Dan and Daisy. She had seen Daisy fawning over Tim, but Dan was still standoffish, drinking coffee and looking serious. She knew that look on his face. He had a million thoughts he was sorting through, mulling over. Dan was a thinker, and he had to look at something from every angle. But she was determined to stand up for Tim again. He had protected her, helped her the last few months, at great personal risk. She owed him.
“You scared the daylights out of us, sugar,” Daisy hugged her. “Please don’t ever do somethin’ like that again! And I’m callin’ Sulan first thing in the mornin’ about your hair. I can’t stand lookin’ at this mess. We’ve got to fix you up proper.”
“He’s going to kill me,” Aralyn said ruefully. “But I wanted to talk to you guys for a moment.”
Dan knew exactly why. He had been down this road before, with a much younger, but just as bull-headed and obstinate Aralyn, defending his son. Some things would never change, he knew. Aralyn and Tim would always have each other’s back. And he was glad to know it.
“Look, I know leaving the way I did was wrong, and getting Tim involved was wrong too. But at the time, I felt like he was the only who would understand. I hope you guys will forgive him. He knew what the risk was, but he helped me anyway. He chose my well-being over your trust, and I know that hurts you a lot, but if it weren’t for him, I would have been in a lot worse situation. Tim made sure I had money, a safe place to go, and a lifeline if I needed it. He gave me what I needed to get my head on straight, and so that I could get my shit together and come back, and be of some value to this family again. I know it’s a lot but I’m asking you to please not hold this against him. All he did was try to help me, and if you need to be angry with someone, then be angry with me. I deserve it, and it’s my fault. All Tim did was be a good friend when I needed one, and if you want to chew someone out, or need a target for your anger, make it me. But please, please don’t take this out on him, or hold it against him.”
The room had gone quiet, with Tim standing next to Daisy, looking very tense and apprehensive as he watched his father.
“Luke and I figured that out months ago, Aralyn,” Dan said. “And we weren’t happy about it but we realized your safety was more important than my pride. I’m very proud of Tim for stepping up to the plate to help you. We didn’t appreciate the lies, but we understand the motivation behind it. Knowing that this family stands by each other like that is priceless, and knowing that my son was instrumental in keeping you safe, well, I couldn’t be prouder. You’re like one of my own kids too, and if you were Dana, of course I’d want to know that she could go to Tim and he’d take care of her. I’m pretty damn proud to know my son is someone that a family member can go to for help when she needs it.”
Aralyn broke into a grin as Dan pulled his startled, oldest son into a long hug as several people in the room wiped their eyes.
Meet the cast in full & see the family tree!
***
Author’s Notes
- A huge yeee-haa to Ronda, my lovely editor who helps keep me on track!
- Tiffany is safe, Aralyn is home but this story arc isn't over yet!
- Word Count, 7,350
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