“And Santa Claus. How does he feel about being named after a reindeer?”
“Oh, God. Don’t let him hear you say that. You’ll never hear the end of it. Although…” She looked thoughtful as she chewed on her lip, “you did save his life so you might get a free pass.”
“I didn’t save his life.” The regret in my voice caused her to drop her smile. I shook my head when the memory of him being shot assaulted me. “If he hadn’t been trying to protect me, he wouldn’t have gotten shot. It’s my fault. I made him take me out there to find Laurie.”
“And that woman would have died if you hadn’t. Her girls would have been motherless and I know you, of all people, don’t want that for them. Keiran told me about Cassie. I think what you did for her was amazing.”
“I didn’t do anything. She punched the kid in the nose.”
“And I bet she’ll do it again if she has to. Besides, I doubt she’ll have to. That kid got his lights knocked out by a girl. He’ll be licking his wounds until he’s thirty, at least.” I laughed and we shared silence while we looked over baby clothes. “Did you know the bullet hit him half an inch from his heart?”
I felt pain near my own as I said, “No, I didn’t.”
“The doctor said he should have died. The way the bullet entered was clearly a direct path to his heart, but at the very last moment, it was redirected and that alone saved his life. He said he must have tried to get out of the way, or the shooter had a change of heart.”
“Dash would have never done that since I was behind him and that son of a bitch didn’t have a heart to change.”
“Precisely. You and I both know you tried to push him out of the way, so I repeat—you saved his life, Lake Monroe.”
“He weighs a ton. I barely moved him, and he still got shot.”
“Doesn’t matter. It was enough to save his life which was exactly what you did.”
“I don’t understand why he would risk his life for me when he has you and the baby.”
“Because he loves you, too. We all would have done the same thing and so would you. Now, if you don’t mind, I’m hungry and my feet hurt. I’m sure I have everything.”
“Dash bought out like three different baby stores when he found out you were pregnant. Where’s he keeping all that stuff anyway? Spare bedroom’s empty.”
“I wondered the same thing, but whenever I ask, he would say he found the perfect spot. Whatever that means.” Willow rolled her eyes up, but then her eyes brightened with mischief. “I say we look for them.”
“I don’t know. Maybe he’s hiding them for a rea—” I stopped when I noticed a woman appear around a pillar up ahead and head straight for us. I told myself I was being paranoid, but the way she watched Willow wasn’t the casual glance of a harmless stranger. When I started to warn Willow, it was too late. She stood in front of us, blocking any escape.
“Hello, Little Tree. It’s been a while,” the woman greeted. She awakened vibes I hadn’t felt since being kidnapped by Mitch, and when Willow stiffened and retreated, the vibes became a screaming demand to run.
“What are you doing here?” she asked the woman coldly.
“Don’t worry. I’m not here for you.” She then turned her attention to me. “I’m here for her.”
“Me?” I didn’t even know this woman. I didn’t have time to form a response because she pulled out a gun and pulled Willow close.
“I don’t have time for proper introductions. Come with me, or I pump her full of bullets.” To make a point, she pressed the muzzle into Willow’s stomach. “Do you want to be responsible for what happens to this little bundle of joy?”
“I’ll go. Just let her go.”
“Very well.” She lowered the gun, but as soon as she did, she shoved Willow’s head into the stone pillar she had obviously hidden behind to wait for us. Willow fell to the ground unconscious.
“Willow!” Instinct made me fall to my knees to help her, but the feel of the muzzle pressing against my temple kept me from helping her.
“Get up and don’t be so dramatic,” she ordered. “I had to make sure she wouldn’t call for help anytime soon.”
“And you couldn’t just take her phone?”
“I could have. Now let’s go.” She shoved the gun in my side and kept me close with a hand on my arm as we left Willow behind. I prayed she and the baby were okay. The woman had a car parked around the corner on a deserted street. “I don’t have time to tie you up, but if you so much as twitch an eyebrow, I will shoot you in that pretty face.”
“Who are you?”
“I’m Esmerelda. I’m sure you’ve heard of me.”
I looked closer and saw what I missed before.
Di was a spitting image of her mother.
“Only that you’re a psychotic bitch.” She chuckled but then her hand whipped out to hit me across the face with a gun. I was left dazed as she acted as if nothing happened and drove away.