Total pages in book: 32
Estimated words: 30401 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 152(@200wpm)___ 122(@250wpm)___ 101(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 30401 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 152(@200wpm)___ 122(@250wpm)___ 101(@300wpm)
“I’m going to do what you say, but why can’t you stay with us? Why can’t we just get on that helicopter and fly away somewhere until this is over?”
“Because I’m the one who has to end it. I’ll stay with you until the boys come with your things. Then, they’ll be right outside the door if you need anything. Once the dust settles and I know it’s safe, I’ll come back for you. That’s all you need to know and we aren’t going to talk about this anymore. Macy’s been through enough. You have been through enough.”
I try my best not to cry, but I can’t stop the tears from falling. I wipe them as quickly as they drop, hoping Jack won’t see. We pull into a hotel parking lot, and he drives around the back.
“You don’t need to check in?”
“No, I keep two rooms for myself at all times just in case.”
“Is this your hotel?”
“One of them. They come in handy at times like this.”
He takes Macy from the backseat and carries her to the room. He holds her in one arm and his gun in the opposite hand. Once she’s inside, he comes back for me. He uses his body to shield me as we walk to the room.
Is this really how it is? Is he just being overcautious or does he really think we’re in danger? I want so badly to ask, but he told me no questions. What would the answers give me anyway?
If he told me we were completely safe, I wouldn’t believe him. I’d think he was just trying to tell me what I wanted to hear. I guess the only important question is the one I have to ask myself. Do I trust Jack enough to put both my and Macy’s lives in his hands? That’s an easy one. Yes, I do trust him with our lives.
Once we’re inside, Jack turns the television on for Macy and sits down on the bed beside me. He takes my hand and holds it on his knee.
“I won’t ever let anything happen to you. You know that, right?”
“I know that, Daddy,” I tell him and rest my head on his shoulder.
“Good, baby girl. You just relax here for a while. Someone will be here by dinner time with food and supplies for you. If you need anything, give them a list. They’ll go and get it for you.”
“Will we see you?”
“Not until it’s time for you to come home, but I’ll call you tonight and you can call or text anytime. I may not be able to answer right away, but I will. I won’t go a day without hearing your voice.”
He sits with me until we hear a knock at the door. He gets up, weapon drawn, and looks through the peephole. “It’s them,” he tells me as he slides the chain to unlock the door. He steps outside and speaks with the men for several minutes then returns.
“Alright. You’re all set here and I have to go,” he says and takes me in his arms. I hold on to him with all of my might, hoping that maybe if I don’t let go, he’ll stay. He kisses me deeply, making my toes curl, and I loosen my grip on him. There’s nothing I can say or do to stop him from leaving.
I know that, but it still hurts.
“Be a good girl, Macy. I’ll tell the boys to bring you a milkshake with your dinner, okay?”
“Okay, Uncle Jack. Thank you.” She wraps her arms around his neck, and he lifts her in the air.
I watch out the window as Jack is carted away in a shiny, black car. Another man gets in the SUV that we drove here and pulls away.
“Switching cars…smart,” I say to myself aloud as though I have any idea what I’m talking about.
If I were alone in this room, I’d probably pace a hole in the carpet, but Macy’s here and I don’t want her to know just how worried I am. I sit down beside her and watch cartoons until the men return with our dinner.
They bring us a backpack with two changes of clothes from home and Macy’s toys and school books. One of them tells me they’ll go back and get more if we end up staying longer, and I hope so badly that they won’t have to.
These men may be the greatest marksmen, the strongest fighters, and the smartest strategists on earth, but it doesn’t matter. The only time I feel safe is when I’m in Jack’s arms.
Macy and I are sleeping when we hear the commotion outside.
At first, it’s just loud voices and I think that maybe Jack is back. Maybe it’s all over. I’m about to get out of bed when the first shot is fired. It’s followed by so many in rapid-fire succession that I can’t count them.