Page 61 of Sweet Dreams
Buck pushes Griff back into his seat, and I swear if he touches her just once, he’s fuckin’ dead.
“Sorry,” Teagan spoke softly.
“Not meant at you, Firecracker.” Leroy continues the drive as we sit quietly.
My place appears on the horizon, and I couldn't be more relieved to see it. After everything that's happened, we could all use a little breathing room. I need to have a heart-to-heart with Teagan, just the two of us. Leroy pulls into the driveway, and a light turns on in the house.
“Expecting company?” he asks, looking out the windshield.
“No.” The sounds of guns being cocked has my heart racing. I turn to Teagan, who’s gone pale. “Stay in the car, lay on the floor and don’t move. Can you do that for me?”
A tremor shook her lips. “Yeah.”
“Good girl, I’ll knock on the window when it’s time to open the door.” I squeeze her knee before getting out. This isn’t what I want for her; she somehow still gotsucked into my life without knowing it. I know what I need to do, but selfishly, I don’t want to do it.
Leroy points at Griff and Buck to take the back while Weldon, Leroy, and I take the front. Whoever is in my house better pray because they aren’t leaving. Leroy stands to the left and Weldon to the right of the door. I kneel in front of Weldon, hold my fingers, and count down from three. Leroy turns the doorknob and flings the door open.
When no guns go off, we slowly enter. Buck and Griff meet us in the living room, looking confused.
“Upstairs?” Weldon suggests.
Where else would they be? It’s not that big of a house; we gradually take each step, listening as we go. We break into our groups at the landing. My bedroom is dark when we enter, which doesn’t surprise me. I never open the curtains. I mindlessly walk around the bed for the nightstand and flick the lamp on. The room is empty, and my heart settles down.
“I’m getting tired of this shit,” I tell the guys.
“It has to be a joke. Are you sure Teagan isn’t just playing you 'cause you pissed her off?” Leroy looks at meseriously.
“She would never do that; I was there from the start of this when Nancy did all this shit to Teagan. Before she suspected that I lied to her.”
Weldon raises his eyebrow. “Are you sure she never suspected you?”
“Look, Teagan wouldn’t do any of this. If you don’t believe me, you can leave.” My jaw tightened as I tried to reel in my frustration. I can’t believe they would say things like that. Why would Teagan go out of her way and get kidnapped?
A shot goes off from down the hall, and I jump over the bed and take off to the spare room. I grab the doorjamb, coming to a stop. I try to understand what is happening in the room, but my brain won’t catch up.
“You piece of shit,” Blaine yells at Griff. “You shot me.” He grabs his thigh, trying to stop the bleeding, but the blood runs through his fingers and drips onto the hardwood floor.
“What in the world?” Weldon asks in shock.
I step into the room, rounding Blaine taking in the piece of shit. “Why are you in my house?”
He spits at my feet. “Fuck you, I don’t have to tell you anything.”
I swing my foot and kick him in the kidney; he falls onto his side, moaning in pain. “Wanna bet?Start talking, or we shoot again, this time someplace where you can’t dig the bullet out.”
Griff steps forward, placing his gun on Blaine’s stomach.
“Okay, fine. I came for Teagan. I know you have her. Hand her over.”
“That’s never gonna happen. Now try again.” I step on his fingers, and he screams in pain, shaking his hand to get it loose.
A creak in the hallway has us turning our attention and pointing our guns. Teagan stands there. She takes a tentative step back, reaching for the wall, and she falls to her knees. I quickly dash out of the room and drop to my knees next to her, scooping her in my arms.
“I’m sorry.” I brush her hair to the side and kiss her forehead. “What are you doing out of the car?”
She buries her head into my chest. “I got worried. It was quiet, then I heard gunfire.”
Blaine cries from the guest room, and she looks up at me. I shake my head. “You don’t need to know.”