Defiant Dodge by Naomi Porter

7

Emilee

It had been a shitty week. The worst yet. Dad had been moodier than usual, in and out throughout the day, never telling me where he was going or what he was doing. He also didn’t try to persuade me out of my room.

I avoided him as usual and made sure I had what I needed before he was home or Tami arrived. Staying in my room wasn’t an ideal situation, but it worked. I hadn’t been face-to-face with him since the morning he slapped me.

Just the thought of him lit a fire in me. It also made me sad to imagine us never having a real father-daughter relationship again. He had destroyed it. Or maybe we both did. I wasn’t without blame, but honestly, I was a grown woman. I should be free to love who I want.

I sighed, feeling heavy-hearted as I put my hair up in a messy bun to get ready for bed. Little D was an early riser and went to sleep by seven. I liked to wash up and grab two bottles of water to keep in my room for the night. Then I’d settle in to read until ten or so.

Dante was next to me on the bed, his denim-blue eyes locked on me. My sweet boy had no idea how many people actually cared about him. Sugar and Tina would’ve spoiled him. He could’ve grown up with Storm and Maddy’s baby.

I’d been disconnected from everyone I loved. I knew nothing about the goings-on in Minnesota. Dad told me nothing. I didn’t even know if Storm and Maddy had a baby boy or girl.

I exhaled a wretched breath. “Are you tired, baby boy?”

He cracked a smile, but it didn’t reach his eyes: proof it was almost bedtime for him. When Little D wasn’t sleepy, he was the happiest baby.

I groaned, hearing Tami’s nasally laugh.

How lovely that they could have fun given my situation and little Simon’s disappearance. It’d been six days since he went missing. Not a trace of him had been found. The whole thing made me uneasy. I’d even been having nightmares and waking in a cold sweat, terrified Dante wouldn’t be in his bed.

I couldn’t even leave him in his Pack ’N Play if I left the room anymore. Someone might sneak in and snatch him.

Jeez, you’re a mess.

I lifted off my bed and put on the baby sling to take Little D with me. It’d leave my hands free to wash my face and brush my teeth.

I quietly opened my door once we were ready. It sounded like Dad was watching baseball. That was good. I could do my thing without him or the witch noticing. I crept down the hallway to the bathroom but froze when I heard her hushed voice behind the door.

Curiosity got the better of me, so I leaned closer to listen.

“I know, I know. I’m trying. This bitch doesn’t let loose of the kid and stays locked in her room.”

Oh my God. Was she talking about the baby and me?

I put my ear to the door when she went quiet.

“Do you think I don’t know that? Rat, calm the fuck down. I’ll handle it. You don’t need to come.”

My heart raced. Who was Rat? Why was he coming?

“Are you listening to me? Don’t come. It’s too dangerous.”

Dangerous? I covered my mouth with my hand.

Shit, shit, shit!

“I swear I’ll get the kid. I’ll drug her like planned. Justin’s so messed up already, he won’t suspect anything. It’ll look like a break-in. No, Rat. With the boy missing next door, cops have been in and out. It’s too risky. I’ll handle it.” Silence. “Rat? Rat, are you there? Son of a bitch, he hung up.”

My heart thundered in my chest. I backed away from the bathroom and went to my bedroom. Fear speared through my body as I locked the door.

I paced, hugging Dante firmly to my chest.

What should I do?

Maybe I had misunderstood the conversation. It was one-sided, after all.

Don’t be stupid. You know this is bad.

Maybe I could run out and tell Dad what I’d heard. He seemed to care about Dante.

No, I couldn’t do that. Tami said he was messed up, whatever that meant.

I went for my sneakers and slipped them on. It could get chilly tonight, so I put on a zip-up hoodie, securing it around Dante. It might be the middle of summer, but it was only seventy-two for a high. Already the temperature had dropped to sixty-four.

Hurry, Em. Hurry.

I emptied the contents of Dante’s diaper bag into my backpack, retrieved extra diapers and a couple of changes of clothes for him, and shoved them in. I grabbed my wallet, tucked it in with the other stuff, and closed the bag.

My heart pounded so violently, I wouldn’t be surprised if it burst out of my chest. I worried for my dad, though he didn’t deserve it. I wasn’t an evil person. I’d always care about his well-being.

I’m gonna be sick. I held my stomach, praying I didn’t fall apart.

What did Tami mean by he was “so messed up?”

Stop it. I couldn’t think of Dad right now. Little D was my priority. I needed to protect him above all else. Tami sounded as if she wanted him for some insane reason. Or more like Rat wanted him.

Thank God we were in a single-story home. Several times, I had imagined how I’d escape out of the window if the house caught on fire. After having the baby, I thought about all kinds of crazy stuff, things I had never imagined when it was only me. Not one of the scenarios had been about someone wanting to take my baby.

Bile inched into my throat as I stared at the window. The second I opened it, Dad’s alarm app would notify him. The system was silent for the windows. It only blared if the doors were tampered with when the alarm was set. Maybe Dad hadn’t turned it back on after Tami arrived.

Could I be so lucky?

If I wasn’t, I wouldn’t have much time to climb out of the window and make a run for it. Mercy, I fanned my face, overcome with fear. I glanced around my room and saw my cell phone charging on the nightstand.

Crap. How can you forget that?

I stuck it into my nursing bra for quick access.

Should I block the doorway? It could buy us a little more time.

Dante’s portable Pack ’N Play was pretty lightweight, but it was something and easy to move with him strapped to my body. After putting it in place, I pushed my bed against it, trying to not make a sound, then did the same to my nightstand.

Hurry, Em, hurry.

A breath hung in my lungs, and my hands shook at my sides.

Am I really doing this? Stop questioning your instincts and go!

I’d have to jump out of the window, but it wasn’t far. Fortunately, it was a community backyard, so there was no fencing to maneuver around.

God help us. If I hurt Dante, it would kill me. I kissed his head, mentally preparing myself.

You gotta be lightning fast. Ten seconds tops.

Open the window. Then push the screen out and throw the backpack on the ground. Jump and run like your life depends on it. Dante’s life depends on it.

With no time like the present, I moved swiftly.

You only have ten seconds. Go, go, go!

I ran my plan through my head, doing every step at top speed. I threw one leg over the edge, then the other. Holding the back of Dante’s head to protect him, I launched myself onto the ground, where my backpack had landed. I grunted at the impact, landing on one bended knee.

“Shit, that hurt!” I struggled to stand, willing myself to run as pain spread through my leg.

Dante squirmed, making a whining sound. Adrenaline kicked in. I grabbed my pack, secured it on my back, and bolted, gimpy leg and all.

Whoever Rat was, he’d be furious to find me gone—or more like find Little D gone.

I pounded the ground hard, not looking back. I had no idea where to go. If the alarm went off, Dad would find me gone, and he’d track me. He was a hunter like the rest of the guys in the club. I could see him jumping out of my window and following my path like a bloodhound, sniffing me out. It’d only be a matter of minutes before he caught us.

Run, Em. Run.

Ignoring the pain in my knee, I pushed harder with my pack flapping on my back. There were a few kids out playing. I wanted to stop and warn their parents about the predator stealing kids in broad daylight, but I couldn’t, not when my son appeared to be next on Rat’s list.

Little D probably wondered what the hell was going on, being jostled all over the place, but I couldn’t worry about that. We were out. I needed to keep him safe.

There was only one person I could call: Piper. She’d help us.

I turned the corner. There were two gas stations down the road. Dad would check every possible place I might go. A little farther down, there was a Target. I could hide in there until Piper could get me. If worse came to worst, I’d make a scene if Dad found us. I’d deny knowing him. Accuse him of trying to take my baby.

God, I hoped it didn’t come to that.

I panted, not slowing down as I called Piper.

She answered on the first ring. “Hey, momma. I’m shocked to hear from you. How’s your little guy?”

“Piper, I need your help!”