Make A Wish (Dandelion #1) (16 page)

Over the past weeks, his partner Miguel had began to take over “detaining” me, as if holding me down and attacking me was below him. Almost as if he was too good for it but I knew that Miles wasn’t
—
he’d been the one to start the beatings in the first place.

The only upsides to Miguel were that he wasn’t as rough with me and at least when it was him, it kept me from looking into those black evil eyes who destroyed the child that I used to be.

Every few days the pain would become unbearable and if I wasn’t knocked unconscious, the large amount of pain caused me to take solace in the darkness.

I was sure that I had countless bruises across my face and I even sometimes made it a game to count the ones that sprung up on my arms, legs, and chest. It seemed the one decent thing they did was avoid hitting my belly. I knew that if they ever did, I would go bat-shit crazy on their ugly asses.

My hair sat in a scraggly tangled mess at the base of my neck and I couldn’t remember the last time I’d been able to brush it or run my fingers smoothly through it. My lips were beyond chapped and to the point of peeling, the corners of my mouth extremely sore.

As I lay on the floor, I heard the door creak open. I closed my eyes instantaneously in hopes that I could pretend to be asleep and whoever was there would go away, but that notion flew out the window when the steps grew louder, making it quite clear that whoever was there wasn’t leaving but was coming towards me instead.

“Wake-y wake-y, eggs and bake-y.” The words washed over me with an oily feeling to it. I winced in pain at the kick to my shoulder.

“Asshole,” I spewed as I opened my eyes and sat up, glaring at the grinning man.

Miles bent down beside me, ignoring the daggers that I was gladly throwing his way. He held a syringe in his hand that had an abnormally long needle, one that was much longer than any of the others that had been used on me before. With a small shift of my body, his hand had collided with the side of my face.

“Don’t you dare think about it. The more you struggle, the harder this will be,” he hissed through his teeth.

I froze. My eyes widened. That phrase was one of many that triggered my shitty past and nearly forced me to remember every second of what had happened between us all those years ago. Every twinge of pain and fear felt as if it was magnified. My heart raced, my brain worked a mile a second, and I felt as if I was in my own personal form of limbo.

Miles picked up the large syringe before giving me one more warning to stay put. He leaned over my belly before feeling with his hands for an appropriate spot to no doubt plunge the needle into. His hands on me made me cringe; it wasn’t something I ever felt I’d get used to. The door of my past hauntings
—
the one that I’d been trying to close since I was seven
—
was more open than it had been in a long time.

“No!” I panicked, screaming as loud as I possibly could. “Don’t hurt my baby!”

“I’m not gonna hurt the little demon. Shut your trap and it’ll be over before you know it,” he snapped, beginning to show the signs of aggression that I remembered all too well.

I didn’t believe him when he’d said he wouldn’t bring harm to my little baby. Why would I? Of all the people on the planet to trust, it would never be him.

I knocked the syringe straight from his hands and used my barely-mediocre defense skills I’d learned while in the group home. Since my hands were bound together, the jab to his jaw was more of a knock to the chin. My knee instinctively went up and collided with his groin, sending him doubled over on the floor with pain.
Finally, I got him.

“Stay the hell away from me and my child.” I was trying to sound strong and confident, but when the words left my mouth, I barely managed to get them out without stuttering.

Miles didn’t stay down for long. He didn’t go pick up the syringe from across the room, either. Instead he stood tall and stalked towards me, like a hunter hunting its prey. I was the prey—again.

I closed my eyes and prepared myself for the expected blow. It never came. He proceeded to once again bend down beside me
—
face to face. Miles yanked my head forward by my blond locks and pried my mouth open, shoving an unknown white pill inside. I tried really hard to spit it out but he held my jaw closed, with one hand under my chin and the other on the top of my head, while I struggled. I didn’t have a choice. I gave in and allowed the pill to flow down my throat.

With a satisfied smirk, he stood and paced the room waiting for the tiny pill to take effect. In a matter of minutes, my body had given out. I’d fallen into a deep slumber, leaving Miles with the ability to reconvene with whatever he had originally planned.

BEAU

“Boss, you called?” Griffin stood in my office, his arms crossed over his chest.

“Anything to report?”

“No, Sir. It took us more time to get
into
the apartment than it took to search it. Nothing was found. Nothing that could possibly identify who the kidnapper might be.”

“Okay. Keep looking out for Saylor and please oversee the pack tonight on the moonlight run. I have a lot of work to do here and won’t be going.”

“Yes, Alpha.” Griffin bowed his head in submission.

I could feel my body tensing. With nothing to go on, my mood was somber and I was barely keeping it together for my team. I quickly nodded my head to let Griffin know that he was good to leave.

When I was sure that he was gone
—
and well out of ear range
—
I sat at my desk, fighting with my wolf. He was furious, a fury that I had never felt before. A lust to find and kill whoever had taken her. They’d pay for it, no matter the price.

The more time I sat thinking, the more I just couldn’t and wouldn’t calm. At that very second, I wouldn’t suppress the urge to phase. We both needed to be free, in the best way.

My fist flew through the dry wall, millions of tiny pieces flying and breaking into piles at my feet. I kept up
—
punching holes, breaking lamps, ripping papers, knocking over the furniture, as if damaging my office really helped matters. When the man in me could no longer fight, I phased
—
allowing the wolf to let out all his pent up disappointment and animosity. His teeth ripped and tore anything that was in close distance. The office looked as if a hurricane had waltzed right through, destroying everything in its wake.

I curled up into a ball, savoring the feeling of being in my wolf form. In that moment, I was truly myself. My
true
self. Angry. Frustrated. Fearful. Hopeful. Determined. Pivotal qualities that made up who I was
—
an Alpha.

JULIETTE

When I’d finally regained consciousness, my hands rushed to my belly
—
feeling for my baby to make sure everything was alright. I’d had visions of waking up, only to have found my baby cut from my stomach. I was so glad it hadn’t actually happened.

Aside from a small yellowish bruise from where the needle had punctured and mild cramps, I seemed okay for the most part.

With today’s horror over, I reached for the pad of paper and pen that I kept at a close distance
—
always within arms reach.

Dear Baby,

I felt you move for the first time a couple days ago. It was as if there was a swarm of butterflies fluttering around inside of me. You make my heart soar. I’m so happy that you’re snuggled in there safe and warm.

I can’t wait to meet you. I’ve been trying my hardest to think of some names but I can’t. It’s hard because I don’t know if you’re a boy or a girl, but even harder since I know that your name will define you your whole life. It’s a big decision and what if I pick wrong?

Gosh, I hope I don’t mess everything up. I’ve never done anything like this before. My whole life has been just looking after myself and occasionally Saylor. Now I’ll be taking care of a living, breathing baby, who will eventually grow into a toddler, then a child and an adult. My goodness.

I know that it won’t be easy at all but there’s not a doubt in my mind that it will all be worth it. We’ll have each other. Saylor, too, cause I doubt she’ll let us leave her out.

I miss her.

More than I miss anything else in the outside world. Well, I could go for a giant cheeseburger right now, but that’s beside the point. Saylor can find the positivity in any situation. While I’m debating the meaning of life, she’s out there living it. I hope to be more like her someday, and when we get out of this place, I intend to tell her that!

Xoxo, Mommy

I placed the pen and notebook beside me and lay on my back, starring up at the ceiling, my hands resting on the top of my small stomach. Thinking of the day I’d been through, I closed my eyes and willed the tears to leave, though that only made them come even faster. Giving in to them, I let them take over, shedding tears for the child I had been before everything bad had happened and for the person I was now
—
trying my very hardest not to give into the negative thoughts that threatened my very sanity and happiness. My tears fell until there were no more left in me, leaving only sleep to blanket me with momentary peace.

GRIFFIN

“Griffin, Griffin. This is Jax,” he paged over the walkie.

“Go to two,” I responded, Jaxon following suit by switching the radio channel to two
—
so that our conversation couldn’t be overheard by any of the fellow pack members.

“I think I found something,” he said solemnly. “It’s dark and hard to see but if I’m seeing it correctly, it may be a lead.”

“Ok. I’m on my way.”

I arrived promptly, having drawn on my wolf abilities, which allowed me to speedily make it to where I was needed
—
without panting or breaking into a sweat.

“Show me.”

With no spoken words, Jaxon pointed to the computer screen in front of him as he pressed play on the video footage that the gas station across from Juliette’s apartment complex had handed over after some coercing.

The date and time were displayed in the right corner, the video rather dark due to the time of day that it had been taken.

The image sprang to life.

A black van pulled up outside the complex. No move was made to exit the vehicle for a few minutes. When the right door opened, a large man wearing all black exited and climbed the stairs. The face wasn’t visible due to the darkness. Within fifteen minutes, the man exited the building. Though it was hard to see and the video footage was pixel-y at best, the man looked to be carrying something.

Or someone.

“Play it again,” I growled as I pulled up a chair, and Jaxon rewound the video.

We both sat there studying the video, trying to fix the clarity and brighten the display. If we were correct in our assumption, this measly video showed Juliette’s kidnapping.

We sat for hours till the video was as clear as we could possibly get it.

“Time to call in the big guy.”

BEAU

I heard and felt my phone vibrate in my pocket, and with the push of a button, Griffin’s voice pierced my ears. “Boss, this is Griffin.”

“Go.”

“Jaxon found a video that we think you need to see.”

“Okay.” Click.

I watched the video more times than Griffin and Jaxon had. I’d sent everyone away while it replayed countless times. My heart lurched in my chest every time I reached the part where the man was carrying something large in his arms.

The man’s face was too blurry to pinpoint and the license plate for the van wasn’t in view of the camera. Such important evidence yet not much to go on at all. Rage clouded me.

I spent the rest of the night in front of the computer, looking for any way to use this video to find her. Then it came to me, an epiphany of sorts.

I stood up and walked across the room, taking a seat at my pack member Shane’s computer. Shane had hacked into the WeHo PD servers days before and accessed all their databases—including the blood database, in hopes that we would be able to turn up some results for the blood that was found at the scene—but our efforts had been in vain. On top of that we hadn’t found any evidence or clues to go on yet, so there hadn’t been a reason to access the servers in further detail.

Until now.

I typed into the search bar the color and model of the van from the video and smiled to myself when only thirty results surfaced. For West Hollywood, I was more than a little  surprised there weren’t more but I wouldn’t complain. This was good—very good.

With a click tap of the printer key, I stood, grabbed the paper that had popped out of the printer, and stormed out of the building—past Saylor, Eve, and Griffin.

“Watch after her,” I ordered Griffin before climbing into my truck and pulling out of the Reserve.

SAYLOR

“What was that all about?” I turned to Griffin in question.

“Nothing.”

“Oh, don’t pull that shit with me. Tell me what the hell is going on.”

“No,” Griffin responded, his face expressionless as he stood his ground.

“No? Are you kidding me?”

“With that thought, I’m gonna leave you two to rip each others heads off. I actually have a dance rehearsal to get to.” Eve giggled and turned, leaving the two of us to glare daggers at each other.
Traitor.

“You don’t need to know this.”

“The hell I don’t,” I yelled as I turned my body away from him, so not to show him just how upset he was making me. “She’s my friend and I’m just as much a part of this investigation as you are.” I squared myself to him and eased down onto one of the swing sets.

“Tell me what is in that book you got from Juliette’s apartment.”

“What?”
Way to change the subject, infuriating ass.

“You heard me. What was in that book you found at her place?”

“That I can’t tell you. It’s Jules’ own personal business and it isn’t about her disappearance, so you don’t need to know.”

“I don’t believe you.”

I tried not to let him see how much his words hurt, though I knew I couldn’t conceal it all, when his eyes softened towards me.

“If I told you, you’d tell Beau and that can’t happen, so I can’t tell you.” I really tried my best to reason with him, but Griffin was as stubborn as I was.

“As long as it has nothing to do with finding her, I won’t say a word to him,” he promised genuinely as he came and sat down on the swing to my right.

I didn’t want to give in so easily, but with his bright cerulean eyes staring at me, I felt my insides turn to mush. I didn’t last a second against his French charm, slowly chipping away at the brick wall that I’d built up for protection

“Okay… But if I find out that you’ve told him, don’t be surprised to wake up murdered in your sleep. And that, my friend, is a promise,” I threatened in my most aggressive voice before reaching into my purse and pulling out the flowered book, handing it over to Griffin.

“Thank you for trusting me.” He winked at me, which had me suppressing the urge to flip him off. Easing the book open and reading the first paragraph of the first entry, I saw the moment everything clicked in place, his eyes widening.

He looked back at me and then back at the book before continuing to read the rest of the letter. When he finished, he closed the book and handed it back.

“You don’t want to read them all?” I was surprised. I guaranteed had it been any other person, they wouldn’t have put the book down till it was finished.

“No. One page was more than enough. Those words in there are Juliette’s innermost thoughts and fears. It’s almost as if I’m intruding on them, ya know?”

“I get it.” I slid the book back in my bag and then turned to face him. We sat in silence just looking at each other before Griffin’s words rang in my ears.

“He should know, Say.” His face took on an almost pained expression, one that I absolutely hated seeing.

“You know, Jules and I got into a fight over telling him about it. It was right before she was taken and just after she’d found out about the baby. I thought that because he up and ditched her, he didn’t deserve to know. Jules, though, wanted to tell him from the start. She said that had the roles been reversed, she’d want to know. She said the baby was just as much Beau’s as it was hers.” I smiled, remembering the conversation like it was yesterday.

“She sounds like an incredible person.”

“She really is. The best person that I’ve ever met.” I half smiled, trying to gather my thoughts the best that I could. “When I got to know Beau, I knew that she was right when she said he deserved to know. But I also don’t think it’s my place to tell him. Griffin, you don’t know how destroyed Jules was when he left. I’ve never seen her like that, and I mean never. It took me getting to know him to forgive him for the way he treated her.”

Griffin grasped my hand in his before responding to me in his native language. “Je voudrais pouvoir vous dire pourquoi il l'a quittée, mais il est trop forte d'un secret pour vous supporter. Je m'excuse.” His thumb rubbed circles over my hand. I really wanted there to be no butterflies, no sparks. But I couldn’t help the feelings that spread through me.

Griffin speaking French took my breath away, and I only wished I could understand what he had spoken. “What did that mean?”

“Never mind.” He looked down at our hands grasped together, his brows knit in confusion.

“Why are you acting so weird about us?”

“No reason. Sorry.” Griffin released my hand quickly as if he’d been burned and went to stand. I sure the hell wasn’t playing along with this whole hot and cold game.

I pulled him back down onto the swing beside me and leaned my body into him. His arm went around my waist and our lips brushed softly together. I felt as if fireworks were going off inside of my body, a searing heat taking up residence in the pit of my stomach. The kiss lasted a few seconds longer before Griffin groaned and pulled back. “Oh douce jeune fille, pas une bonne idée.”

“As sexy as it is hearing you speak French, I have no idea what you’re saying,” I admitted with a wink.

“Right. What I said was, ‘Oh sweet girl, not a good idea.’” He laughed as he brought his hand back, running it through his hair self consciously, my eyes following his every move.

“Whatever you say,
Boss,
” I said, trying to mimic his accent and failing miserably.

Griffin laughed and smiled at me while I got up to leave, pulling him into a goodbye hug.

“Je souhaite sincèrement que vous ne changerez jamais, Saylor. À bientôt.”

“You know, you gotta stop with the French. It’s hot as hell, but buddy, I can’t understand a damn word.” I giggled like a little schoolgirl and pulled back, reaching into my bag to scrounge around for my car keys.

“Maybe,” he said and followed me to my car.

“What are you doing?”

“You heard Beau. I have to watch you.”

“Damn guys,” I muttered before climbing into the drivers seat with a smirking Griffin.

Already testing my freaking patience.