Make A Wish (Dandelion #1) (9 page)

Time changed nothing. He was as violent and as abusive as he ever was, and now that I knew it was him
—
the man who’d molested and raped me as a child
—
the fear in me grew to an extremely dangerous level.

JULIETTE

My body ached all over. I was
so
over being kidnapped. I found myself thinking of the outside world often.

Was anyone looking for me?

Did anyone really care?

With each passing day, my cuts and bruises had healed, though I still felt like complete and utter crap.

Most of my days weren’t terrible, at least the ones where my kidnappers were too busy to pay a lot of attention to me, not that I was complaining. On the days where they wanted something from me though, it was much worse. They’d try to hold me down to stick needles in my arms and hands, but I never willingly let them. Who would? I would kick and fight back each and every time, their grasp on me tightening ever so slightly, causing massive bruises to appear on my arms and legs.

My veins have always been unusually deep, but it took many needle pricks later for the two kidnappers to find an appropriate duct. I was so sure that after the first time of successfully pulling a sample—and having experience working in the medical field—they’d have a better understanding for the following attempts, but they didn’t. Which spoke volumes about their intelligence.

Twice a day I was escorted to the bathroom, a small, almost port-a-potty sized room with a bright fluorescent light that hung from the ceiling, swinging back and forth as if someone was pushing it. Fortunately for the guys, there wasn’t a window in there either, leaving me with no possible escape route in sight.

One of the men
—
most of the time it was Miguel
—
would stand outside waiting for me to emerge. It gave me the willies thinking about them standing out there, listening as I peed and showered. How long could I survive like this?

I lost track of the amount of time I’d been here. Each day ran into the next, a never ending loop. My own personal form of hell.

The first few days, I tried everything I could to get someone, anyone, to hear me. I even resorted to begging them on my hands and knees, in hopes I could appeal to their better nature, but it didn’t work. So instead I spoke my mind, putting my colorful and extensive vocabulary, to use. I screamed every possible combination of obscenities every time either one stepped inside the room.

And when they got close to me, I gathered all my competence into punching, hitting, and kicking any part of them that reached for me. I wouldn’t let the chains that bound me hold me back. Still, I never won. In fact, I’d been knocked unconscious more times than I could recall.

It scared me knowing that with me out of it, they could do anything they wanted to my child. I knew I was losing steam, but I would do anything to protect my baby and the only choice I had was to fight. I didn’t want to think of the opposite outcome.

Miles and Miguel must’ve grown tired of my voice, because eventually my mouth was covered with a bandanna, a flimsy one which did very little to keep my mouth closed.

Dear Baby,

I’ve struggled with how to write this letter to you, I don’t want to disappoint you and I don’t want you to look back on my pregnancy with you when you’re older as a bad thing, because I assure you, it couldn’t be further from the truth. You’re the greatest thing to ever come into my life. In fact even now, it still feels unbelievably surreal that I have a little being growing inside of me.

I guess what I’m trying to tell you is that I was foolish and stupid. I didn’t take any precaution to keeping us safe, to keeping you safe. Now we’re in this position, with no idea whether we’ll ever be able to find a way out. I’m truly sorry… I haven’t even met you yet and still I’m failing you as a mom. How can I do this?

I found out something and I wish that I hadn’t… Something that had a huge detrimental impact on me as a kid. I can’t explain right now but when you’re older, I’ll tell you everything. So here’s my promise. When you are ready, I’m an open book. Until then, I’ll continue to protect you from the ugliness that surrounds us.

Each day brings me closer and closer to my due date and while I’m looking forward to it, it scares me. What if we’re still here? I promise to keep trying to find a way out but I need you to promise one thing too. Stay happy, healthy, and safe. I’ll fix this.

Xoxo, Love you!

Mommy

I placed the pen down on the ground. The abductors were rude, scary, and vile men but they’d given me a pen and pad of paper, after they were sure I wouldn’t stab them with it. That was nice, right?

I sighed as I laid my head on the cold, uncomfortable ground. My eyes closed and I prayed that I could finally get some well-needed rest.

SAYLOR

A few months had gone by since my best friend was kidnapped. I couldn’t help the restlessness and sadness I felt each day that came and went, with no change or update.

Each time that I’d spoken to the police detective on the case, he’d basically given me the runaround. It pissed me off. From what I knew, they hadn’t made even an inch of progress.

I charged into the West Hollywood police station and walked in as if I owned the freaking place.

“Please tell me you have something. Because if I was called down here for nothing, there’s gonna be a problem.” I narrowed my eyes at him, refusing to budge.

“Actually, that’s the thing…” The very same detective I’d spoken to on numerous occasions barely glanced in my direction. It only pissed me off even more. “The chief has decided to close Ms. Mitchell’s case due to lack of substantial evidence.”

My body stiffened, the unusually calm and laid back expression normally seen on my face replaced with all the vehemence I was feeling.

“Please tell me that I didn’t hear that correctly.” I all but hissed the words, as if they were venom being spewed from my mouth.

“You heard me, Ms. James. My hands are tied, there isn’t anything that I can do.”

It took every ounce of strength in me not to reach out and punch the guy in the nose, and I’m really not a violent type of girl either but with him, I definitely could be. He wore a smug and careless expression as if he didn’t particularly care about Juliette still being out there somewhere. I stood tall
—
as tall as my five-foot-two self could
—
and stared him down.

“Let me ask you something.” I cleared my throat of the instant scratchiness. “If your sister was suddenly kidnapped, would anything stop you from making sure she finds her way home?”

The man looked as if he was gathering his thoughts. The comb over of his hair was as silly as the first time that I’d seen it.

“No, I suppose not. However, Juliette Mitchell isn’t your sister, so I don’t particularly see your point in this.”

His response made me chuckle out of frustration, proving that not only was the man lacking in good looks, but brains as well.

“No. Juliette isn’t my sister, but she’s the closest thing that I’ve ever had to one. We grew up together in foster care and group homes. We’re all that each other has.” And with that regard, I realized that I didn’t owe the shmuck an explanation. I pivoted to leave, but not before telling the detective just what I thought of his hideous hairdo, leaving the stupid man dumbfounded.

BEAU

With all the pack stuff I’d recently been dealing with, I’d allowed my house to become a complete mess. Weeds overran the front yard and had even started snaking up the front porch. Takeout containers ate up my living room and kitchen, and that was only the beginning. I was starting to dread coming home at the end of the day and I hated that fact.

I walked throughout my house with a large black trash bag, throwing every stitch of garbage in sight away. I was finally starting to recognize the interior of my home. It was kind of fascinating, really.

After I quickly ran a washcloth with cleaner over the tabletops and counters, I changed my clothes and stepped out front to manage the unruly mess that had slowly taken over my yard.

I started with the weeds and worked my way throughout the yard, going from the left to the right precisely, making sure not to miss any sections. As I kneeled in front of the large bush beside the stairs that led to my porch, a corner of pink paper caught my attention.

I picked it up from beneath twigs and dirt and brushed it off. Even with the smudges, I could make out my name in a feminine scrawl.

Beau.

I didn’t think much of it, just stuffed it into my pocket and continued on working. Letters and notes were left for me often. Sometimes they were from wolves passing through my territory, other times it was notices or event invitations.

I worked until my muscles screamed and all energy within me had turned to dust. After a long ice cold bath, I pulled the envelope from my jeans crumpled on my bedroom floor. I slid my finger under the seal and pulled out a neatly folded paper with stars.

Dear Beau.

I’m not sure whether you remember me or not...

I felt an ache in my chest, the one that I’d felt since the day I had walked out on her, knowing full well that it was wrong. Jules had haunted my every memory and I couldn’t believe she had come to my house
—
on my packs reservation no less
—
and left me a note. I wasn’t sure how long ago it was left, and I wasn’t sure if I even wanted to reach out to her.

There was a part of me that wanted to know what she wanted to talk about, but another part of me just didn’t want to bring myself some more unnecessary heartache. I knew getting back in contact with her just might destroy my very essence. Jules was the only one that had the capability to bring me to my knees, which scared the crap outta me.

For an Alpha, I sure could be a wuss sometimes.

I stood, pacing back and forth in my living room, debating my next move. My heart and mind were already playing a mental game of tug-a-war, but I wasn’t sure there could be a winner.

I picked up my phone and quickly dialed the number written on the small paper. You only live once. It went straight to voicemail.

“Hey guys, Juliette here! I’m sorry I can’t come to the phone right now but please leave your name and number and I’ll be sure to get back with you.”
  Beep.