- 2.
If I remembered right, the riots were going to
kick off in a couple of hours.
To avoid what happened last time, I had to
get Paisley out of Chicago, ASAP.
I stuffed the money into a bag, grabbed
Paisley’s hand, and bolted for the city gates.
If I remembered correctly, things were going
to hell in a handbasket all over the state,
except in Madison.
We were heading west when we ran smack
into Ethan.
He was pulled over on the side of the road, all
smiles as he handed Tiffany a bottle of water.
The sight made my stomach churn.
He always said his own kid needed to be
raised tough, and he usually only spoke to
Paisley with a sneer.
I should have seen it then, that the ‘tough
love‘ was just because he didn’t give a damn
about us.
I tried to walk past him, but Ethan called out
to me.
“Chloe, I’ve been thinking. Chicago isn’t safe.
Let’s all go to Madison together.”
His voice was so sincere, like he actually
cared about Paisley and me.
Paisley, who’d never gotten this kind of
treatment from him, ran to him, beaming.
“Daddy, you’re so nice! I knew you wouldn’t
leave Mommy and me!”
He smiled and lifted Paisley into the wagon,
then snapped at the people inside
“Get out. Paisley is sick. The wagon is for her
and her mother.”
He waved me over.
“Chloe, you and Paisley get in the wagon.
I hesitated, but Paisley was small, and the
fastest way to Madison was by wagon.
But when Brenda and Tiffany climbed out of
the wagon, I saw something cold in Brenda’s
eyes.
She leaned in, whispering with a nasty smile,
“We wouldn’t want to take your spot. You and
Paisley enjoy it.”
“Just hope you live long enough to enjoy it.”
My gut clenched. I looked at Ethan.
The smile was gone, replaced by a look of
cold impatience. He barked at the driver,
“Head north. And stay away from us.”
Paisley leaned out of the wagon.
“Daddy, aren’t you coming with us?”
He shook his head, all smiles.
“No, you and Mommy go ahead. I’ll catch up
later.”
I knew something was wrong, but it was too
late.
A machete came swinging out of nowhere,
and the driver dropped dead.
Thugs, seeing a fancy wagon, had come to
rob us.
I stared at Ethan’s back in disbelief. His
sudden change of heart had been a trap, a
way to deliver Paisley and me right into the
hands of those monsters.
I’d thought he was cruel, but I never imagined
he’d use our lives as a distraction.
The nightmare from my past was happening
all over again. The thugs were yelling at me,
demanding I hand over Paisley.
I clutched Paisley to my chest, refusing to let
go even as they dragged me from the wagon,
kicking and stomping me.
The physical pain mixed with the agony in my
heart, and I coughed up blood.
I looked towards Ethan, making one last
desperate plea.
“Ethan, for the sake of our five years
together, please, save Paisley…”
“Daddy… I’m scared! I’m so scared!”
