Lyon
Chapter 121

I tried peaking around the corner without being detected but the way the room was built I couldn’t see right in. I was going to have to be careful on my next move because I’ll probably have only one shot at this.

My mind was processing shit like a machine. The only reason Kat would let her get the drop on her was if she had a weapon so whatever I did I was going to have to make it count.

“Please just let me put her there on the couch she’s scared can’t you see she’s scared? She’s just a little baby she has nothing to do with this.”

“You know what you might be right, it might be fun raising your brat while you rot. Think about me torturing the little bitch every day of her life. Of course that luscious husband of yours and I will have more kids. I think I’ll send the stupid little brat to boarding school.”

“Why are you doing this? You’ll never get away with it think about it. Colt knows all about Taylor and what he did”

“Lies, all lies, my boyfriend would never have touched you and that other bitch. You both made it up because you were nobodies, no one even knew who you were until you started spreading your filthy lies. I took care of her though but you got away before I could get to you.”

“What? What do you mean you took care of her?”

That’s right baby keep her talking. I’d already hit record on my phone. I guess those cop shows were about to pay off. I could see them now, her back was to me and she had Kat backed up to the fireplace.

There were gifts and the tree and the big a*s gingerbread house blocking her in. Kat had her body twisted slightly to the side to shield the baby the best way she could and from the angle of the nut’s arm I surmised that she was holding a gun on them.

“I mean that I was the one that killed her. That’s’ right, I didn’t even have to touch the stupid bitch, just held the gun on her until she offed herself. Only you’re not going to get off so easy, you I want to suffer.”

“You’ll never get away with this. Colt and my father will figure it out. How do you plan to hide who you really are? Eventually they’ll replace out.”

***

KAT

***

I’m glad Colt isn’t still so angry with me. I’ve had more than enough time to think about how stupid I was. Sitting in that car with my daughter screaming in fear in the backseat was about the scariest thing I’ve ever faced, worst even than my own ordeal.

Colt hadn’t said anything but dad had filled me in a little and even he was holding something back. The men in my family were set on protecting me from everything but I’m stronger than they think.

From what dad had said it hadn’t been an accident and Carol’s phone call five minutes after Colt left the house answered the question of why she wasn’t where she said she would be. Even after being run off the road I still hadn’t pieced it together. Someone had deliberately drawn me out of the house to hurt me, not just me but the baby.

The thought brought tears to my eyes. Life had been so perfect the last year or so. Colt saw to that, he shielded me and now us from all the horrors of the world.

I guess I should stop ragging him about his cop shows and stories of gloom and doom; people really do suck. Caitlin was up and seemed none the worse for wear.

I decided we should go finish our cookie baking and make daddy his favorite foods for dinner to make up for mommy being a ninny.

We headed downstairs after a diaper change and she pointed to her gingerbread house so I walked over to let her play before we got started on our baking. At least she was happy.

I heard Colt at the back door and started to smile as I heard him coming down the hallway. I didn’t stop to wonder why he would be coming in that way when he always came in the front but I didn’t have time to ponder that when a complete stranger entered the room.

“Who are you? What’re you doing in my house?” She looked vaguely familiar but I couldn’t quite place her. The hair was all wrong but the face rang a bell. It was the look she gave me that alerted me to the real danger, that and the gun she raised and aimed at me.

I twisted instinctively to shield Caitie, my heart beating out of my chest and my mind a complete blank. What is going on? I kept my eyes on her and the gun she kept trained on us as I looked for a way out of this latest catastrophe.

“Who are you?” She still hadn’t answered that question, just stood there glaring at me.

“That’s not important, what’s more important is why I’m here. Now hand me the kid.” I moved back a step in horror.

“You’re not having my daughter.” I didn’t want to antagonize her but there was no way I was just handing my baby over to her gun or no gun. Was this one of those things you see on the news about baby snatching?

But didn’t they usually go after newborns in hospital wards? And why did she look so damn familiar? The answer was right at the edge of my mind but I kept drawing a blank.

Could she be someone from Colton’s past? She came farther into the room and with the light from the fireplace her face came more into focus.

“Oh shit it’s you, how, why?”

“I’ll do the talking here you don’t get to ask me anything, you’ve done enough.”

“Me, what have I ever done to you?” Keep her talking Kat just buy some time. Colt please hurry; that’s all I could think of while this crazy bitch held me at gunpoint. Colt is going to be pissed when he gets here.

But what if he walks in and she shoots him? Shit I have to do something but what? I can’t knock the gun out of her hand the way Colt taught me because I have the baby. Why didn’t I listen to Colt? This is the last time I doubt him that’s if I survive this.

Caitlin was starting to fuss and that was just making the nut more agitated. The look in her eyes said she’d do exactly as she threatened, if I could save my little girl at least that would be something so I just have to keep her talking.

I wanted to scratch her eyes out when she talked about f*****g my husband and sending my kid to boarding school. I guess that answered one question, it had to have been her that called me earlier that day.

She kept moving forward and there was nowhere to go. The fire and the tree and gifts were in my way and it was finally setting in that I could really die here today. Why did I never see things the way Colt did?

He’s always telling me to be careful, always trying to keep me from getting hurt. I’ve always thought he was overreacting but now when it might be too late I finally get it.