Retribution Read Free

six-year-old Brynn and Serena had three-year-old twin boys, Caleb and Micah.
    â€œWith our parents,” Serena said. “My dad has been bugging me for time with them.”
    â€œSame here,” Alexia said. “Mom and Michael love having Brynn.”
    Jillian nodded, her mind already back on Meg.
    â€œHas anyone called Blake?” Serena asked.
    Jillian shifted and swiped her eyes. “Yes. He’s out of the country, but said he’d do his best to get back as soon as he could.”
    â€œWe’ll have her back before that happens,” Alexia said.
    Blake Wyatt had helped Jillian raise Meg up until seven years ago when Jillian had returned to Columbia to put a killer behind bars. She’d known she’d run into Colton Brady, her ex-boyfriend and Meg’s father, but she hadn’t known they would fall back in love, get married, and raise Meg together. That had been amazing.
    Meg had disappeared seven years ago too, but they’d gotten her back no worse for the wear.
    Jillian’s heart beat like a wild thing in her chest as she couldn’t help wondering if they would be so blessed a second time.
    â€œWe’ve found Tanner.”
    Jillian looked up to see Colton standing in the doorway. He looked ten years older than he had when he’d kissed her good morning a short fourteen hours ago. “Tanner? Where is he? Does he know where Meg is?”
    â€œHe’s dead,” he whispered. Tears filled his eyes and he blinked. “He’s dead, Jilly.”

6
    Meg yanked against the restraints and hollered.
    Silence echoed back at her. Where was she? Tremors of terror wracked her. She had to get loose. If she didn’t, she knew she would die.
    She leaned back against the cement wall and shivered as she fought the urge to vomit. Hunger pains bit her stomach and her head swam. She’d only had a pack of crackers for lunch and then a granola bar and a banana while changing clothes to go home.
    A door slammed in the distance and she flinched. Footsteps came closer. She cringed against the wall, then jerked when the cold penetrated her thin long-sleeved T-shirt. A whimper escaped her lips before she could bite it back.
    And then her prison door scraped open. The slender figure stepped inside, wearing black jeans, a bulky jacket, and a ski mask. Her kidnapper set up a small tripod and camera, then turned to face Meg. Through the mask’s slits, dark eyes met hers, and Meg’s terror spun to a whole new level as her captor stepped closer. In a gloved hand, a large knife glinted with wicked intent. Meg bit back a scream and tried to get a grip on her shakes. She held back the scream, but couldn’t stem the rising horror. “Why are you doing this?” she whispered.
    â€œRevenge.” The one word hovered in the air between them, spoken so softly Meg had to strain to hear it.
    â€œWho are you?”
    Her captor’s low laugh sent chills racing down Meg’s spine. The dark, terrifying figure moved toward her and Meg cringed. Then straightened her spine and forced herself to meet the empty eyes. Ifshe was going to die, she wouldn’t give this evil one the satisfaction of seeing her cower.
    The knife lifted and Megan’s heart thudded as it dropped toward her head.

    Jillian jerked awake. “Meg!”
    Sunlight streamed through the blinds. The alarm clock on Meg’s end table said 6:45 in bright red numbers. Jillian bolted from the bed and into the den. She’d slept? Guilt assaulted her. How could she sleep when Meg might not be able to? The thought nearly took her to her knees. She pushed through the weakness and stumbled into the kitchen to find Colton sitting at the table staring at the wall.
    Dread centered itself in her midsection. “You’ve heard something?”
    Her words brought him back from where he’d mentally escaped to and he blinked at her. A frown creased his forehead, erasing the blank expression.