Chapter 22

Barrett

I blowthrough the red light and screech to a stop in front of City Hall. The second that picture hit my phone I was on the move. I didn’t send her those flowers, but it doesn’t take a detective to see who did.
I climb the stairs three at a time and my chest burns with panic. When I race down the hall I can hear Genevieve shout. When I burst through her door I go to her and immediately scoop her up in my arms.
It takes her body only half a second to relax against me. But that’s when I can feel her shaking and the tears begin.
“What happened?” Janet asks as she comes in behind me. Her assistant June is hot on her heels.
“That motherfucker sent her flowers,” I growl, and Genevieve leans back away from my chest and wipes away her tears.
“I’m fine. He sent a note and then he called. Oh god, Gabi! We need to get to her.” She tries to climb out of my arms, but I hold her tight.
“Shh. It’s okay. We’ll get to her.” I turn to Janet and start giving orders. I probably shouldn’t be doing it to the mayor, but right now I just need to make sure the woman I love and her family are safe. “Get the chief of police on the phone and have him send a patrol car to Gabi’s house.”
“Got it,” she says and rushes out.
“We’re going over there right now. Where’s your phone?”
Genevieve points to it, and I pick it up. The screen is cracked, but it still works. I scan it quickly and see he called from a blocked number. “Let’s go,” I say as I hold her against my side and we walk out of the office. “June!” I call down the hall, and she comes running.
“I’m here. What can I do?” she asks, looking between Genevieve and me.
“Have the chief send a detective over and get that note as evidence.” I point towards Genevieve’s office. “You are to stand guard on this office until the team arrives. Nobody else is allowed in.”
“Understood,” she says, and right then Janet comes down the hall.
“He said there’s a patrolman on his way.”
I tell Janet what I just told June and she nods in confirmation. “I’ll make sure it’s taken care of. You take all the time you need, Ginny.”
I hold her tighter as we leave the building and rush out to my truck. I pick her up and strap her in and then go to my side. I’m cranking up the truck and throwing it in drive before I can even get my own belt snapped.
“What if he’s gotten her? He said he’d never had twins before.” There’s a sob in her throat that is threatening to escape, and I squeeze her hand.
“He won’t lay a hand on her. Do you hear me? Neal would die before he allowed it, and so would I.”
She squeezes my hand back and I feel her regain some of her strength. My stomach rolls thinking about what he might have said to her. I’ll find out the whole story later, but right now she’s not going to be at ease until she’s got her arms around her twin.
My phone vibrates and I answer it.
“Hey, Barrett, the chief said everything is okay,” Janet says.
“Gabi is all right,” I relay to Genevieve, and her body immediately relaxes. “Thanks, Janet. We’re on the way to her house now. Should be there in just another minute.”
“The chief needs Ginny to come in and fill out a report. I explained this to her earlier, but we’re trying to build a case against him. We let him go yesterday, but someone let it slip that it was in part due to a complaint made by Ginny.”
I grip the phone so hard that I’m afraid I’m going to break it in half.
“Keep her close and keep her safe. I feel like this is all my fault. I never should have hired him in the first place.”
“I’m going to protect her.”
“I knew she’d be safe with you. We’ve got the whole team on this, Barrett. I want him nailed to the wall.”
“Just make sure I’m the one holding the hammer,” I say, then tell her we’ll be at the station in an hour to make a statement.
When we pull up to Gabi and Neal’s house there are three cop cars outside. Genevieve jumps out of the truck and runs straight up to her sister on the porch and wraps her arms around her.
“Barrett, what the fuck is going on?” Neal asks as Gabi looks over Genevieve’s shoulder at me with pleading eyes. “These cops show up saying they’re doing a welfare check on my wife. She’s pregnant and throwing up constantly. She shouldn’t be getting this stressed.”
“We’ll explain. Let’s go inside and have her lie down,” I say as I turn to the cops and shake their hands.
I thank them for coming out and explain that I’d appreciate it if they could perform some periodic patrols. They all agree to keep a close eye on her house and the neighborhood. After that’s taken care of, I send a text to my security guy Sam to let him know I need a full system in this house, too.
When I walk inside, Gabi is lying down on the couch with a washcloth on her forehead, and Genevieve is sitting on the coffee table in front of her holding a water bottle. Neal is pacing nearby and stops when I come in.
“I think we all need to talk,” I say as I walk over and pull Genevieve in my lap. I take a seat across the couch from Gabi.
I tell them about my sister and Mark. Then we both explain what happened on Genevieve’s date with Mark and how it’s all connected to today. Genevieve tells us about the phone call and what he said. It takes everything in me not to tear out of the house and go looking for him, but that fucker is slick. He’s managed not to get caught so far, and he has to know after that phone call today he’s got a target on his ass.
“So, what am I supposed to do? Just sit here locked in the house with my wife and baby, hoping that it all works out?” Neal barks, and I feel the exact same way.
“Right now, Genevieve and I are going to go to the police station and she’s going to give her statement about today. She’ll tell them about the night of her date with him, too, just so we have it on record. My security guy Sam is going to be here in an hour to equip this whole house with a security system, and you’re going to have neighborhood patrols from the local cops,” I say, trying to reassure him that it’s not totally beyond his control. “You and I are going to make sure our woman are protected in every way possible. And in the meantime, we’re going to plan a wedding and baby showers.”
Genevieve and Gabi look over at me, and I can see the same surprise in their eyes.
“He’s taken enough from us. I won’t have you two living in fear. You’ll be smart about where you go and what you do, and you won’t go anywhere without us. Agreed?” I ask and look at Neal, who is nodding. “Neither of you goes out of our sight. And lady, you might not like it, but you’re going to be taking an extended vacation from work until we get this whole mess resolved.”
“I totally agree,” she says, surprising all of us. “What? I’m not stupid. I’m going to stick by your side.” She cuddles against my chest.
“Me too. If I’m not with Neal, I’ll be with you guys,” Gabi says, and Neal finally stops pacing to sit down beside her on the couch and take her hands in his.
“All right then. Let’s go give that statement and then we can go over the security stuff at the house. Call me if you need anything, Neal.” Just then there’s a knock on the door and I can see Sam’s black SUV’s parked outside. “That’s the team. Let me introduce you so they can get started.”
It’s hours later by the time Genevieve is finished giving the chief everything he needs. She’s exhausted, and all I want to do is take her home and put her into bed.
“What about my car and my purse?” she asks.
“Our team brought in your purse,” The chief says as he opens a drawer and takes it out. “If you’d like, I can send an officer to get your car and bring it home for you.”
“That would be great,” I say. Genevieve reaches out and takes her bag, then looks at me with tired eyes.
“We’ll be in touch,” the Chief says. We shake hands and exit the station.
Genevieve is leaning on me as we walk over to the truck, and I have to pick her up and put her inside. She’s quiet on the drive home, and I know she’s worried about her sister. I wish there was another way I could ease this pain for her. I wish I could go out and find Mark and end this with my bare hands. But my first job is to protect her, and that’s exactly what I’m going to do.
We go into the house and I punch in the code then reset the alarm. I carry Genevieve upstairs and take her to the bathroom. I run a hot bath in the claw foot tub and strip her down before I place her inside. I kiss her softly, then leave to let her soak.
I’m getting the bed ready for her when I feel my phone vibrate in my pocket. When I see the number on the screen I step out into the hallway to answer it.
“Hello?”
“Bad news,” the Chief says. “It looks like the brake line in her car had been cut. Our officer was able to get out safely, but her car is totaled. I’m adding this to the report and you better believe I’ve got my whole squad looking for him.”
“I’m just hoping you find him before I do,” I growl as I clench my fist thinking about what could have happened to my girl.
“You and me both, Barrett,” he says.
I ask him to keep me updated and end the call. I can’t tell Genevieve this. Not tonight. Not on top of everything else she’s had to deal with today. All I can do now is thank god she wasn’t behind the wheel and keep her by my side. The rage that is bubbling under the surface of my skin won’t be held back for much longer. Mark has hurt my family in so many ways, but now he’s attacking my soon-to-be wife and maybe even my baby. The games are over, and I’m finished fucking around.