Page 105 of Griffin
“We’ll get him.” I want to swear to her that I will get our son back. But my own demons sit on my shoulders, telling me I’m too late. That, like my brother, Tommy will not be saved. I couldn’t save my brother, and now I won't be able to save my son. The possibility has my stomach twisting and my eyes blurring, but I have to stay strong for my wife. Have to stay strong for our son who needs us.
We cross into Williamstown, and Savannah navigates me through the neighborhood streets until we hit Plentyville Drive.
“67… there it is!” she yells, pointing, and I pull up sharply, Tanner and Connor right behind me.
“Let’s go.” The two of us jump out of the truck fast, dashing across the road and opening the garden gate to the quaint house, all in under ten seconds.
“That’s her car.” Savannah points to the neat Honda Civic in the drive.
“There’s a baby seat in the back.”
“She doesn’t have kids.” Savannah frowns as I step to the door, as the police finally pull up behind everyone.
“Melissa!” I shout, not having the patience to wait.
The door opens, and a man answers.
“You need to get off my property.”
Savannah gasps, and I look at her, seeing her eyes wide, her skin ashen, and she starts to shake.
“No… No, no, no…” she whispers. Clearly, she knows him for her to have such a visceral reaction.
I look back at him, and he feels familiar to me too. But I can’t place him. Neat slacks, a shirt buttoned all the way up, his hair combed to perfection. His side part is almost comical. It hits me then. This is the guy I saw at Whiteman’s Bar months ago. The one who was watching the ladies. He was also the guy I saw at the hospital when Savannah gave birth.
“Who the fuck are you, and where the hell is my son?” I bark out, trying to put the puzzle together.
“This is Tommy’s sperm donor,” Savannah whispers, and my heart stops. Tommy’s bio dad?
The man looks at Savannah, I don’t miss his eyes as they rake down her frame and back again before he swallows.
“And my son is now home where he belongs. With my wife,” the guy states, as Melissa walks around the corner, holding Tommy, bottle-feeding him.
“Your wife?” Savannah yells, head rearing back in shock.
“I sinned by finding warmth in another body. I have repented.” He says and I fist my hands, ready to knock out this low-life asshole.
“Give him to me!” Savannah screams, and I hear the police running up the garden path.
“Get off my property!” he shouts right back.
“Give me my baby!” Savannah screams again, and I step forward, about to walk in and take Tommy. That’s our child, and I’m not doing this back-and-forth.
“Step back!” He produces a gun, and I pause, halfway in his door, the gun aimed squarely at my chest. Savannah whimpers beside me, her hand gripping the back of my shirt.
“This is the police! Lower your weapon!” the sheriff says from behind me. I don’t move, but I grab Savannah and pull her behind me. She’s crying, shaking, but I need her safe and out of the equation. I feel someone behind me grab her, Tanner, the police, who, I don’t know, but I know she’s safe as I look at this asshole who thinks he can get away with kidnapping my fucking kid and putting a gun to my chest.
“Give. Me. My. Son,” I grit out as the barrel of the gun pushes into my skin. This isn’t happening again. I’m not losing someone else I love. There’s no way I’m stepping back. I look at Melissa as she cuddles Tommy tight, him oblivious to what’s going on around him. But he can hear his mom’s distress, and he’s starting to fuss.
“I said step back! Unless you want a bullet lodged right into your chest.” This asshole has the audacity to threaten me.
“Once I have my son, I’ll walk out of here and never come back.”
He shakes his head. “He’s my boy. I heard God whisper. He told me I can make it up to my wife by giving her a child she couldn’t have.” I pull in a breath, this asshole cheats on his wife, gets Savannah pregnant then thinks he can live a life without consequence by kidnapping little Tommy and giving it to his wife? To Melissa? Anger swirls in me like it hasn’t for a long time.
“No, he’s not. You're not listed on the birth certificate and have no legal parental right, never once did you approach Savannah for the baby.” I inform him through a clenched jaw, remembering asking Sawyer that same question. The legal information that’s now stored in my brain is useful for once.
“I’m going to blow your brains out. Is the kid worth it to you? Is she worth it?” He looks at Savannah behind me, his face full of disgust and I explode.
