Page 61 of Stopping Short
Evan
“Hello?” I wince as I answer the phone. I know Dennis won't be happy if he’s calling me. There’s no way I’ll get away with ignoring him for much longer.
“What’s going on, Evan?” He growls. “You keep ignoring me. How are things with my daughter?”
“They’re fine.”
“Then why aren’t you sending me what I asked you for? I want a picture of the two of you and she needs to be showing off that ring. I want some sort of sign with the wedding date on it in the picture too. I’ll have my guys examining the photo to make sure you didn’t photoshop it or something like that. Don’t mess with me, Evan. I’ll make you regret it.”
“I’ll get you the photo,” I say through gritted teeth.
“Thank you for being so cooperative.” I can hear the eye roll in his voice. “You have twenty-four hours to send it. If I don’t receive it by then, this deal is off and I’ll happily sit back and watch your family crumble.”
Chapter 38
Harper
I'm cleaning up the last of the mess in the kitchen. We made thousands of items today for the game tonight. I think if things keep going this way, Sophia will have to hire more people and have a bigger space for us to work. There’s no way we can continue with only four of us.
I know the Pirates’ football stadium has been talking to Sophia about carrying some things at their stadium and she already supplies the Pit Bulls’ and Pythons’ stadiums. Each of them are asking if she can increase the number of items we give them for each game as well. It’s a lot to handle and once Sophia has the babies, I don’t know how we’ll get it all done.
The bell on the door, letting us know someone has entered the bakery, goes off. I smile, more than proud of Sophia and the flourishing business she has created.
“Welcome to Mulberry Lane Bakery,” Emma says brightly. Her voice floats into the kitchen and brings a smile to my face.
Emma’s one of my favorite people. She’s hilarious and doesn’t mind saying what everyone else is thinking but doesn’t want to say.
Whoever’s in the lobby says something, but I can’t hear what it was.
The secret door bursts open, making me gasp. Dad and Mason enter the kitchen with their guns ready. Mason places a finger over his lips, telling me to be quiet. They move closer and closer to the entrance to the front of the shop, positioning themselves behind racks so they won't be easily seen.
“Use the door,” Dad whispers, pointing a stern finger towards the partially open door.
“Why?” I frown. There hasn’t been any sort of commotion. No signs of Evan.
“He’s here. Go!” Mason hisses right as something crashes to the floor in the front of the bakery.
Tears prick my eyes as I hurry through the door and shut it softly behind me. I immediately move to where Peck has several cameras pulled up on the big screen.
A sob breaks free when I find Evan’s arm wrapped around Emma’s neck and a gun pointed at her head. She’s terrified. She doesn’t know what to do and I know she’s trying to figure out a way to save me. She doesn’t know I'm already safe and she’s the one in danger.
“Where is she?” Evan roars.
“She isn’t here!” Emma cries even harder.
“I don’t believe you. She hasn’t left this bakery, I’ve been watching.”
“So check! I’m telling you, Harper isn’t here!” She’s yelling, probably hoping I can hear her and that I can escape before Evan can find me.
Evan tightens his hold on her and makes her walk through the swinging doors to the kitchen. He doesn’t see Dad or Mason. He’s too focused on looking around the open space and realizing I’m nowhere to be found.
Mason knocks something off the rack, making Evan swing around to face him and forgetting all about Emma.
“What are you doing with a gun, Evan?” Mason asks with zero emotion in his voice.
“What are you talking about?” His entire focus is on Mason as he raises his gun. He’s completely forgotten about Emma as she inches towards the secret door and he hasn’t seen Dad yet.
“You don’t own a gun. Which means you either borrowed this from someone, or it’s stolen… or you illegally bought this gun. I wonder which one it is.” Mason smirks.
