Peter winced then cleared his throat before grabbing at Tanner’s jacket. “Tanner? Son, is that you? What’s going on?”
“It’s me, Dad. Can you stand for me? We have to get back to the house.” Tanner hated to rush him, but the thought of April and Violet back with Ned was nearly killing him. As soon as his parents were safely inside, he was going to find them.
“Tanner,” his dad said again. The man was slightly confused and Tanner couldn’t blame him.
“It’s me, Dad,” Tanner said. “Come on, try to stand.” He gripped his dad under the arms and used all his strength to pull the man up to his feet. “How does that feel?”
“Wobbly,” Peter admitted. “What the hell happened?”
“I think someone drugged you and Mom while I was away. Faith and Sienna seem fine, but I sent Mom back to the house to check on them. Then came to find you.”
“Drugged? Wait, they drugged your mother? Why?” His dad was now alert and panicking as he tried to put one foot in front of the other, but wasn’t quite balancing yet.
“Easy, Dad. Mom is fine. She woke up and came out of it pretty quick. I think you’re taking it the hardest. We might need to get you to urgent care just in case.”
“In case of what?” His father roared. “Someone dared to hurt my family and you want me to go to a hospital? Come on, let’s get back to the house. Where is that security team I hired? Why aren’t they doing their job?”
Tanner had completely forgotten about them. “Something tells me they met with the same fate you and Mom did. I’m sure they’ll be waking up soon, but we have to get back to the house right now.”
Peter didn’t put up a fight as Tanner rushed him back to the house. As soon as they came in through the back door, Tanner was met with worried glances from his mom, Faith, and Sienna.
“I know,” Tanner said, keeping his tone level, despite wanting to tear down the walls with his bare hands.
“April and Violet are gone,” Pam said. “We checked the entire house, Tanner. They’re gone. Why would that awful man do this to them?” She was no doubt referring to Ned.
“The why isn’t important right now. Don’t worry, I’m getting them back. Did you call Caden?”
“Yes, he said he’d call the guys and they’d be on their way immediately.” Faith sat on a stool and pulled Sienna onto her lap.
“I’m not sure what you think they can do. The storm probably worked perfectly into Ned’s plan. He drugged Mom and Dad, but wait - why didn’t he drug me and Sienna?” Faith asked.
“You two were probably used as leverage against Violet to ensure her cooperation,” Tanner said, his fingers closing into tight fists.
“But she’s just a little girl,” Pam said, going into Peter’s arms. “Would he really hurt a child?”
Tanner wanted to explode. Violet was so much more than a little girl to him. She was his daughter. She was everything to him. And April. That woman had breathed life back into him when he didn’t even know he needed it. He was going to get them back if it was the last thing he did.
Just then, the back door flew open and Caden, Blake, Luke and Garrett all stormed in looking like drenched, undercover superheroes about to go on the mission of their lives.
If the situation wasn’t so dire, Tanner would’ve barked out a laugh. “They drugged my parents,” he said without preamble, “and they took April and Violet.”
“We know. It has to be Ned Dynam,” Caden said.
“There goes the legal approach we thought Ned would use,” Blake added.
“I know what you’re thinking, but his argument is going to be that he’s well within his rights to take back his daughter,” Garrett explained.
“She’smydaughter,” Tanner roared, “and I won’t have her or April spend even one more night in that hell.”
Luke grasped Tanner’s shoulder. “I know what you’re going through, but you have to keep a level head. Blowing up at us and busting into DynaTech Corp without a warrant, or probable cause, is only going to get you in more trouble. I know it’s hard, but you have to think like a cop right now, not like a father.”
“I’ve been her father for less than a week, and I already don’t know how to be anything else,” Tanner admitted, trying to rub out the growing ache in his chest.
“It’s not the same, but when Orly was missing and I had no idea how to find her, believe me, it took everything I had not to lose my mind. But I had all of you guys to fall back on. And you have us. Use us, Man. Talk to us. Let’s work this together so none of us lose our minds or our badges. Our women and your daughter need us to keep our wits.”
“You’re right,” Tanner said, shoving down his rage a little for the sake of his family and friends. “But I won’t rest until I have them back. Both of them.”
“None of us will,” Blake said. “I still can’t believe you’re a father.”