Page 85 of Born to Scar

“No. You didn’t. Don’t you spend one more minute thinking that. Do you hear me? Not one.”

“I would give anything to have you back, Jenny.”

“I’m always with you. Right here.” She points to my chest, where my heart used to be.

I shake my head. “That’s been gone as long as you have, sissy.”

“Oh, how I’ve missed being called that.” She smiles widely. “No, Indy. It hasn’t. You have three very special men. All of whom have helped repair it. But not only them, Bik and Ray. The love they have for you is unconditional. You’re the daughter they never knew they wanted. They’re the parents you deserve. And your friends. Stop pushing them away. You need them.”

“I need you, Jenny.”

She kisses my forehead, pulling her fingers from my cheeks to hold my hands. “You’ll always have me, too. I’m never far away. I watched you graduate. I’ve watched as you’ve essentially taken over the bar. I watched you trust and try when you wanted to run. You’ve grown into such a wonderful woman. You have no idea how proud of you I am.”

“I’m scared,” I whisper.

“I know. And that’s okay. It’s okay to be scared sometimes, but don’t stop, Indy. Continue to grow and face the things that scare you head-on with the knowledge that I’ll be right here watching you do all of it.”

She laughs, and my heart cracks in two. God, I’ve missed it. I’ve missed it so fucking much. It feels so good to hear her voice again. I close my eyes, searing the sound into my brain.

“Tell Mik thanks for picking out the weeds. He spent almost two hours just weeding my plot. By hand.”

Through my tears, I bark a laugh. “Yeah, that sounds like something he’d do. I’ll let him know.”

“I think I would have liked him, Indy.”

“Yeah, sissy. I think you would have too,” I chuckle.

“Oh! And tell him not to worry so much about his biological family. He’s enough. The family he found is enough.”

“What?”

“He talks to me about them sometimes. He wants to make them happy but doesn’t know how. He’s never had to do anything to make you guys happy.”

Something past my shoulders captures her attention.

“They’re here now.” Her beautiful green eyes collide with mine. “You’re safe. It’s time to let you go back, okay? I love you so much. I can’t wait to see what your future holds. It’s so bright. Live Indy. Live for both of us.”

CHAPTER 36

JARED

“What the FUCK do you mean you lost them?” I scream nose to nose with Cam, grabbing his shirt in my fists. Rage courses through my veins. Why didn’t I go? I would have never lost them. I was too lost in my fucking head to think straight, and now she’s gone.

“Jay…” Cam tries to grab at me, but I push him in the chest, and he does the smart thing and backs off. This isn’t happening right now. This can’t be happening. “Asher’s men will find them,” Cam whispers, like that makes this any better.

I shake my head. “You were following a fucking cop car in a Lamborghini for fuck’s sake. How? How the fuck is that even possible?” Kia grunts his agreement. I squeeze my eyes shut. “Is her phone here?” I yell to anyone who may have seen it. Frantically searching for it, I can’t find it anywhere. “Has anyone seen it?” I bark, pulling up the tracking app I have on my phone. I got it for this exact reason. At first, Indy hated the idea. But if she has her phone, we might be able to find her.

Asher is at the police station with the Ring footage and the video he took. There is a chance this could make everything public. They can do this legally, and Indy’s father will be held on abduction charges, if we can find them. He arrested her but didn’t take her to the station or the jail in his jurisdiction. He kidnapped her, and it’s caught on video.

I have her pin pulled up, and she’s not moving. He either tossed it or they stopped. My fingers fly over the screen, sending the location to Asher. While he’s there, maybe they’ll go look. But I’m not waiting around to find out.

“Every fucking car needs to be out of my driveway in two minutes,” I warn, going upstairs to change. Cam follows, shutting the door behind him.

“Please don’t do anything stupid, Jay.”

I huff a mirthless laugh. “That’s fucking rich coming from you. I’m going to get my girl. Asher has the location, too, since he’s at the police station doing something,” I sneer. Cam swallows hard, face paling and falling. I hurt him, but I can’t find it in me to care. He isn’t doing anything, waiting for someone else to fix this.

The one time he needs to be in Mr. Fix-It mode, he’s faltering. He narrows his eyes and nods. He wants to rebuke, but he doesn’t. Instead, he runs his hand through his hair. “I’m coming with you to get our girl.”