He turned left and right, searching and wondering where he dropped the phone. Then he saw it on the wine table where he dumped it out of excitement. He just hoped that the bounty Hunter was not mad at him for hanging up on him. He dialed the bounty Hunter's number again, hoping he would pick up the call as he struggled to keep his balance.
After three nerve-wracking rings, the bounty hunter finally answered.
"Please forgive me for abruptly ending our last conversation. I was just so overjoyed..." He trailed off, his voice slurry to his own ears.
"If you hadn't paid me for the job, I wouldn't have picked up the phone, sir." the bounty hunter snapped from the other end of the line.
Despite his annoyance, he rolled his eyes at the bounty hunter's curt tone. Thank goodness he knew who was really in charge here.
"Please, can you at least tell me where my wife and son are? I need to see them, I've missed them so much..." He pleaded, masking his true intentions.
He just wanted to get his hands on that foolish woman who thought she could escape his grasp.
"I'm sorry, I can't give you any information about their whereabouts," the bounty hunter growled.
Why couldn't he just give him a simple address? What was so difficult about that?
"Why not?" He tried to suppress his mounting frustration.
"I need to make sure I'm at the right location first. I don't rush my jobs. I have to ensure that everything is in order before I give out a valuable information." The bounty hunter's voice was firm.
That's understandable. I really appreciate your hard work. You've done a fantastic job..." He praised, genuinely impressed by the bounty hunter's efficiency.
"I'm good at what I do. You don't need to tell me that," the bounty hunter's voice remained cold and detached.
He didn't care. Today was a day of celebration, and he wouldn't let anything ruin his mood.
"Please hurry and bring my family back to me. I can't wait to hold my wife in my arms again," he exclaimed, a sinister grin spreading across his face.
"I will do just that, Mr. Ludale. Your wife and son will soon be returned to you," the bounty hunter assured him before hanging up.
Normally, he would have taken offense at the bounty hunter's rudeness, but not today. Today, his long-awaited victory was finally within reach. Soon enough, his wife would be back in his grasp, and he could do whatever he pleased with her. That was definitely worth celebrating.
0
JASAMINA
As I woke up that morning, I was greeted by Tanner's presence in the house. It was a surprise to me that he had decided to stay and help us. He had been very helpful in getting the house in order. While I did the cleaning and sweeping, he took care of the outdoor work such as cutting the grass, trimming the flowers, and mowing the lane.
After two days of hard work, the house looked as good as new, livable and beautiful. I couldn't believe how easy it was for me to trust him. Even when I had to go buy groceries, I left him with Jaimie and he took excellent care of my baby. Jaimie always smiled at the sight of Tanner, and I could tell he was already recognizing him, moustache and all.
Despite his apparent help, I knew Tanner was struggling with staying sober. I had seen him staring at empty liquor bottles we had picked up from around the house. The desire to be mindless and drunk again must have been overwhelming for him, but I was grateful that he had not gone back to the bottle, even if it was just for a short while.
However, I feared that he might relapse and go back to the streets, and that scared me to my core. Tanner had become my savior, the only one who had stood by me through the difficulties I had encountered since I left my abusive husband.
The scars on my body, which I thought were permanent, were gradually healing thanks to the soothing balms that Tanner had bought for me. The combination of the magic balm, cool weather, and peace of mind I derived from being miles away from my husband and father's house made me feel safe and secure.
I also found solace in engaging in little talks with Tanner. Although we avoided discussing personal topics, we had a way of keeping the conversation flowing. It was a relief to be able to talk to someone and momentarily forget about my past. Tanner also seemed to appreciate the distraction.
I woke up every day with a sense of happiness that I was far away from my husband's house. The thought that I was free from the toxic environment brought me peace of mind. I prayed that no one would find me here, where I felt safe and at peace with my little Jaimie.
Tanner's presence made everything better. Although he had his demons, he was willing to put them aside to help us. I hoped that he could continue to stay sober, not just to help us but to help himself too. I had no idea what had happened to him because he would not tell, but I hope he'd heal.