(Ashley's point of view)
"What does that mean?" I felt like I had been punched in the stomach. "What does he mean by it?"
"I don't know." Rocky turned away. "I'm not leaving you alone though until he's caught."
"Is it a threat?" I was breathing heavily.
"If it is, I'll kill him."
"Not if he kills me first."
"Don't say that." He moved closer to me. "I'm not letting him near you. He will never be able to hurt you again."
"You can't guarantee that." I pulled away. "Things change. Stuff happens. I will never be safe."
He stepped forward and took my hands. "I promise you, I will make sure you're safe."
"I know you mean that, but you can't be around me all the time. I shouldn't need to be babysat."
"You're not being babysat you're being protected!"
"I can't always be protected. I have to face certain things alone. This is one of those things."
"You're not doing this alone." He fought. "I'm not letting you do this alone. I'm not going to give him the opportunity to hurt you."
"Fine." I sighed. "Try and protect me all you want."
"Are you being serious or are you going to go behind my back on this?" He held onto my arm.
"I'm being serious." I lied. "I'm yours to protect."
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It had been two and a half months since the Jacob incident. The police still hadn't found him and the boys wouldn't let me leave the house. I was being guarded under lock and key constantly. Rocky even went to the length of having Ryland and Blake here. They would alternate nights. I was never left alone.
I was eight months pregnant and the baby was kicking. I was just one month away from giving birth. It made Rocky even more protective. He would do the shopping, he got me a new phone, and he was with me constantly.
I hadn't tried to contact Jacob. Rocky didn't know it, but I had a plan. He wouldn't find out either.
"What are you up to?" Blake walked into Rocky's room.
I was sitting alone in the rocking chair. Rocky and Riker had the twins in the living room. I was suppose to be resting.
"Just sitting." I shook my head.
"You're scheming." He moved closer. "I know that look on your face. I can tell you're up to something." He crossed his arms. "Spill."
I thought about it quickly. "I just want to get out of the house for a little bit. I've been stuck in here. I need air. Rocky won't even let me open a window."
"Maybe I can convince him to let us go on a walk."
"Depends." I stood up. "Will the FBI be there? That's the only way he'll let me go."
"What if he came with us and so did Riker? Maybe if there were more than just us he'd be ok with it."
I thought it over. It might work. "Alright, but I don't want to bring the kids and I want at least two people here to watch them."
"Rydel and Ellington aren't here." He leaned up against the wall. They had been staying with Ellington's family while the Jacob situation has been going on. They didn't want to bring Rider into it and I didn't blame them. "Maybe Ross and Riker will stay and we can take Ryland."
"You'll have to talk to Rocky about it." I brushed past him. "Let me know what he says."
"Where are you going?" He turned to watch me.
"I'm pregnant." I said over my shoulder. "I'm going to the bathroom."
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(Blake's point of view)
I decided to go talk to Rocky about the walk right now. There wasn't really a good time to and it was probably best if there was a witness there anyway.
"Hey, Rocky." I said from the bottom of the stairs. "Ashley wants me to ask you something."
"What is it?" He never looked at me. He was focused on the twins.
"She wants to go on a walk." I said slowly.
"Out of the question." He didn't even hesitate to answer.
"She really wants to get out of the house." I tried for her. "She's been stuck in here for months."
"It's not safe for her to be out of the house." He turned to face me. "You know that. Why are you trying to help her?"
I sighed. "You and I both know that she will get what she wants one way or another. It's best if we give it to her and go on a walk with her rather than have her escape and be by herself."
"She wouldn't do that."
I watched him closely. "You sure about that?"
He let out an angry breath of air. "I know she would. We'll all go with her."
"She's already made her plans." I shook my head. "She said she doesn't want the kids to go and she wants at least two people here with them. The other three can go with her."
"Three?" He looked around at Ross and Riker.
"She's counting Ryland too."
"I guess she's already thought this out." Rocky sighed. "Let me call Ryland and get him over here, then we'll go."
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(Ashley's point of view)
"What's the sudden interest in going on a walk?" Rocky asked. It had been half an hour since Blake talked to him.
"I just want out of this house. I want away from the memories." I looked away. "You still haven't cleaned up what happened outside."
"I thought I already told you." He sighed. "The police took pictures of it as evidence, but it won't just scrub off. We need to tear it apart and put new cement out there. It's a big job and it's not cheap. Plus, it's time consuming."
"I want it gone." The vandalization made me angry. "It reminds me of his constant threat over my head. I can't stand to look at it any longer."
"How about I paint the cement for now?" He pulled me into his chest. "It will be covered until I can get it redone and you won't have to see it."
"Fine." I pulled away. "I still want out of the house though."
"Then we'll go on the walk. Ryland should be here any minute."
"Who's going with us?"
"You, me, Blake, and I guess Ryland. Ross volunteered to watch the kids and Riker has stuff to do."
