Make A Wish (Dandelion #1) by Jenna Lynn Hodge

and Miguel must’ve grown tired of my voice, because eventually my mouth was covered with a bandanna, a flimsy one which did very little to keep my mouth closed.
     
     
    Dear Baby,
     
    I’ve struggled with how to write this letter to you, I don’t want to disappoint you and I don’t want you to look back on my pregnancy with you when you’re older as a bad thing, because I assure you, it couldn’t be further from the truth. You’re the greatest thing to ever come into my life. In fact even now, it still feels unbelievably surreal that I have a little being growing inside of me.
    I guess what I’m trying to tell you is that I was foolish and stupid. I didn’t take any precaution to keeping us safe, to keeping you safe. Now we’re in this position, with no idea whether we’ll ever be able to find a way out. I’m truly sorry… I haven’t even met you yet and still I’m failing you as a mom. How can I do this?
    I found out something and I wish that I hadn’t… Something that had a huge detrimental impact on me as a kid. I can’t explain right now but when you’re older, I’ll tell you everything. So here’s my promise. When you are ready, I’m an open book. Until then, I’ll continue to protect you from the ugliness that surrounds us.
    Each day brings me closer and closer to my due date and while I’m looking forward to it, it scares me. What if we’re still here? I promise to keep trying to find a way out but I need you to promise one thing too. Stay happy, healthy, and safe. I’ll fix this.
     
    Xoxo, Love you!
    Mommy
     
    I placed the pen down on the ground. The abductors were rude, scary, and vile men but they’d given me a pen and pad of paper, after they were sure I wouldn’t stab them with it. That was nice, right?
    I sighed as I laid my head on the cold, uncomfortable ground. My eyes closed and I prayed that I could finally get some well-needed rest.
     

     
    SAYLOR
     
    A few months had gone by since my best friend was kidnapped. I couldn’t help the restlessness and sadness I felt each day that came and went, with no change or update.
    Each time that I’d spoken to the police detective on the case, he’d basically given me the runaround. It pissed me off. From what I knew, they hadn’t made even an inch of progress.
    I charged into the West Hollywood police station and walked in as if I owned the freaking place.
    “Please tell me you have something. Because if I was called down here for nothing, there’s gonna be a problem.” I narrowed my eyes at him, refusing to budge.
    “Actually, that’s the thing…” The very same detective I’d spoken to on numerous occasions barely glanced in my direction. It only pissed me off even more. “The chief has decided to close Ms. Mitchell’s case due to lack of substantial evidence.”
    My body stiffened, the unusually calm and laid back expression normally seen on my face replaced with all the vehemence I was feeling.
    “Please tell me that I didn’t hear that correctly.” I all but hissed the words, as if they were venom being spewed from my mouth.
    “You heard me, Ms. James. My hands are tied, there isn’t anything that I can do.”
    It took every ounce of strength in me not to reach out and punch the guy in the nose, and I’m really not a violent type of girl either but with him, I definitely could be. He wore a smug and careless expression as if he didn’t particularly care about Juliette still being out there somewhere. I stood tall — as tall as my five-foot-two self could — and stared him down.
    “Let me ask you something.” I cleared my throat of the instant scratchiness. “If your sister was suddenly kidnapped, would anything stop you from making sure she finds her way home?”
    The man looked as if he was gathering his thoughts. The comb over of his hair was as silly as the first time that I’d seen it.
    “No, I suppose not. However, Juliette Mitchell isn’t your sister, so I don’t particularly see your point in