“I’d rather taste you first,” he says.
And with that, I freak the fuck out.
18
OLIVER
The buildings passby in a blur as I race toward the location of Lulu’s cell phone. I’ve had to break fifty traffic laws on the drive, but nothing can stop me from getting to her as quickly as possible, especially a speeding ticket.
My phone rings, and Zoey’s name flashes on my dash. I answer the call, keeping my eyes trained on the road. “Hey.”
“Where are you?”
“Heading toward her.”
“How far out?”
“Five miles.”
“My dad and uncles are on the way too. I gave them the address. Do you think she’s okay?”
“I don’t know, sweetheart,” I tell her, and the truth of those words guts me.
“Maybe she’s just too busy with the client to check her phone.”
“Yeah, maybe.” But I know that’s not the case. She would never go hours and hours without checking her phone. She uses it for everything. She told me the calculator is one of her most-used apps.
“I hate her job,” Zoey says, surprising me.
“Me too, Zoey. When I get her back safe and sound, we’re going to have a real conversation about it.”
“That’ll go over big,” she says. “Oliver?”
“Yeah?”
“I’m really scared,” she whispers.
“Me too, Zoey. Me too,” I tell her, squeezing the steering wheel tighter as the fear grips my insides.
I roll through a stop sign, the final turn before getting to my destination, and I see Lulu’s car parked in a driveway. “I’m here. I’ll be in touch soon.”
“Go get our girl, Oliver.”
“On it,” I tell her as I throw the truck into park. “Got to go.”
“Bye,” she says with a voice so tight she squeaks out the word.
I haul ass, running faster than I ever did in basic training, and head toward the front door. I can’t plow inside, although every fiber in my body wants me to use my shoulder to pop the door open.
I stare up, listening to every sound around me. No footfalls are audible from the other side. No voicescoming from within. If everything were on the up-and-up, someone would’ve at least shouted that they were coming to the door.
I knock again in case they didn’t hear me the first time and press the button next to the door three times. There’s no way anyone couldn’t hear me unless they are purposely ignoring my presence. I count to ten, giving the person inside plenty of time to get to me.
One.
Two.
Three.
