“Do you have a coat?” River groans at my silence. “Briar. You’re going to keep us busy, I can feel it.”
It was a stupid thing to do. Another one. The list is getting longer.
Maybe my father was right. About that much, at least.
Footsteps up ahead draw my eye before they slow, and I suddenly realise exactly how stupid I am.
Feigning ease, I press the phone against my ear, leaning to look both ways before darting across the road. I wait for a few seconds, before the bottom drops out of my stomach. “River?”
He senses my change in tone immediately. “I’m here.”
“There’s a man,” I whisper. “He’s watching me. I just crossed the road.”
The silhouette lingers up ahead, not moving closer. But not moving away, either. Just… watching me.
“Did he cross too?”
“Yeah.” My whisper is shaky. “He’s just standing there.”
He sucks in a breath. “I’m less than five minutes away. I’m breaking every speed limit in the city to get to you. Okay? It’s going to be fine, baby. Take a breath. Get ready to run if you need to. Is there anyone else around?”
“No.” My voice cracks.
“I want you to walk slowly away. Try not to show that you’re on to them. I know it’s hard. I’m coming. Are there any houses close by with lights on?”
I raise my eyes to stare down the street. “I think these are offices. I’ll keep looking.”
“Good girl. Nearly there.”
Unable to resist, I glance over my shoulder. The figure is moving too. “He’s moving, River.”
“Thirty seconds.” His voice raises. “Just thirty more seconds, okay?”
There’s a screech of brakes on the other line as I walk past a small space full of large trash containers, and my heart almost stops. “River!”
“I’m fine. Where is he now?”
I turn to look—
The phone smashes out of my hand as hands cover my mouth. The scent of cigarettes and unwashed skin fills my nose, my mouth. My scream sounds muted, and I claw at the hand holding me as it yanks me back, toward the darkness next to me.
I lose a shoe. He lifts me by the waist, dragging me as I kick desperately, trying to hit him with my other heel before I lose that one too. The man doesn’t say anything, his breathing heavyin my ear, and somehow it’s more terrifying. I throw an elbow back into his chest, but it doesn’t stop him moving.
He’s going to pull me out of sight. River won’t see me.
Stay calm. Think—
Leaning forward over the arms banded around me, I strain, hoping to pull him off balance before I throw myself back as hard as I can.
My head smashes into his with an audible crack.
And his arms loosen.
It’s all I need. I take off, running toward the sound of a car engine, my breathing a choked, begging noise in my throat as I race directly into the road and throw my hands up at the blinding lights. “Help me!”
Please. My sobs are louder now, adrenaline giving way to fear, and the slamming of a car door has me suddenly backing up—
“Briar!” River’s hands are on my face, my arms, and I throw myself into him as my sobs get louder. “Jesus, baby, where is he?”
