He rubbed the stubble on his jaw roughly and inclined his head wearily.
“Do you think the witch is helping her in exchange for the grimoire?”
“It’s a strong possibility,” he said. “Though I would have thought her father’s stance would mean something to her. The last thing he wants is more immortals in the world. He of all people understands the danger.”
Chapter 34
Lipstick & Surprise
“She’s at a park in Greenacre Street,” BJ rushed out.
Karson swung the car into a U-turn so fast, I had to snap out a hand to the doorframe to keep myself from slamming against it.
“Is she alright?” I asked, my insides churning.
“I don’t know, we can only pin her location.” He sounded frantic. “Ring me as soon as you get there.”
I promised him I would, my fingers shaking as I pushed my phone into my pocket. Karson called Michael and relayed the message, telling him to inform the others.
The neighborhood was affluent. We flew past a house oozing with drunken people and music thumping. Karson pulled up in the street beside a park. Shadowed trees loomed out of the darkness as wind ruffled their branches. A thin dark river stretched black through the park. Would we find her submerged, drowned, or hanging from a tree? My whole body began to tremble.
Michael pulled up behind us as we lurched out of the car.
Karson cocked his head on the side. “She’s alive,” he breathed, his voice sounding muffled against the roar of the wind. He exchanged a concerned look with Michael.
“How do you know?”
“I can hear her crying.”
The memory of Georgie’s terrified, desperate face slipped into my vision.Her body dripping in sweat and her throat rubbed red raw from the thin rope digging into her neck. Her body trembling as she stood on toes precariously perched on the chair.
My ears began to ring, and I wanted to rush in to her.
Michael said gravely, “It could be a trap.”
“If this is Sarah’s handiwork, undoubtedly it is.” Karson moved in a whirl of black into the park. Into danger, without any thought for his own safety.
I opened my mouth to cry out his name and then shut it again. If Sarah was here, my cries would warn her. My hand slipped to where my concealed blade was, ready to snatch it out if need be. Michael noticed and nodded his approval.
The rain had stopped, but fat drops from the tree leaves slapped on the ground, sounding like footsteps. A whistle rang through the trees.
Michael’s body visibly relaxed. Until then, I didn’t realize how tense he’d been. “He’s found her, it’s safe.”
Sobbing hit my ears moments later. We rounded a corner. Georgie was on the grass, her knees tucked to her chest, tears streaming down her face, bits of leaves clinging to her disheveled hair. Karson was nowhere to be seen.
She looked up, her skin ghostly pale, eyes red and swollen, a large bruise running down the side of her cheek, her top lip swollen and split in the middle. But aside from that, she appeared fine. Relief flooded my body.
“Amy.” Her cracked lips trembled.
My legs felt weak and slow as I ran to her. Dropping down to my knees, I threw my arms around her. She sobbed into my neck.
“Are you alright? What happened? Where the fuck have you been?” I cried.
“Jeff.” The word strangled on a sob. “He … I went and he …”
I pulled back, shocked. “He what?”
“He was playing in Portland tonight. I went to the game, but he was already gone, so I went to the party, and he was cheating, Amy. I caught him in bed screwing some blonde-haired girl.” She broke into a fresh wail of sobs. “He told me we would get married and he’s cheating.”
