I looked at the ring on my finger. At the man I loved looking at me like I was his whole world.
"Okay," I whispered.
"Thank God." He pulled me close. "You're mine now. No more running. No more fear. Just us."
"Just us," I agreed.
And I believed it might actually be true. My phone rang. Shanice's name flashed across the screen as if she knew all that was happening.
"I should get that," I said, reaching for it on the nightstand. "She probably wants to know how Zara's doing." I answered. "Hey, I was going to call you later. Zara's having the best.”
"Hello, Katrina."
My blood turned to ice.
That voice. Deep. Rough. The voice that still haunted my nightmares. Marcus.
"Marcus," I couldn't breathe. "How did you?”
"Get out early? Good behavior." He laughed, and the sound made my skin crawl. "Thirty-one days early, to be exact. Surprise."
Olek sat up immediately, reading something on my face. "What's wrong?"
I shook my head, unable to speak.
"Who's that?" Marcus asked. "You got a man there, baby? That why you've been hiding from me?"
"Where's Shanice?" My voice shook. "What did you do?"
"Your friend? She's right here. A little tied up at the moment, but she's fine. For now."
"If you hurt her…”
"Then you better do exactly what I say." His voice turned cold. "You want to see her alive again? You meet me. Alone. Tonight."
"I can’t.”
"You can. You will." I heard movement, then Shanice's muffled scream. "Or I'll make sure she suffers. And then I'll find that little sister of yours. What's her name again? Zara?"
My heart stopped. "Don't you dare bring her into this!"
"Then meet me. There's a warehouse on the South Side. 2847 Carson Street. Midnight. Come alone, or I start cutting pieces off your friend." He paused. "And Katrina? If you bring the cops or anyone else, I'll know. And Shanice dies. Understand?"
"Yes," I whispered.
"Good girl. See you soon."
The line went dead.
I sat there frozen, the phone still pressed to my ear, my entire world collapsing.
"Katrina." Olek grabbed my shoulders. "What happened? Who was that?"
"Marcus." The word came out broken. "He's out. He has Shanice. He wants me to meet him or he’ll.” I couldn't finish. Couldn't say it out loud.
"Where?"
"A warehouse. South Side. Midnight." My voice cracked. "He said to come alone or he'll kill her. And then he'll come for Zara."
