I bite down on my smile. “Sorry, I’m just excited. I can’t wait to introduce you to everyone.”
Scott shifts his feet and slides his hand into the pocket of his hoodie. It’s too hot to be wearing a sweater but he’s probably come straight from the airport. “Why don’t we go for a walk first? Give us a chance to catch up.”
“I would but I’m kind of in the middle of my shop opening. Come inside though, you can join.”
Scott eyes the back door and wets his lips. “In a minute, yeah? Let’s just walk for a bit.”
I cock my head, something about this starting to feel wrong. Scott should be in Paris with his new girlfriend. “Is Michelle here?”
“Uh, no.” His eyes shift. “Come on, Lo, just come with me.”
“Why? What’s going on?”
Scott lets out a frustrated breath and steps towards me. “It’s not safe for you here. Just come with me, okay?”
“Scott, I’m fine. It’s fine, I know I probably worried you, but everything is okay. Carson’s been arrested again.”
Wild blond hair flies as Scott shakes his head. “He set fire to your sign, Lola. He trashed your shop.”
I blink at Scott. “How did you know my shop was trashed?” I ask, because I never told him that.
Scott works his jaw, sticking out his chin before sighing. Something in his eyes changes. “I really wish you’d just come with me,” he says and then he grabs me.
His arm hooks around my waist and my brain is working too slow to fight him. Because this is Scott. He’s my friend. None of it makes sense and by the time I go to scream Scott’s hand is over my mouth, a soft rag in his palm.
I breathe in on instinct, chemicals bitter in my mouth. Finally, I struggle but my mind goes hazy and my body refuses to move.
“It’s alright, I’ve got you. I’ll keep you safe.” Scott’s words whisper against my ear but I’m not safe.
I don’t think I’ve been safe in a very long time because somewhere in the recesses of my mind I realize that Paris isn’t that far from London and suddenly I’m sure, Roman’s father didn’t send me those messages.
Chapter Thirty-Six
Lola
What would you do if I tried to climb that with no harness?
Throw you over my shoulder and take you back to my cave.
How very misogynistic of you.
Hey, if that’s what I’ve got to do to keep you safe then I’ll do it.
- Conversation between Lola, age 22 and Scott, age 24
My head hurts.It feels like I’m hungover, but I don’t remember drinking. Grogginess fogs my brain and I don’t want to open my eyes, but I have this nagging feeling that I really should.
Hair sticks in my mouth. I try to lift my hand, but my wrists are stuck and when I tug on my hands my feet move. Yeah, I should really open my eyes.
I squint, pain slicing through my head as even the dim light blinds me. I take in the burned wooden walls around me, and mychest rises faster. I know before my vision is fully cleared where I am.
Panic has me jerking back but it hurts when I try to move, and I look down to find my wrists tied to my ankles. I don’t want to be here, sitting in the corner of this old, burnt out barn, and the memories come flooding back before I can stop them.
“That’s it,just a little further and we can have some fun.”
My feet give out, stumbling on the rocky surface, but Carson hooks his arm under my shoulders and carries me towards the barn. “No,” I try to say, but all that comes out is a moan.
“Hey,you’re okay. I’ve got you. Come back to me, Lo.”
