I immediately feel anger washing over me.
“We don’t know for sure,” he continues, his voice hesitant, “but the car that cut us off earlier has been circling, and we don’t know who they are or why they’re doing it.”
I jump into business mode without thinking. “Get Fitz to run the tag and see what he finds. Call the office and get a few guys stationed sporadically throughout the city if they find any other suspicious activity.” My voice sounds guttural, foreign. Instinct has completely taken over.
“You got it, boss,” Ronan says, already turning.
Just then, my phone rings, echoing in the spacious lobby. I pull it out of my pocket and glance down at the screen.
Unknown number
“Egan,” I bite out.
No response.
“Hello? Who is this?”
Nothing but rustling in the background. Then, I hear a faint, yet familiar scream.
My heart stops.
Maeve.
Fuck!
My mind starts spinning. How could they have gotten to her? Here, of all places? Withmehere? Panic starts to suffocate me, and my breathing turns shallow.Not again…
Body on fire, heart racing, I run through the doors leading to the dressing rooms. The hallway is lit so brightly I find myself blinking as I swing every door open, one after the other, not bothering to close them behind me. I make it to the end of the hall, the silence of the place sitting heavily over it.
The last door swings open with such force that I hear the drywall crack when it makes contact. My mother and Celeste scream in fear at my unexpected intrusion.
I can’t see her.
“Where is Maeve!?” I shout, my voice wild. “MOM! WHERE IS SHE?!”
My mother’s eyes are wide and stunned. I frantically begin searching the room, my heart pounding as time slows down.
Thump
My hands are trembling. The room is closing in on me.
Thump
I can’t lose her. Not again.
Thump
The ringing in my ears becomes deafening, blood roaring.
Thump
My vision begins to tunnel.
Thump
I faintly hear my mother trying to talk to me, but I can’t make out anything she’s saying.
A door swings open, and like a mirage in the desert, Maeve steps out in front of me in a formal gown.
