“I’m coming with you,” Becket said.
“Me too,” Holden agreed, following them out.
Zane’s cell rang, Ethan’s name on the screen.
And he knew. He fucking knew exactly what was about to be said. He almost didn’t want to answer because that would make it real. “Ethan—”
“They transferred them early.” Air blew over the line. “He’s out, Zane. Monty’s in Amber Ridge.”
There it was. The confirmation he hadn’t wanted. And the start of his nightmare.
Ethan kept talking. About the other prisoners who were in the van. About driving to Amber Ridge to help find and contain them.
Zane was barely listening. He could only think about—only had thecapacityfor—one thing.
Bonnie.
“I have to go, Ethan.” He hung up and rushed out of The Tea House, hitting Bonnie’s name on his cell.
The call rang out.
Fuck.
He called again. And again, no answer.
No. This couldn’t be happening.
He started running, sprinting down the street. He didn’t even stop at The Pit to get his car. Running was faster. And he needed to get to her as quickly as possible. Because if Monty got to her first, Zane could lose the only good thing in his life.
CHAPTER 24
Bonnie’s fingers flew over the keyboard. She’d already responded to a million emails today. A lot of them about donations, but not just the monetary kind. They needed things like hygiene kits and clothing and bedding. There was also a baby here, which meant they needed diapers and formula and baby clothes. The list was extensive.
Other emails, like the one she was writing now, were about activities she was planning. She typed out the message to the women’s law center, which would be giving them a Zoom presentation to talk about protective orders and safety planning.
Shelovedthis stuff. Organizing meaningful, helpful activities for women and children in need. It made her feel like she was doing something important and making a small difference.
The smell of food from the Crock-Pot in the kitchen filled the air, and the TV’s background noise filtered down the hall. Even from her office she knew exactly what was on—Bluey, Chett’s favorite.
This morning, she’d arrived to him waiting with a picture he’d drawn, of her and him sitting on Bluey’s porch steps.
She smiled as she glanced at her bag on the floor, the corner of the picture poking from the opening.
Would she have a kid as cute as Chett one day?
A boy with laser-blue eyes flashed in her mind.
She blinked. Where had that come from? It was far too soon to be thinking about kids with Zane. Sure, the last week had been good—no,great. But they were still fairly new.
She’d just hit send on the email when the piercing scream of a child cut through the house, followed by the sound of breaking glass.
Bonnie shot out of her seat and raced down the hall. All the women in the living room were on their feet and staring into the kitchen, where Sarah was crouched in front of Chett, who looked terrified.
Bonnie ran over to them.
“Chett, it’s okay, darling,” Sarah said.
“No! I-I saw…” The little boy’s chest heaved, his face completely devoid of color.
