My phone lights up and vibrates, and I reach for it, but it’s not Ronan. It’s Mila.
“Hey—”
“Ciara, help. Someone’s in my apartment.”
I sit up straight, the blanket falling to the floor as I clutch the phone to my ear. “What?”
“I heard the door open and close about ten minutes ago. I thought it was maybe a neighbor, but—” She sucks in a sharp breath, and I freeze, my heart pounding in my chest.
Is this Max’s killer back for round two?
Mila gasps. “Someone is walking around in my kitchen.”
“Jesus.” I’m on my feet in an instant, anxiously pacing around the room as I try to think of what to do. “Okay, don’t panic.”
“It’s too late for that.”
“Where are you?”
“I’m hiding in my closet.”
I curse under my breath as I run a hand through my hair. “You’re sure you locked the door?”
“Yes, I always lock it after...”
She doesn’t need to finish her sentence for me to know what she means.
“All right.” I pace toward the window, trying to ignore my hammering heart as an idea forms in my mind. “You’re going to climb out onto the fire escape and go across to the building next door.”
Mila chokes a sob. “What if they follow me?”
“I’m going to call Ronan, and he’s going to come and get you. He’s in the city and can get to you a hell of a lot quicker than I could.”
The truth is I have no idea if he is in the city, but I can’t let Mila panic right now. One wrong move and she could end up in the ground like Max, and I refuse to bury another friend.
Right now, she needs hope that she’ll survive this, and I’ll do whatever I can to give that to her.
“Don’t leave me, Ciara.” Mila’s voice trembles, and my throat thickens with tears.
“I’ll call you right back. Leave your phone on do not disturb so it doesn’t alert them when I call.”
“Hurry,” she whispers.
I end the call and immediately dial Ronan. To my surprise, he picks up on the second ring.
“Ronan?”
“What?” He doesn’t sound pleased to hear my voice, but I can’t focus on that right now.
“It’s Mila. Someone’s in her apartment. She needs your helpnow.”
“Where is she?”
Heavy footsteps sound in the background, followed by a car door slamming.
He’s already moving. Despite our fight, I knew I could count on Ronan to help my friend.
“She was hiding in the closet. I told her to climb out the window onto the fire escape and head to the building next door.”
