His gaze never leaves mine as he continues, calm, almost casual. “Now, we’ve got about four minutes before your boyfriend stomps back through that door, so I won’t waste time. Come with us. No fight, no screaming.” He flicks his fingers toward Constance and Adelaide. “Or their throats are cut and we take you anyway. Simple as that.”
My knees buckle, my body shaking so hard I have to grip the counter to stay upright. Blood drips from my torn hands onto the tiles, each drop loud in the silence.
He lifts his wrist, admiring the sleek black watch glinting against his skin. “You’ve got ten seconds.” He snarls, as he starts to count down.
“Ten.”
Constance thrashes, shaking her head violently, eyes wide, begging menotto move.
“Nine.”
Adelaide tries to scream, but it’s muffled by the rough hand clamped over her mouth. Her eyes glisten, terror spilling out in fat tears.
“Eight.”
The sound tears out of me, raw and broken. “Stop.”
“Seven.”
Donnie—the fatter one, with a scruffy beard and eyes that shine with sick delight—drags the blade from Adelaide’s throat and licks it, slow, obscene, before pressing it back against her skin.
“Six.”
Adelaide convulses, a muffled cry spilling into the hand crushing her face.
“Five.”
I can’t breathe. The room is spinning, my chest caving in.
“Four.”
Constance whimpers, shaking so hard the knife nicks her skin. A drop of blood slides down her neck.
“Three.”
The knife presses deeper against Adelaide’s fragile throat, blood starting to seep around the knife.
“Two.”
My whole world cracks.
“Okay!” I scream, the sound ripping out of me so loud it scrapes my throat raw.
“Okay—I’ll come!”
The word hangs in the air, broken and desperate, sealing my fate.
Chapter 28
Where is She?
Jacob
My foot is welded to the gas pedal, the engine howling so loud it drowns the pounding in my skull. The night is a blur—trees, streetlights, shadows streaking past like ghosts I can’t outrun.
My chest is heaving, every breath a jagged knife carving me open from the inside. Tears prick my eyes before I can stop them, and then they’re burning hot trails down my face. I can’t wipe them. Can’t see straight. Can’t think of anything but her.
Summer.
