Blade’s already looking over my shoulder. “Where is she?”
“Scenic overlook off Ridge Road,” I say. “She ran into the woods.”
Switch’s jaw tightens. “That’s fifteen minutes out.”
“Maybe less,” Blade says. “If we don’t give a damn about tickets.”
Switch doesn’t even hesitate. “I don’t.”
As we hit the door, Blade pulls his phone out and dials without slowing down, then flips it to speaker.
Ghost answers on the second ring. “What’s up?”
“I need you and Riot at Switch’s place,” Blade says. “Now.”
Ghost doesn’t ask questions, not with Blade’s tone like that. “On our way.”
Blade ends the call and turns back to Bella. “Lock the doors. You don’t open them for anyone but Ghost or Riot. You hear me?”
Bella nods, eyes shiny but fierce. “Just bring her back.”
“We will,” Blade says.
Bri grabs his arm, voice breaking. “Blade, please,”
He cups her face, forehead pressed to hers, voice rough but steady. “We got her. I swear to you.”
Then we’re moving. Switch’s truck is already running by the time we hit the driveway, headlights cutting through the dark, and I’m in the back seat before the door’s even fully shut, phone still pressed to my ear.
“Princess, I’m here,” I tell her. “We’re coming right now. You just stay hidden and keep talking to me, okay?”
“I’m cold,” she whispers.
“I know, baby,” I say, keeping my voice calm even though my chest feels like it’s splitting open. “I know. Just hang on. I got you.”
Switch slams on the gas and the truck launches down the road, engine roaring, and Blade’s already pulling up the location on his phone, eyes locked and deadly focused.
“Almost there,” Switch says, taking the turn onto Ridge Road way faster than he should.
“Princess, talk to me,” I murmur into the phone. “You still behind the tree?”
“Y-yeah,” she whispers. “I haven’t moved. I can hear cars sometimes, but not close.”
“That’s okay,” I tell her. “You’re doing perfect. Just stay right there.”
My knee won’t stop bouncing, and my hands are clenched so tight they’re starting to shake. Every bad scenario is lining up in my head, and I’m shoving every single one of them down because I don’t get to fall apart right now. Not when she needs me calm. Not when she needs me focused. I can lose my damn mind later. Right now, I just need to get to her.
Switch takes the turnoff hard, gravel spraying under the tires as we pull into the overlook.
“Here,” Blade says. “This is it.”
Switch slams on the brakes and we’re out of the truck before the engine even cuts.
The lot is empty. No cars. No people. Just darkness and trees and the drop-off where the overlook opens up to the valley, wind whipping through the branches like the place itself is breathing.
My heart drops straight into my boots.
“Princess,” I call, louder now, scanning the tree line. “Baby, I’m here. You hear me?”
