I jab at the button. “You there?”
“Yes.” Her voice is laced with worry. “I’m here, but River hasn’t shown up yet. I know she kind of makes her own hours, but we planned on trying out a couple of new recipes today and she mentioned being here by now.”
“Is there anything else you see that’s out of the ordinary?” Pascal asks.
She pauses, breath coming through the speakers. “No, I don’t think so. Buttercup and Tulip are sleeping together on their bed and the front door is locked. The internet is working and the phone too, obviously.” Another sigh. “It’s all just…normal.”
“Except, there’s no River.”
“Yeah.”
There’s a knock at my office door and we both look up, see Thorn pushing through, his scowl even fiercer than normal. “You need to see this,” he snaps, tossing down an envelope on my desk that has my heart convulsing.
The picture?—
“Fuck,” Pascal hisses.
“What?” Briar asks through the phone, voice frantic.
Thorn’s gaze comes to mine and I have to force the words out through clenched teeth.
“They have River.”
FORTY
BRIAR
I pace through the apartment,my heart pounding, worry gnawing at every inch of my body.
They have River.
Theyhave her.
Fists and sharp words, guns and fear filling every cell of my body. No freedom. Forced to do what they want. And feeling so fucking hopeless.
“Dammit,” I whisper, swiping at my cheeks as my tears spill over.
Freaking out isn’t going to help, I know that.
I need to be calm. Need to let Pascal do his thing.
But what if histhingyields the same results of the last few months?
Nothing.
I know exactly how dangerous the Lyons are.
They haven’t been able to get me here in Brooks’s apartment, but only because I’ve stayed on the top floor, living like a princess locked away in a tower, security monitoring each and every person accessing the building.
Groceries delivered.
Foster kittens and their gear too—though Buttercup and Tulip are officially ours now.
Friends coming here, and only here.
Safety. Companionship. Food. Connection.
I’ve had everything I need, evenifI’ve been going more than a bit stir crazy.
