“Don’t think like that. I really don’t have the bandwidth for more whacky and bizarre right now. I’m sure everything’s fine. I’ll let you know when it is.”
“Thanks, Lorien. Also, I’m totally bummed I wasn’t there last night.”
“Let’s see, you missed an epic meltdown, delicious tacos, and my mom’s Sand Tarts.”
“And the rest,” she whispers.
“Oh that? Yeah, that’s just paperwork though. Nothingspecial. But, Ayla, he bought me a ring.” The word dies on my tongue. His motorcycle is parked in front of a unit in our complex not too far away, but not near his or mine. “Does he have friends in the neighborhood?”
Ayla snorts. “Liam has family. If he has friends, he never hangs out with them that I know of, but I don’t know everything.”
“Women then?” The words are barely above a whisper as pain lances through me. He wouldn’t. He said no dating and he made the no-sex rule. He wouldn’t have sex with someone the morning after ourpaperwork, would he?
“No. Or not anymore.” The resolve in her voice is steely and I feel slightly better. “What’s going on, Lorien?”
“I don’t know.” I turn down the alley to see a tow truck pulling an older SUV by a chain onto a flat bed. I have to reverse and go the other way to get into my garage. “Just that unsettled feeling in my gut, like there are clues to a puzzle but no image to know what I’m supposed to be seeing. Does that make sense?”
“More than you know.”
“Ayla.” I can’t stop the fear in my voice as I round the alley from Liam’s side. “My garage door is ripped aside, like in half, and the door to the yard is open. I can see light shining through. Both were closed when I left this morning.”
“Get out of there,” she says urgently, just as someone pulls in behind me.
“I’m trapped.” The words are barely above a whisper. “The alley is blocked on both sides. I’m trapped.”
23
like a cyclone
Lorien
“Do not hang up. Do you hear me? I’ll be right back.” The line goes silent, and I sit wondering who to trust more, the car behind me with no front license plate and tint so dark I can’t see inside, or the tow truck driver who is positioned so I could never pass and will ruin my car trying.
My breathing is ragged and loud in the car, and if I don’t take steps to fix it, I’m going to pass out. “Okay, Lorien. You can do this. You are an intelligent woman who can understand the context and build of the nuclear pore complex and structural dynamics. A car is a car, but your life cannot be forfeit, so do what you must.”
“Lorien?”
“It’s Cian. Ayla three-wayed me in. I’m on my way.” The Bluetooth in his car echoes in the air of his cab. “Where are you?”
“In the alley behind my townhouse. Liam’s motorcycle is around the corner on the street. I’ve never noticed it there before. And someone behind me is creeping up on me.”
Crash.
“What was that?” Cian barks.
“The car behind me just hit me and?—”
“Do not get out of thecar, Lorien.”
“He’s pushing me. His car is pushing mine.” My voice rises along with my panic.
“Hold the brakes.” Ayla chimes in.
“I’m sliding. He’s pushing me and the other end of the alley is blocked.”
“How blocked? And how fast is he going?” Cian is back, analyzing the situation.
“My car can’t fit through. There’s a tow truck on one side and the brick wall of a garage on the other.” My words flow fast. “My speedometer says almost fifteen.”
