I pinch his face harder.“They left you here,” I growl.
“And knowing that little brat is in for a life of hell, makes it worth it.Little bitch stabbed me.”
I glance down to the knife sticking out of his leg, and out of all the places she could have stabbed him, she chose there.It’s not out of convenience otherwise she would have chosen his side or chest.Even the top of his thigh.Which means the location is deadly.I know Milly.Despite how brave she tries to be, or how scared she probably is, she’s still Milly.The genius who absorbs information like a sponge.She would have retaliated with all that information going through her mind.She watches too many crime shows for it not to be engraved in her mind.If anyone knows where the deadliest place is to stab someone, it’s her.So I give it another twist to make him bleed out faster.Not that I think he has long left.His skin is pale, his lips an odd colour, and he’s no longer able to hold his hands to his leg.
“Tell me,” I demand.
“F-fuck you.”
I rip the knife out when it hits me.Milly has her necklace on.Malia doesn’t let her go anywhere without it.Including the hair tie Liam bought as an extra back up.
The door smacks against the side table as I turn back to Mum, but I can’t focus on who it is.I know the police are here.I can hear the sirens.The man slumps to his side when I reach Mum.
“Mum, it’s going to be okay,” I whisper, running my hand down the side of her head.“It’s all going to be okay.”
“Please no,” Paisley chokes out as she races inside.“Please no.”
I jerk back and lift my head as my sister skids to her knees beside us.“She’s breathing,” I assure her, then look up to the policeman who has followed her inside.“Call an ambulance.”
He presses the button on his radio but immediately attends to the man who is hopefully dead.More police follow but head to various parts of the house and out the back.
Paisley clutches Mum’s hand to her face, sobbing.“Why are her jeans...”she pauses, her gaze on our mum’s legs.
I lift her chin so she stops looking.I lower my voice so she doesn’t hear my own fear.“Her knickers are still on.I don’t...”I swallow.“I don’t know.”
She begins to sob harder, pressing her lips to Mum’s hand.“Please no.No.”
I have to go.I need to get the others.We need to find Milly.I run my hand down Paisley’s back, earning her attention.“Paisley, I need you to stay with her,” I tell her.“Don’t mentionhim.”
Because it ends today.That man is going to die.I’d rather the police didn’t know who to look for since I intend to only bring Milly home.
“What?”
“They have Milly,” I explain, then check the policeman isn’t listening before leaning in closer.“You can tell them everything like it is, just don’t mention it’s Black.”
Her eyes widen as soon as she gets on the same page, and she nods frantically.“Go.Go.I’ll take care of Mum.”
I point to the policeman kneeling next to the attacker, checking his pulse.“If he’s not dead, make sure you tell everyone he’s one of the attackers.”
Then I leave, racing outside.Malia and Liam are sprinting down the lane, police cars piling in.I turn to one about to get out.“There’s a young girl who has been taken.The attackers must have escaped out the back with her.You need to block all roads and lanes off.They left five or ten minutes ago max.My sister inside will give you a description of the little girl, and get you a picture.”
“Where is she?”Malia cries.“Where the fuck is my sister?”
“Hehas her,” I tell her, trying to reach for her, but she doesn’t stop, and instead, pushes past me and another two policemen entering the house.
“Talk,” Liam demands, tugging me away from the house a little more.“Milly’s alarm is going off, but the signal, it’s spotty.She shouted off a description of the car and the number plate before the audio cut off.”
“Then the police may have a chance to stop them.They have to be in the area or still on the land.I’ve told Paisley to tell the truth, but to keephisname out of it.We can’t risk Milly at the chance wemightcatch him.We can’t.She’s just a child and needs everyone looking for her.I think I speak for everyone involved that a child is worth more than revenge.”
Fuck, now I’m spiralling.
“Hey, hey, you did the right thing,” Liam replies, placing a hand on my shoulder.
Malia comes rushing down the steps and barely comes to a stop before she’s throwing up.Liam makes his way over quickly.“We have to find her.We have to find her,” she chants, pushing her hair off her face.
“Hey.We’ll find her.We’ve got the tracker,” he reminds her before shooting his gaze at me.“Tell Jaxon to come pick us up at the entrance.We need to follow them and I cannot have these lot stopping us to ask questions.”
Malia’s startling eyes pierce mine.“Did they?God, did they...”she gulps, pointing to the house.
