“We have ears,” he says and plays an audio clip.
My heart stops beating when I hear Josslyn speaking. “Seriously, you don’t have to do this. I don’t understand what you want!” she says. The sound of her desperation and tears makes my heart break. “I did so much for you. I tried to help you. I tried to…” She starts to cry. “JUST TELL ME WHAT YOU WANT!”
No response.
“At least let Tate out! His wound will get infected! He’ll die if he doesn’t get help!” Josslyn shouts.
Wait.What the fuck?My stomach sinks. If Tate is hurt and she’s pleading, he’s definitely not behind this.But who the hell is?My mind goes back to the people at Onyx. I think about the way Leo looked at her and my pulse starts ringing in my ears.
“Please let him go,” Josslyn cries.
“It really is so sweet of you to care about him even after he cheated on you,” a female voice says.
My blood runs cold.
“LET HIM GO!” Josslyn shouts. “PLEASE!”
“Are you willing to do anything for his freedom?” the female asks.
My heart is pounding so hard and I swear I’m hearing things. I must be.
Josslyn stays quiet.
The female laughs. “Are you willing to … let me fuck you?”
My breath gets caught in my throat. One minute I’m standing upright, and the next my hands are on my knees and I’m gasping for air. She speaks again, and my stomach clenches hard. I glance up at Rivera.
“That’s my sister,” I manage through gulps of air.
He frowns deeply. “What?”
“That woman speaking is my sister.”
“Are you going to let me touch you?” Mallory asks. “Willingly.”
“Please don’t,” Josslyn says brokenly.
My head is spinning. Everything hits me at once—my sister is alive. My sister, who is obsessed with Josslyn, is alive and threatening to … oh fuck. I push away the sick feeling that threatens to overtake me, and start running toward the house.
60
FINN
Itake my shoes off and toss them on the grass, ignoring Rivera calling my name as I try the door. As Olivia said, it’s unlocked and barely even shut. Anger shoots through me, and I glance over my shoulder to glare at the sorry-ass captain. Protocol or not, the fact that they stand out there twiddling their thumbs while my girlfriend could be injured is fucking maddening.
I lift my jacket, grab the gun, and click off the safety after I shut the door as quietly as I can. Bile climbs up my throat when I hear my sister’s voice and I’m forced to take a deep breath, and another to get rid of my nerves. I can’t see them, but Rivera said there are three people in here, so I prepare myself to shoot, the way I do at the range. They say, if you aim a gun at someone, you have to be prepared to shoot. Under different circumstances, this would be a no-brainer, butmy sister? If it comes down to that, I know I’d choose Josslyn. Always. Any day. Over anyone.
A wave of guilt crashes through me and I swallow hard thinking about the way I’ve failed Mallory time and time again. The guilt is quickly replaced by anger, and I breathe through it and go to the place in my mind that only allows rational thought. Finally, I turnthe corner and stand at the threshold. I take in everything—Tate and Josslyn on the couch. Tate’s head is lolled on Josslyn’s shoulder. My sister is kneeling between Josslyn’s legs, and John is sitting on the opposite couch. Mallory cut and dyed her hair the way she had it when she went through a quick rebellious goth phase in middle school. My heart squeezes painfully. All this time … HOW is this even possible?!
“I’ll make it good for you. I promise,” Mallory coos as she runs her hands up Josslyn’s legs, and I see fucking red.
No one gets to touch Josslyn that way.No one.
“GET THE FUCK AWAY FROM HER. NOW!” I shout pointing the gun at the back of my sister’s head.
Mallory turns around, wide-eyed, with a loud gasp, and picks up the gun next to her as she stands and faces me. John sits up suddenly, and I position myself in a way that I can keep an eye on him and aim if he moves.
“Finn.” My sister’s eyes go wider as she looks at the gun I’m aiming at her. “Are you going to shoot me?” she asks, her voice a whisper.
