“Honey,” Mom said breathlessly, “why can’t you tell us where you are? You’re worrying us.”
“We can’t call off the police until we know without a shadow of a doubt that you’re safe,” Dad said.
I shook my head. “There’s nothing to be afraid of. I’m fine. And believe it or not, I’m with the only people on this planet that I could possibly be safe with.”
“Nonsense, that’s with the police,” Mom hissed. “And we aren’t calling them off. You’re obviously in trouble. You’ve been kidnapped!”
Even Dad grew frustrated. “Who has you? Are they standing around you? Monitoring the call? We can come up with a code word. Something to tell us that you’re in distress and need help.”
I rolled my eyes. “You guys, there are bad people out there that believe I’m my twin sister. But the people I’m staying with for now are keeping me safe. They know the situation more intimately than the police ever will. That’s why I’m safe with them.”
“But if we come and get you,” Mom said curtly, “then we can inform the police of what you and they know. They can keep you safe.”
“Fifteen,” Dante murmured.
I closed my eyes. “I need you to do something for me.”
“Tell us where you are and we’ll do anything,” Dad said.
I scoffed. “Fine, then don’t. I’ll talk to you guys—”
“Wait!” Mom exclaimed.
I paused. “Yes?”
“What do you want us to do?” Mom asked.
“You’re not seriously considering this,” Dad said flatly.
“What is it?” Mom asked between gritted teeth.
I cleared my throat. “I need you to call the school and fill them in on what’s happening. I can’t lose my job; it took me forever to get it. Just tell them that I’m caught up in something my twin sister is throwing down, and until she’s caught, I have to stay hidden so that there’s no mistaking me for her.”
“Because it’s already happened? Is that what you’re getting at?” Mom asked.
“She’s smart,” Mav murmured as the guys hovered around me.
I nodded. “Exactly. That’s how the kidnapping happened. They thought I was her until we found the information proving that I’m not.”
“Oh, God,” Mom said with a soft whimper.
“Five seconds,” Dante whispered to my left.
“Call the school, then call off the police. If anything, they should be looking for my twin sister, not me. And until she’s caught, I’m staying as safe as I can, and you guys don’t get to dictate how that’s done.”
“Three,” Dante said.
“To hell with this!” Dad exclaimed in the background. “I’m going to get my fucking daughter!”
“Two,” Dante murmured.
Tears dripped down my cheeks. “I love you guys so much.”
“I’ll call them both, I promise,” Mom whispered.
“What if she’s under duress!?” Dad yelled in the background. “What if they’re making her say it!?”
“We should have told her,” Mom said flatly.
