There was a pause—too long, too still.
Then her breathing changed. “I think?—”
The sound of a door opening cut her off.
Max’s grip tightened on the phone. “Hadley.”
Silence.
“Hadley, answer me.”
Nothing.
Max stayed on the line, his pulse hammering as he listened. Every second stretched tight.
“Hadley,” he said again. “I’m here. Talk to me.”
A sudden crash sounded through the phone.
Then a scream.
The sound tore through him. “Hadley!”
The line went dead.
The quiet hit harder than the sound had.
He didn’t remember crossing the room. Didn’t remember grabbing his keys.
One second, Max was inside. The next, he was outside heading for his truck. People said things behind him, but he didn’t have time to answer.
Not when Hadley was in danger.
“Please, God,” he prayed under his breath as he yanked open the door. “Keep her safe.”
The engine roared to life, and he pulled out fast and sped toward the road.
Don’t let me be too late.
His hands tightened on the wheel, his heart pounding so hard it felt like it might split his chest open. He pushed the truck faster, barely registering anything around him except the road ahead.
Just let me get there in time. Please!
As Hadley buried herself between the clothing hanging in her closet, the man reached inside.
His hand clamped around Hadley’s arm hard enough to make her gasp. She twisted, adrenaline kicking in. Every instinct screamed at her to fight.
“Let me go!” She wrenched against the man’s grip.
“Don’t make this harder than it has to be!”
The mask hid most of the man’s face, but his breathing was rough and uneven. Pain shot up her arm as he tightened his hold.
Hadley shoved at him and clawed at his sleeve. She had to do whatever she could to break free.
She had to fight back. Because this man wasn’t here to rob her.
He was here to hurt her.
