The thoughts steal my breath.
“Blair? You still there?”
“Y-yeah,” I say, swallowing against the tightness in my throat. “I’m okay. I’m good. I…I don’t have my phone, and I need to get in touch with my parents but they’re not answering. It’s probably because they think it’s a spam call or something. I had to borrow someone’s phone.”
“Where are you, Blair?”
“Uh…” I pause, unsure if I should tell him, but end up telling him anyway. “It’s this little rural town. Ashford Hollow.”
“I’m nearby,” he says immediately. “Stay where you are.”
Nearby? Why would he be nearby?
And I almost ask him exactly that, but then he adds, “I’ll take you to your parents. They’re waiting in New York.”
“What? Why are my parents in New York?”
“Just sit tight, Blair. I’ll be there in a few, and I’ll explain everything to you. Just glad that you’re okay. Just glad that you’re safe.”
Relief already starts to seep in. Clearly, he knows what’s happening. He’s been in touch with my parents. And soon, they’ll know that I’m okay. Soon, I’ll be able to talk to my mom and get some answers. Some clarity.
Before Todd and his wife come out of the grocery store, a black Escalade pulls into the lot and Holland steps out. He’s wearing a suit and is perfectly composed in all the ways I’m used to men in my life being.
He’s not urgent or frantic but completely calm. I should probably find comfort in that, but something makes me feel a little on edge.
“You good?” he asks, smiling softly in my direction.
I nod, and when I turn back toward the couple’s car, I spot them walking out of the grocery store with a few bags in their hands. When they close the distance between us, I hand the nice lady her phone. “I really appreciated your help today.”
She looks toward where Holland stands by his Escalade.
“Is that your ride, sweetheart?”
“Yes. Thanks again for everything.”
“Of course, of course,” she says and reaches out to give me a tight hug. “You take care of yourself, okay?”
“I will.”
And then I walk toward where Holland has the back passenger door held open for me.
Once I’m inside and buckled in, he hops in the driver’s seat and starts heading out of the parking lot. But I can’t stop myself from looking back. At Todd and his friendly wife. At the small downtown area. At the forest.
Waiting for Kane’s face to appear.
But it doesn’t.
“It should only take us two hours to get to New York,” Holland updates.
“Did you tell my parents you were picking me up?”
“Of course,” he says. “And Damien knows you’re safe too.”
Damien? What does Damien have to do with this? I don’t want to see him.
“I really just want to see my mom and dad,” I tell him, and he just smiles at me in the rearview mirror.
“Everything is going to be okay, Blair. You’re safe.”
