A soft rustling makes me flinch in surprise. I frantically try to find the source of the sound, but I don’t see anything because it’s too damn dark.
My hand bumps into something, and I jerk it back. My heart races, the frantic beat matching the dull throb in my elbow where I took the hit. It takes me a second to realize I’ve bumped into my bag.
My bag.
I quickly grab it as I stumble to my feet. The zipper is open, and something clatters to the ground, but I don’t look back as Irush to my car. The door slams shut, and I press the lock button as I scramble through the bag with shaky fingers.
“K-keys, k-keys, k-keys… Where the hell are my k-ke?—”
My fingers wrap around a sleek device.
My phone.
A wave of relief slams into me as I work to unlock it. It takes me a few tries, but when the screen finally pops up, I quickly find the contact and press the call button.
The sound of the phone connecting echoes in the quiet, making it seem louder than it really is. I hold my breath, trying to stay composed, but it’s hard when my heart is thundering inside my chest and I startle at even the smallest sounds. After what seems like forever, the call connects, and all the pretense of staying strong disappears as my voice breaks. “Ma-Matthew?”
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
MATTHEW
“Drive faster!” I shout at Nico, who’s navigating the car along the quiet town streets. Rationally, I know he’s driving as fast as he can, but I don’t care. Jessica’s soft whimper rings in my head. I can still hear her. Still hear that crack in her voice. The woman who’s always so full of life, the woman who takes no shit from anybody, especially me, sounded small and afraid, making the dread spread through me and my stomach tie up in a knot.
“We’re almost there.”
“It’s not good enough!” I punch my hand against the dash.
She’s all alone in that damn house.
I should have been there.
I should have insisted that she shouldn’t be alone.
I should have told her to stay at her parents’ or Mae’s.
Done something—anything—to keep her safe.
Nico makes a sharp turn, the car’s headlights illuminating Jessica’s white SUV parked in front of her house.
The cruiser barely comes to a stop before I’m opening the door and running to her vehicle, my gaze scanning the dark interior until I spot Jessica sitting in the driver’s seat. She’scurled in on herself, her legs lifted on the seat, arms wrapped around her knees as she rocks back and forth, her gaze unfocused. Even in the darkness I can see the scrape on her elbow, dirt and blood clinging to her torn skin.
My fingers seize the handle, trying to open it, but the damn thing isn’t budging. Cursing under my breath, I force myself to calm down before gently knocking on the window, but she’s still rocking, her gaze distant.
“Jessica, baby, open the door for me,” I call out, still knocking on the window loud enough to draw her attention, but not to scare her.
Shock.
She’s probably in shock.
Who can blame her? Somebody broke into her house.
Was it a coincidence? Or did it have something to do with her ex? The questions pop into my mind, but I push them back. Later. I’ll figure that out later. Right now I just need her to be okay. I need to get her into my arms. If only she’d open that fucking door.
“Trouble…” My palm connects with the window, and, this time, she blinks once before her gaze shifts to me, those amber eyes tear-stained and full of fear.
“It’s just me. You’re safe,” I reassure her gently. “Unlock the door, baby.”
A few seconds seem to last a lifetime, but she finally unlocks the door. I rip it open before she can even let go of the damn button, and lean down, pulling her out of the car and to me.
