CHAPTER 1
CADY
MYblood turned cold when I reached for the doorknob, and it opened. For some reason I didn’t think to knock, I just reached for it and it turned. I should have known better with everything going on. Hazel locks up her apartment tighter than Fort Knox these days. But when the door swung open, there was an eerie silence that greeted us. My heart pounded in my chest as I stepped inside.
“Cady,” Erick whispers, and points to a dent in the wall that has a spot of blood on it.
Erick turns to Bobby and swallows hard. I spin around, taking in her apartment, but I don’t see anything out of place. It doesn’t look like there was a struggle in here.
“Hazel?”
I yell out to her, thinking maybe she and Cash are in the bedroom, and she didn’t lock the door since he was here. Hope blooms in my chest. Maybe,just maybe, I’ll catch the two fucking, and we’ll get a laugh about this. A clicking sound from the hallway catches my attention, and I hold my finger to my lips. Everyone freezes and strains to hear something. I swear there are footsteps further in the house, but I’m not sure if it’s just my ears playing tricks on me.
I wave my hand as I tiptoe toward the hallway and see a chair toppled over on the floor in the kitchen. The knife next to it scares the shit out of me. Erick and Bobby stop and stare at it too. I listen intently but can’t hear anything except my heart pounding in my ears as the adrenaline courses through my body. I have to find Hazel. Now.
I check the bathroom and find Hazel’s work clothes soaking wet on the floor. As I step toward her bedroom door, the foreboding in my gut intensifies. Fear makes it seem as if time is moving so slowly that it takes a lifetime to reach it. I take a deep breath and put my ear against the wood. I wish I could say I hear panting and moans, but I hear nothing.
My attempt to turn the knob leads me nowhere. It’s locked. I raise my hand and knock on the door.
“Hazel?”
I listen for a moment before pounding harder.
“Hazel,” I yell, getting more and more terrified by the second.
“Are you in there?” I yell again.
A sound I can’t identify comes from behind her door and petrifies me. I grab the knob, shake the door, and slam my shoulder against it, screaming her name over and over. Erick tries to pull me away, but I need to get to Hazel. Oh god, what if she’s hurt in there?
“Cady, move out of the way,” Bobby bellows. I let go of the knob and let Erick pull me back.
Bobby tries the knob first, then slams the door with his shoulder. It shakes against the frame but doesn’t budge. Without a second thought, he lifts his foot and kicks the door. Wood splinters around the knob, and, with one more kick, the door flies open. I hold my breath for a moment as Bobby stands in the doorway and doesn’t move. As I shove past him, he tries to stop me, but he’s not quick enough. I wish he were.
A scream rips from chest as I stumble toward the bed. My vision blurs with the tears streaming down my face. All I can see is red. Red everywhere. I reach out and Erick grabs my hand, wrapping his arms around me. I hear Bobby crying behind me as he yells directions to someone. It sounds like he’s yelling through a tunnel.
“You can’t touch her,” Erick chokes out. I think he’s going to be sick. Hell, I might be sick. “Take a breath before you pass out.”
I suck in a lung full of air, but all I smell is the coppery scent of blood. My throat closes up, and I begin to panic. I wipe the tears from my face and stare at my best friend who is unrecognizable. Her face a blend of red, purple, blue, and black. The belt around her neck trails down her nude chest that is covered in blood, bruises,and whip marks. The indents of teeth around one of her nipples causes me to almost vomit. I choke as I swallow it down, my eyes trailing down her body. No one should see her like this. She wouldn’t want anyone to see her like this. I want to tell Erick and Bobby to leave me alone with her, but I fear I’ll lose it completely if they aren’t here with me. We all need each other right now.
“Oh, Hazel,” I whimper, as I fight the urge to take her in my arms and show her how much she was loved. How much I love her.
When Erick turns to Bobby to calm him down, I reach out and hook my finger around Hazel’s, peeking out from under her. I don’t give a fuck. She’s like my sister. I need this. I need to touch her. I couldn’t be here to stop it, but I can be here for her now. Her skin is warm against mine, and I wonder if she’s still alive.
“Hazel, can you hear me?” My voice breaks as the tears start again. “Please, for the fucking love of God, please be alive!”
“Cady.” Erick grabs my shoulder and sobs. “You can’t touch her, babe.”
“Don’t fucking tell me wha—” I start yelling, but I stop when Hazel’s lip moves. “Did you see that?”
“What?” Erick asks, kneeling by me.
I slip my hand farther under her, gripping her hand tightly, then lean as close as I can to her while trying not to touch anything else.
“Shemoved,” I whisper to Erick without looking away.
He leans in next to me and watches closely as I whisper to Hazel.
“I don’t know if you can hear me, but hold on, Hazel. I love you so much.” I hiccup as I squeeze her hand tighter. “You can’t leave me. I need you. You’re so strong, Hazel. Please don’t leave me.”
