Page 104 of You Saw the Best In Me

Mav knew something was wrong, that’s why he called me. It’s been fifty-three minutes since I got into the passenger seat, and I know he’s rallying the troops to find me. My man will find me, and he will save me.

It’s all I’ve got to believe in right now.

“Your mom looks incredible,” Asher breaks the silence, and my confusion is evident.

“My mother? When did you see her?” I ask, terrified of the answer.

If he’s been stalking her or plotting against those bratty step sisters of mine, I’ll never forgive myself.

“She hired the fancy lawyer I have. Katherine visited me and promised she’d get me out. I didn’t believe her, but when I saw her in the gallery at my court date, I knew she’d finally come to her senses. A few weeks later, I was released. Katherine made it all happen,” he smiles proudly, and I feel like I’m going to throw up.

“My mother?” I ask the only words that I can form.

“Katherine said your life is fucked, and you made a mistake. By sending her, you finally realized who you belonged with and stopped running,” he says, and I beg him to pull over.

“Ash, stop this fucking car, or I will throw up everywhere!” I scream, and finally, he does.

I take in my surroundings, but it’s all trees. There are no mile markers or exit signs.

It’s darkness, trees, and me.

Reluctantly, I make my way back to the car. It’s the only way I can survive right now, and I’ll do anything to see Maverick again.

“Karrie, drink some water. I don’t want you to get sick again,” he says, but I refuse.

No amount of caring gestures will make me trust him. I turn toward the window in protest, but I feel coldness on my cheek and freeze.

“Now. Drink some water, princess. You must be thirsty,” he says, and I take the water bottle from him this time.

I sip until I feel his weapon leave my skin, and I finally regain the ability to breathe.

He starts driving away, and eventually, I start seeing double everything. The water had to have been vodka, and I didn’t even notice because of how paralyzed with fear I was.

“So, what do you want from me?” I slur, barely able to form a sentence.

“I want you right here, Karrie,” he says, and my world goes black.

I think about Maverick as my eyes force themselves closed, how he smiles and bites his lip when I say sexy things.

I think of Harper, the young lady I treat as my little sister, and how much fun we have together.

My brain goes foggy, and I can’t breathe anymore unless I remind myself to do so.

I’m lying in the front seat of my car, manually breathing, with Asher driving. I’ve been drugged and know I’ll lose all my cognitive abilities shortly.

The last thing I remember before slipping into the black isn’t Maverick.

It’s Old Man Tony.

My power is here, and all I need to do is breathe.

MAVERICK

It’s been over three hours since I talked to Karina, and I’m starting to worry. I’ve called everyone I can think of. Juliette, Adam, Hunter, and even Reilly.

Nobody has heard from her.

Reilly said her goodbyes to Karina right before she called me, and that’s the last anyone’s heard from her.