Page 105 of You Saw the Best In Me

It’s not like her to not check in. She would've called me if she had gone somewhere else or needed space. I’m hellbent on that.

My phone rings, and it’s nearly eleven p.m., a number I don’t recognize. I hope it’s my woman, and I answer, but I’m fucking trucked as I listen to the words on the other side.

Asher was released on bail.

There’s only one reason I’d get the phone call: Karina didn’t answer hers.

I’m her emergency contact. I was there that first day we filed the report, and she made sure it was okay if she put my name down.

It’s official in my mind.

Asher kidnapped Karina.

He has my woman, and I won’t rest until I have her in my arms.

I make calls — way too many phone calls — until there’s finally a plan in place.

“You guys didn’t have to come,” I say as Hunter and Adam pull up to my apartment building.

“That is where you're wrong. We’ll be here until Karina is home,” Hunter’s wife says, parking her pregnant belly on the couch.

Suddenly, my apartment is filled with people who care about Karina.

Juliette sits beside Willow, inviting Harper to join them.

“Girls, stay here with this lovely young lady,” Adam says, referring to Harper.

“We need to get out there and find her. That lunatic kidnapped her, and I won’t rest until she’s safe,” I say, eliciting strange looks from everyone.

I’m emotional. I can’t stop crying, and my anger keeps coming in waves. I should’ve been there. I should’ve known something was wrong sooner.

Unfortunately, I did not know that, but I beat myself up anyway.

“You think you can make rational decisions right now?” Hunter says, and I shake my head in protest.

He takes me by the arm, and he’s surprisingly strong,

“Let us take the lead. You go wherever we go, but Adam and I do the talking. Understand?” he barks, and I nod.

I’m not the person who should be in charge.

“How do we get Karina home?” I break down in tears, and Hunter catches me.

“Do the cops have any information on who bailed him out?” Adam interjects, joining us outside.

“No, it was an automated message, but I think I know someone who can help,” I say, relief flooding my veins.

I pull out my phone and call Old Man Tony.

Tony has surveillance of one of the two ways out of town. One of those ways crosses his property line – the abandoned lot – and he keeps a camera there.

Hunter drives, and I ride in the passenger seat, looking for clues. Adam follows behind in his truck, and I can’t see anything with his high beams on.

“Tell Adam to kill the lights,” I say, and Hunter nods.

It doesn’t help. Everything is just dark now.

It’s quiet as if nobody has been out here since the daylight, but Old Man Tony awaits us at the abandoned lot.