Page 106 of You Saw the Best In Me

Before I even see the camera footage, I see Karina’s purse.

Everything is dumped, but her phone isn’t with the rest of her things. I’ve been calling non-stop, but it keeps going straight to voicemail. If it isn’t here, he must have it.

“Alright, Maverick. Here are the shots my eye in the sky picked up. I’m sorry. If I’d known … well, I already told lil lady what I’d do to him,” he says somberly, handing over his phone.

The four of us watch Karina get out of the driver’s seat, and Asher joins her. He’s got a knife on her, and she stands by while he tosses the contents of her purse.

I see that motherfucker pocket her phone, and if he doesn’t think I’ll keep calling, he has another thing coming.

Eventually, she climbs into the passenger seat, and he drives away. They were heading out of town, but we need to find the highway they took from here.

“Thanks, Tony. We’ll call you if we hear anything,” I say, shaking his hand.

“You call if you need backup,” he gestures to the weapon on his hip, and we all nod.

“Now what?” I turn to Hunter and Adam, who look as lost as I am.

“I think we go to the police station,” Hunter sighs, and Adam agrees.

I know the cops can help, but don’t want to spend hours inside the station house. I want to be out looking for her. That’s difficult without a lead, so ultimately I give in and follow Hunter’s plan.

On the ride, he calls his wife, updating her on everything and checking in on Harper. I would give anything to be talking to Karina right now. I start to cry again, terrified of what’s happening to her.

I know she’s counting on me to save her, and I will do just that.

I call Karina’s phone again, but it goes straight to voicemail. Eventually, he has to turn it on, and I won’t stop calling.

“You ready?” Hunter asks as we pull into the parking lot.

I don’t hesitate. I take a deep breath and walk inside to report my girlfriend missing.

Two hours and a shit ton of questions later, Karina is officially a ‘missing person.’

There’s a BOLO on her car, and Asher is listed as ‘armed and dangerous.’

It’s nearly three a.m., and I’m fucking wired.

I want to go back to all the places they could be hiding, but Hunter and Adam want to call it night.

I feel like a caged animal.

I’ve called Karina sixty-two times since the last time we spoke, and finally, the phone on the end begins to ring.

I hold my breath, waiting for her to answer, but she doesn’t.

Relentlessly, I dial her number, knowing that asshole is declining my calls. If he wants Karina for himself, he’ll quite literally have to get through me.

I won’t stop until she’s safe in my arms.

On the eighty-sixth call, someone finally answers.

The room goes silent as we hear heavy breathing on the other line.

“Hello?” I say slowly, waiting for the beast to speak.

“Karina!” I scream, and I hear laughing in the distance.

“Karina can’t come to the phone right now. She’s in my backseat,” he says, and my hands ball into fists.