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Was my driver really in the back? Was he alive or dead? Was I being kidnapped? Manic wouldn’t do that, because that was insane. That was the behavior of a psychopath. Manic could be off-putting and cocky and a little pushy, but he wasn’t a psychopath… was he?

No, this isn’t happening. This isn’t happening.

“This isn’t funny,” I snapped finally, shooting my gaze between both men. Grave only chuckled, and a wave of fury consumed me. “Either you let me out, or you become my driver for the night and take me home.”

“Oh, we’ll be driving you, but you won’t be going home,” Manic said quietly, then inhaled again. “Not tonight, anyway. You, little Hale, will be staying with me for the time being.”

“The hell I am! Let me out!”

The books dropped to my lap when I reached for the door and yanked on the handle, over and over and over again. It didn’t budge and my breath sped up at the terrifying realization of being trapped.

“Safety lock,” Manic added.

I fumbled for my clutch purse, ripping open the contents to fish out my phone. My fingers trembled over the numbers, and after the third try, I managed to type out a nine.

I’d call the police, that was what⁠—

A click echoed in my ear, and I froze when cold, hard steel touched my temple. The barrel of a gun. He pressed it forward until my head angled to the side, and I screwed my eyes shut. Frightened breaths burned my lungs.

I'd never felt a gun before. Hell, I’d never even seen one before. It was daunting, knowing that I could be snuffed out at any minute. He could shoot me if he really wanted to.

But why me? And what did I do to deserve this?

“Put the fucking phone away, Sutton,” Manic said calmly, his mouth inches from my ear. His cigarette hung limp between his fingers. “The last thing I want is to explain why your brain is splattered all over a stolen car.”

“They’ll find me—my parents,” I managed, fighting the sting of pure terror behind my eyelids. “They won’t give up until they do.”

Tears slid down my cheeks, and my phone was ripped from my grasp. With the gun still against my temple, he stuffed my phone into his back pocket without looking. Light skimmed over his face when we took a turn, only minutes from the heart of Vancouver. Where were they taking me?

“That’s what we’re betting on.”

“Why? What could you possibly want with me?”

“Your father’s cooperation. And, if he loves you, it should be easy for him. You won’t be with me for long.”

“His cooperation?” Shock prickled my skin. “For what? They’ll know you took me, it’ll be all over the cameras. He’ll ask where I went when I don’t show up or call to check in. He’ll know who took me the moment he sees the footage.”

“Will he?” Manic chuckled softly in my ear, sending the gun to scrape against my skin, and I flinched. His voice dipped to a murmur. “I suppose it’s a good thing you got into the car willingly then, hm? No one forced you inside. No one knows that you’re even missing, because you did what you do every year—leave early. You, little Hale, willingly got into your parents’ car and left with their driver after being given books to read. A hobby you enjoy. It’ll show me on the cameras pinning you against a shelf, handing you books—me appearing interested in you. And then I let you leave.”

His lips coasted over my jaw, his breaths fanning my cheek.

For a brief moment, my thoughts landed on my secret admirer. If it looked like I got into the car willingly, he’d have no reason for concern either. I was truly cornered into an impossible situation. No one would come looking for me. Not at first, anyway.

And I could be dead by then.

“That was why you were nice to me—I just thought…” I trailed off and swallowed, blinking as tears mapped my face. I’d been cornered. Manipulated. Being nice and appearing interested in me was a tactic for him, nothing more.

And I was lured by books, no less. Lured into that room like a child eager for candy to satisfy a sweet tooth. I knew he wasn’t being nice for nothing. What was I thinking?

Confusion raced over me, though. How did he know what hobbies I enjoyed? Yet my confusion was accompanied by an ache of disappointment I was unfamiliar with.

Did I want him to be interested in me?

After a few silent seconds, he slowly pulled the gun away and reset the steel hammer with a click. Numb and helpless, I glanced over as he placed the gun across his lap, flicked his cigarette out the window, and rested an elbow over the leather bench. I managed to straighten and push further into my seat for more distance.

Manic’s tone softened, his voice dipping low. “I thought you’d like the books, and knew you’d probably hate being bored. I’m not sure I’d be able to tolerate your complaints.”

He waved a careless hand, as if swatting away a fly.