There are so many words coming out of his mouth, and he’s still got his hand over mine. I scream against his palm, but he just laughs at my pathetic attempt. I can’t breathe. I can’t protest, even though I’m trying. I bite at his hand, but he squeezes my jaw harder. Stars appear in my vision.
My body goes weak and I search the dark alleyway for someone, anyone, but find nothing to keep me company in the blackness.
Please, someone, help me.
An idea filters through my fuzzy thoughts. When Crew doesn’t want to be moved, he goes limp. My legs give out, and I fall, my knees crashing into the gravel. Rodney releases my mouth and I suck in the fresh air.
“Get up!” he yells.
No.
He yanks me up by my hair, and I scream in pain. He starts dragging me again, and my bare feet are torn to shreds by the sharp rocks underfoot.
“Forget about the kid.” His laugh is broken up by another cough. “You’ll never have to see him again.”
Heat fills my body, then adrenaline. My pulse pounds in my ears. I will see my son again. But Rodney will never get that privilege.
I twist in his arms, swinging my cast around like a weapon. It smacks into his cheek and I take the next moment to ram my knee into his groin.
“Ow!” He releases my arm and I don’t waste any time. The rocks no longer slice into my skin as I sprint back down the alley. Nothing will keep me from my son.
I can see the streetlights up ahead. I’m close to safety. To Ward.
“Help!” I scream at the top of my lungs. “He—” My words are cut off when my feet are swept out from under me. I hit the ground with a thud and my vision goes blacker than the night sky.
Forty
Ward
I’vecoveredeverysquareinch of the ballroom, and I still can’t find her.
I pull out my phone and search for Maddie’s number.
I insisted on getting it from Lyndi before we got here, just in case. Now I’m glad I did. Something must have happened to Crew.
That had to be why she left.
I struggle to focus on the screen, and it takes me too long to find Maddie’s contact. By the time I click on her name, my stomach is in knots. Something is really wrong. I knew it when Lyndi didn’t come right back from the bathroom, but Sophie’s confession has me assuming the worst.
“Hello?”
I jump when Maddie answers. “Hey, how’s Crew? Is he okay? Is Lyndi there?”
“Ward? Crew’s fine. Why are you two so worried about… Wait a minute? Why would Lyndi be here?”
“Because she’s not here!” I exclaim louder than necessary. It’s hard to hear her, so I step out into the front hall.
“What do you mean? I talked to her ten minutes ago and told her to stop worrying about us. She should be there.”
I bang my hand against my head. She’s telling me things I already know. I can’t take it anymore. I rip off my stifling tie and bust out the front doors. I don’t know where I’m going, but I have to find her.
“Does she have a brother?”
“Yeah right. Drew was never a brother to her.” Maddie scoffs. “Wait, what’s going on?”
Sophie. How could she be so clueless? “That’s what I’m trying to figure out.”
“Well, did you try her cell?”
