“Shiloh! Wait…are you singing?” Cary’s voice sounds both frantic and confused. “Is thatToxic?”
“What the hell’s wrong with her?” Frankie’s so freaked out I laugh and mess up the middle of thechorus.
More mumbling. Moremovement.
“Shy, move away from the door, baby. We’re comingin.”
I don’t move. I’ve never taken orders in my life. Why would I take them from ahallucination?
Four kicks precede a splintering of wood that bathes the room in the ugliest, most beautiful fluorescent light I’ve ever seen. The walls recede and the overpowering stench of burned rubberevaporates.
I blink against the bright light until a form steps forward and blocks out most of it except for the part outlining him like an angel. I wouldn’t know an angel if it walked up and slapped me in the face, but if there needed to be a template made, Cary Kincaid fit thebill.
An angel dressed in black pants and a gray t-shirt, staring down at me like he doesn’t know whether to kiss me senseless or shake some sense intome.
“Fuck.” It’s the only thing he says before bending down and scooping me up in his arms. His chest is warm against my cheek, calming my demons and making me feel safe. I could stay hereforever.
Unfortunately, forever lasts about two more seconds before he dumps my ass on top of his desk and cradles my face between his inked hands. “Tell me exactly whathappened.”
I shrug, my shoulders barely lifting an inch before slumping back down in exhaustion. “I don’t know. I was taking the supplies back to the closet when Bianca called. When we hung up, someone shoved me inside and locked mein.”
“Are you all right? When we heard you…” His voice trails off, but he doesn’t need to say anything else. I can see the fear in hiseyes.
“I don’t need a padded cell yet,” I assure him with a weak smile. “I’m okay. It’sover.”
Cary’s eyes flash a darkness that sends shivers down my spine. “Oh, it’s far from over. Stay here.” Before I can argue, he pulls my phone from his back pocket and hits a speed dial button. “Hey, Malcolm, it’s Cary Kincaid. Yeah, can you come to the center and pick up Shiloh? She’s not feeling well, and I can’t bring her home right now. Great, thankyou.”
I swipe at the air, but it’s pointless. He disconnects the call and shoves my phone back in his pocket. “No, I don’t want to go home,” I beg, grabbing his shirt and pulling him against me. “Why are you pushing meaway?”
His hardened look softens as he wraps his fingers around my wrists and gently dislodges my hold. “I’m not. I promise.” He turns to Frankie, and a look I don’t understand passes between them. “Make sure she gets in that car and goes home, and then watch the center forme.”
For the second time this morning, panic sets in. “Cary, you can’t leave! What about theinspection?”
“Fuck the inspection.” Pulling a set of keys from his pocket, he stomps toward the door with a clenched jaw and tightfists.
Frankie and I share a worried glance before he calls after him. “Where yougoing?”
Cary doesn’t bother turning around as he jerks the front door open and slams it against the wall. “To killher.”
Twenty-Eight
Cary
“When we hung up,someone shoved me inside and locked mein.”
As Shiloh’s words replay over and over in my head, I keep seeing the terror on her face as she lay slumped on the floor of that closet. Cursing again, my foot slams the brake against the floor of the car, causing the tires to lock and squeal. It’s not that loud, but in such a quiet, upscale neighborhood, it might as well have been a gunshot. Faces peek out of the lifted blinds of multi-million dollar mansions, and I resist the urge to raise a middle finger out mywindow.
I knew something was wrong the minute Frankie and I walked into the center and everything was quiet. Shiloh is a lot of things, but quiet isn’t one of them. I thought I’d lose my mind looking for her. Then I heard it. The quietsinging.
Toxic.
Of all damn songs, she was singingToxicin the supply closet. When the doorknob wouldn’t turn and I realized it was locked from the outside, there was no doubt in my mind what had happened. Even before she told me, Iknew.
FuckingTaryn.
I slam the car door extra hard, because at this point, I don’t give a damn if she knows I’m coming or not. Fucking with me, I can handle, but attacking Shiloh with her biggest fear is a line she shouldn’t have crossed. I’m not here to talk. I’m here to end thisshit.
Just to be a dick, I press the doorbell repeatedly. At least twelve times in a row to let her know this isn’t a social call and I’m sure as hell not conforming to any of her rich bitch rules. If her neighbors call the cops, then that’s even better. I’d be happy to clue them in on the whole family’s extortionpractices.
