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I don't know how I know. I just do. Callie doesn't stop.

She chased me across Hollow Creek for weeks because I wouldn't give her my phone number.

She's not sitting beside a fucking tree waiting for Mercer to find her.

She's moving. Fighting. Talking his ear off. Probably insulting Mercer while she does it.

My chest tightens.

Bishop watches me.

“She bought herself time.”

I look toward the woods, then shake my head.

His brow furrows.

I start walking. “She bought me time.”

And I'm done wasting it.

52

CALLIE

“Callie.”

Mercer's voice carries through the trees.

I tighten my grip on the tire iron.

My hands are shaking. That's fine. They can shake. They just need to hold on.

I move farther from the broken window.

The shed isn't big. One door. One window. A hole in the back wall barely large enough for a raccoon.

“Come out.”

I stare at the door. “No.”

Silence.

“I'm done chasing you,” he finally says.

“That's convenient. I'm done being chased.”

Something moves outside.

I shift my weight. My shoulder immediately objects. My ribs aren't thrilled either. Neither gets a vote.

“You're making this harder than it needs to be.”

“You kidnapped me from a bathroom.”

Nothing.

A shadow passes the broken window.