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“Woof, you’re right. Huge crowd.” Something bothers me, though, and it’s not just the relentless stream of hungry people. I stand on my toes, looking for Destiny’s head. “Hey, Meadow, how long do you think that last rush was?”
“Dunno. Maybe a good twenty minutes?”
I take my phone out again to check the time.
Yikes.
It’s been almost an hour since Destiny texted me.
It shouldn’t take that long to get to Sweeter Grind; it’s just down the street. The walk itself, well under half an hour.
Shit.
I call her. It rings seven times and goes to voicemail.
Destiny, where are you? I text.
When she doesn’t respond in five agonizing minutes, I try again. Hey, just checking in, are you almost here?
No response.
I’m feeling sicker by the minute, my mind hurtling into overdrive.
Ten minutes later, after I’ve imagined Destiny kidnapped and thrown in someone’s trunk, hanging out with switchblade-wielding gangsters in some back alley, being forced to cook meth, and a dozen other horror scenarios, I decide to text her again.
Dess, I’m not upset if you’re late. I just need to know you’re okay, I send.
Another five minutes of dead air.
Don’t freak. She’s probably fine, I tell myself. She’s probably just so into her coffee trip and phone that she lost track of time. Maybe she even ran into a kid from school...
Meadow sees the worry on my face, though. When I look at her, her eyes are wide with concern.
“Everything okay, E?”
“Destiny’s late and she’s not answering her phone. I’d better go to Sweeter Grind and find her. Probably nothing, but I’ll be right back. Sorry to leave you hanging.” I say it lightly, but inside, I’m freaking.
Wyatt walks up. “Who are you leaving hanging?”
“Meadow...and now you, too,” I say. “Sorry, I have to go!”
He gives me a firm nod. “We’ve got this. Go right ahead.”
“Thanks!” I don’t even look back as I sprint through the park toward Sweeter Grind. When I close in on the shop, I pass a narrow alley along the way.
I’m three steps past it when I hear a decidedly pained moan coming from the alley, followed by a sob.
I wince, half expecting to see a group of kids messing around.
But when I double back to look, there’s a slim figure crouched against the brick wall, straining to breathe. Their face is hidden by a hoodie.
Damn it, not now. Cole trusted me with his daughter.
I’ve got to find her, but I can’t just leave someone hurt and alone in an alley.
Sighing, I walk toward the crumpled form.
I’ll be quick. Just make sure the person’s okay, call 9-1-1, and then go find Dess.
“Hey there, are you okay?” I ask.
I’m not even in front of them yet when I hear a familiar voice.
“Eliza?”
Destiny shoves her hood back, lifting her head.
Holy shit!
Her face is red and tear-streaked. Every bit of her shakes as she lurches toward me so fast she almost falls over.
“Oh my God!” My heart drops through my stomach. “Destiny, what happened? Are you okay?” I grab her hand, fighting down my panic so I can help her up. “Can you stand? Don’t try if your legs are hurt. What happened?”
She staggers up, sure, but I’m terrified of making anything worse.
The poor kid heaves a few rough breaths and wipes another tear from her eye.
“I-I think I’m okay, y-yeah.” She grips my hand, falling against the brick wall for support.
I hug her tightly. “What happened, honey? Did you fall?”
She shakes her head and pulls out of my embrace, dabbing her cheeks.
“N-no. These two guys...” She pauses, drawing a shaky breath. “They came out of nowhere and pushed me down. One dude stepped on me, so I couldn’t get up. His asshole friend grabbed my necklace and they took off. I tried to chase them, give them money, give them my credit card for the necklace, but they ran so fast. When I got too close, they threw me on the ground. Knocked my breath out and I just—I couldn’t get up. I couldn’t catch them.”
Oh my God.
It’s not much better than my meth-and-switchblades scenario.
This fifteen-year-old sweetie went after two psycho thieves to get back her dead mother’s necklace. Thank God she couldn’t reach them.
“Destiny, promise me if this ever happens again, you won’t try chasing anyone—”
“But they took Mom’s necklace!” Her voice cracks again, her mouth peeling open as sobs wrack her body.
“I know, baby. I’m just afraid you’d be a lot worse for wear if you’d followed them. You’re way more important than any jewelry.”
Her eyes are so wide with shock, her mouth a gaping ring. “But...but she’s gone and now the turtle is too. Now I have nothing.”
My heart breaks for her.
I’m torn between being grateful she isn’t hurt and hating these people for stealing something so precious.
“I know. I’m sorry. But your mom will always be with you, Dess. No one can take away her memory, I promise you.” I scan her up and down. She’s still standing and looks brittle now. That’s a good sign. But my eyes stop on a nasty gash going down her leg, the blood already crusted over. “Does that hurt? Anything feel broken?”
