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The ache in my chest had a name and it was his. My phone let out abeep.Was it Finley? I lifted my hand and swiped the screen, opening the messages.
Unknown: Button…we have a problem.
“Oh, Finley, huh?” Kat murmured over my shoulder.
My heart hammered as I spun, panic punching through.Had she seen?“What?”
Her gaze flicked to mine and stilled. She frowned and nodded her head toward my phone. “You’re messaging Finley.”
I licked my lips as my phonebeepedonce more. “Yes.”
Kat just gave a slow, sly smile and murmured, “Good for you.”
But it wasn’t my messages to Finley I cared about now. “Excuse me for a second. It’s my dad.”
She just turned her gaze to the window once more as I hurried from the living room and raced for my room. My fingers flew across the keypad.What’s happened?
Unknown: I need to call.
The phone rang in a second and the hard, panicked breaths of my father filled my ear. “I can’t talk for long, but I’m being tracked.”
My pulse sped. “Dad, are you okay?”
“I tried to shake them, but there’re too many, they’re everywhere. I heard about the attack on the island. Things are getting dangerous now, Button. I want you out of there…now.”
Now…the word resounded. “Okay.”
“I’m sending a message to the contact. It’s now or never, Anna. If they can’t get you out of there soon, I’ll come and get you myself.”
“I don’t know,” I murmured into the phone.
“I sent you there thinking you’d be protected,” my dad growled. I’d never heard him growl before, never heard him so…unhinged.The hard gusts of his breath filled my ear. “I sent you there to get you out of all this. It’s now or never, sweetheart. But don’t worry, I’ll keep Dominic busy. I’m releasing some of the funds. Hopefully, that will give us the time to get you away from those people.”
He meant Finley…
The ache in my chest grew bolder, forcing me to choose a side. My heart…or my blood. “Whatever you need me to do, Dad.”
“I’ll send you a message with the time and place. I need you to be ready to go, Button. I’m getting you out of there. I’m going to keep you safe. I love you, Annalise.”
I closed my eyes at the words. “I love you too, Dad.”
“Be safe, Button. We’ll be far away from this world soon, don’t you worry.”
I ended the call and just stood there at the far end of my bathroom, watching the screen of my phone go dark.
The faint clink of a glass drew my focus to Kat as she moved around in the apartment. The island felt different tonight. There were no more parties, no more lights. Only darkness waited now and it was both empty and hollow.
I made my way out into the kitchen, finding the plates cleared away.
“Everything okay?” Kat rose from the sofa, concern flaring in her eyes.
“Yeah, sure, everything’s fine. Just checking in,” I smiled.
Kat’s phone illuminated with aping.She glanced at the screen, her lips twitching into a smile before she tucked it away. Only one thing would cause a reaction like that…or someone.“Go,” I forced a chuckle and motioned to her phone.
Hope shimmered in her eyes. “Are you sure?”
“Positive,” I answered. “Go, have fun.”
