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The two of them left the stage, bowing their shoulders and clutching each other as tears streamed down their pale faces. They glanced in my direction a few seconds later. I quickly lowered my head and turned slightly to the side, not wanting them to notice me. I wasn’t sure how welcome I was in their eyes, given my close association with Kinsey.
A moment later, I heard a flurry of activity and looked up again. Several of the police officers had peeled off from the crowd. They were hurrying across the lawn toward the parking lot I left my car in earlier.
“Something’s happening,” I muttered to Erin, nudging her with my elbow.
She squinted at the cops. “Do you think someone found something?”
“They must have.” I was about to say more when I felt my phone vibrating in my pocket. I pulled it out and looked at the screen. Anna was calling again.
I stepped away from the crowd and pressed the phone to my ear. “Everything okay?” I asked.
“I just had a call from the police,” Anna said. She was talking much faster than usual, like she’d had a sudden burst of energy. “Kinsey’s ankle monitor was turned on again, about five minutes ago. It was only for a few seconds, but it was enough to trace her.”
My eyes widened. “So they’ve found her?”
“Not yet, but they told me the GPS data showed that she was at Carrington Park,” she replied. “Are you still there? Can you see what’s going on?”
I craned my neck and looked to the west. “Some cops are running over to one of the parking lots,” I said. “Are they sure the data from the monitor was correct?”
“Yes. The analysts were positive. She was definitely at Carrington Park five minutes ago.”
I whipped my head around, brows furrowing. “I don’t understand. We would’ve seen her if she was here.”
“Maybe she was hiding somewhere,” Anna said. Her voice was tinged with a tone of desperation. “You know that park much better than I do. Is there anywhere you can think of where she could squirrel herself away?”
“There’s trees everywhere, but they wouldn’t make a good hiding place because most of them are out in the open. So even if you went and crouched behind one of them, someone would still spot you eventually.” I looked over at the parking lot again. “Unless…”
Fuck.Fuck.
I broke into a run, chest tightening like a fist was squeezing my heart.
“It’s the car,” I panted into the phone. “She was in the car!”
“What car?” Anna said. “Jax?Hello?”
“There was a silver car parked near us earlier. I heard a weird banging noise from somewhere near it. Erin thought it was just a door slamming, and I figured that made sense. But what if we were wrong?” I said. “What if Kinsey was locked in the trunk? Or tied up in the back? The noise could’ve come from her. She could’ve been trying to escape.”
“Oh, god.” Anna’s voice thickened. “Please tell me that car is still there.Please.”
I kept sprinting, lungs burning from the exertion. When I reached the parking lot, I turned left and hurried down to the far end.
My heart sank when I reached the last bay. The silver car was no longer in it.
“Jax!” Anna was shouting into the phone now. “What’s happening?”
I lifted the phone to my ear again. “I’m sorry, Anna. It’s gone,” I said softly. “She’s gone.”
9
Kinsey
My stomach was growling so loudlythat I couldn’t sleep. It hurt too, like I’d swallowed a bowl of acid and nails. With a groan, I rolled over on the narrow cot, trying to find a position where everything would ache a little less.
I squeezed my eyes shut, picturing Jax in Carrington Park. In my imagination, I was able to make him hear me with my writhing and hammering on the car window. He smashed the window, unlocked the door, and freed me from my gag and bonds. Then he took care of those assholes Mr. Blythe and Mr. Barron, leaving them bleeding on the asphalt while he picked me up, wrapped me in his strong arms, and held me tight.
Tears pricked at my eyes as I thought of his possessive touch. His soft kisses on the top of my head. His dark eyes, always glinting with affection when they turned my way. I was starving for his love… but I knew I’d never get to taste it again. That made it so much worse.
A key turned in the lock outside the dungeon. I sat up, back going rigid.
