AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“This is because of me. Diego wants me. Has he contacted you?”
Malik is silent. “Baby, please allow me to handle this.”
“Malik, don’t do this to me. Don’t shut me out. This is my best friend we’re talking about. I need to know what’s happening.”
He stares back at me for a few moments then bites down hard on his back teeth before balling his hand at his side.
“He has contacted me. He wants you in exchange for Dru. I have until midnight to get back to him.”
“What happens at midnight if you don’t?” My voice is so small, clothed in fear, it’s like I’ve barely spoken.
“I’m not going to allow anything to happen to her.”
My eyes snap wide. I know the answer even if he won’t give it. Diego will kill Dru. That’s what’s going to happen at midnight if Malik doesn’t get in touch.
There’s only one way out of this. Just one way. The way it all began.
With me.
“I'm going to him.” I nod with determination.
“No.” The vein in the side of his neck pulses. “That is out of the question.”
“It’s the only way and the only answer to fix this.”
“And you think he’s going to let Dru go just because you’re there?” His eyes bore into me.
“I’m praying he will. The other option is no option. In two hours, it’s going to be midnight. What if you don’t find them? Esperanza told me they have their ways of staying hidden.”
As badass as the Knights are, they aren’t gods, and I have to acknowledge that if I hadn’t called Malik, I would be on my way to Mexico now.
“I will find a way. We have technology, too, and I’ve called in all the stops.”
“Dru shouldn't even be a part of this. This has nothing to do with her and everything to do with me. I don’t think you can fight this. I don’t know what the hell I’d do if something happened to Dru.”
He rests his hands on my shoulders and stares into my eyes. “Please allow me to do what I’m doing. I can’t let you go. I can’t. So, there has to be another way. I’m going back downstairs to see what my hackers have found so far. I’ll let you know what’s going on as soon as something comes up.”
He releases my shoulders and backs away, then he leaves the room with sagging shoulders, his head dipped slightly as if the worst has already happened.
When the door swings shut, I collapse back onto the bed and break down, crying with everything inside me, my tears growing stronger with every second that passes.
My phone buzzes with a text, and I grab it from the nightstand.
It’s from an unknown number.
I open the message and read the text. It says:
Hello, cousin,
Well done on your grand escape. It was very impressive, and I’m sure you took some joy in killing Esperanza.
We both know your husband isn’t going to let you go, so how about we take care of this problem ourselves?
If you want to come to me willingly, I promise you I will hand over your friend unharmed. Let me know how that sounds to you.
I should say I am going to kill her at midnight if you don’t reply.
Diego.
