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Amber fell back onto the loveseat. “You’ll be wearing that handprint for a few hours. It’s already turning red.”
“I’m really sorry.” Jenna repeated.
“I’m just going to sit over here where you can’t abuse me.” I sat next to Amber on the loveseat, resting my palm on her thigh. She sipped on her drink, chatting with Jenna about something I knew nothing about. My phone vibrated, and I slid it out of my pocket seeing a text from Ian.
Unlock the door.
Springing up, I hurried through the house to the foyer.
“What’s going on?” Jenna called out.
Yanking the door open, I turned back, yelling over my shoulder, “Stay in there.”
Two cars sped up the driveway, coming to a stop. Ian and Ice Man jumped out of one. Luke, Jade, and Tyler bounced out of the other.
Ian stomped in front of the others toward me, pointing. “Get in!”
I took a step back inside as they all filed in. Tyler was on his phone and remained in the foyer while the rest of us followed a visibly disturbed Ian into the family room. Jenna pushed herself off the couch, reaching for her husband’s hand.
Running his fingers through his hair, he pulled her into his arms, kissing her on her forehead. “It’s okay, sit,” he assisted her back onto the couch, then roamed the room, adjusting random things on bookcases and the mantle.
Standing behind the loveseat, I laid my palms on Amber’s shoulders. Jade had taken my place next to her. Luke stepped next to me, standing behind Jade.
“What’s going on?” I crossed my arms, glaring at Ian.
He froze, turning to Amber. “You cannot go back to your apartment.”
“What do you mean she can’t go back to her apartment?!” I asked.
He slid his hands in his pockets. “Remember when I said to see to it that Amber gets to her apartment safely?
I nodded, squinting.
“Amber, I’m so sorry.” He turned his attention to her, masking his sadness with anger. “Chance was tired of me using you as bait, so I had to choose the next best thing.”
“What did you do?” She gritted her teeth.
I sat on the arm of the loveseat, wrapping my arm around her shoulder. I knew what was coming. I braced her.
“I gave Chance actual instructions through text but said to take you to your apartment out loud because I wanted to see what would happen. Well, shortly after I said that,” he lifted his hand to his chin, pacing the middle of the room, “Alejandro picked his phone up, texting someone.” Exhaling, he came to a stop, pulling out a cigarette and pinning it between his fingers.
“Ummm.” Jenna hummed.
Lifting his hand as he pivoted to her. “Just need to do something with my hands for a second. I’ll step out and smoke in a few.”
“Wait, so what happened to my apartment?” Amber shook her head, waving her hands in disbelief.
Ian swiveled, his face now genuinely solemn. “Well, I had people outside in the front parking lot, watching the back exit on camera. Two cars left the back, and my guys followed them. They went to your apartment, I guess, looking for you guys. Since you weren’t there, they—” his voice trailed off.
“They what?” Amber’s voice turned shaky.
“Every square foot is destroyed.”
Amber and Jenna both gasped. Jade leaned over, hugging her as tears plummeted from Amber’s eyes. Coercing my arm tighter around her, I leaned my head on top of hers.
“Why didn’t they stop them?!”
“Normally, they would have,” he gnawed the inside of his cheek for a moment before continuing, “but that would’ve let Alejandro know it was a test, and we were on to him. He would become smarter, which would make it harder to end this.” Lifting his hand, he massaged his temples. “I’m sorry, but it had to be done. It was between using you once again or using objects we can replace.”
