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One thing I’m grateful for is that his visit has turned my sadness into anger, and since I’m done being depressed, I welcome the fury brewing inside me with open arms. Adding fuel to that anger, I think about all the times Mason kept things from me.
When I’m almost back to my apartment door, I dig out my keys to find the right one. Only when I get to my door do I realize it’s slightly ajar. Did I forget to close it? I take a step back, assessing the situation. Did Griffin stop me so someone else could go through my apartment? I wouldn’t put it past them.
Staying quiet, I listen to any sounds coming from my apartment, but there is nothing. I pull out my phone and dial Jase. He answers on the second ring.
“What’s up, sis?” He is high. I can tell right away from his slightly slurred speech.
“I think Mason sent someone to snoop around my apartment.”
“That does sound like something he would do,” Jase agrees.
“Just stay on the phone with me while I go inside and check.” Using my foot, I nudge the door open softly, just enough for me to get through.
“Wait, what do you mean?”
“I just got home, and the door is open,” I explain while poking my head inside my apartment.
“Teagan, don’t go in there on your own,” Jase tries to tell me, but I’m already halfway in. “Where is Ainsley?”
“She got called into work.” I keep my voice down, just in case. “It’s fine. I’m sure it was him. Griffin was totally buying time, asking me stupid questions on my way home.”
“Still, I don’t like this. What was he asking about?”
“Do you remember a guy named Randy who I dated a few years ago?”
“Yeah… Now that you mention it. Griffin asked me about him as well.”
“Well, I have no idea why he—” The phone slips out of my hand, crashing onto the floor with a smash as someone grabs me from behind. Something covers my mouth before the scream in my throat can pass my lips.
I barely have time for panic to set in when a sharp prick on my neck has me frozen in place. I stare down at my broken phone screen as my vision becomes blurry. A moment later, everything goes black.
MASON
If my training taught me anything, it’s the value of logic. Facts. Once you let emotion leak in, you’re finished. You might as well stand back with your arms open wide and let the enemy blow you apart.
Case in point, I let Teagan get too close. I stopped relying on logic. Now, logic tells me I did the right thing by cutting her out of my life. She betrayed me. All evidence points to that. There’s no other scenario where she’s innocent.
I wish someone would explain that to my gut, which has been churning ever since I made the decision to kick her out. Something’s not right. I’ve always been sure of myself. If there’s anyone I can trust, it’s me.
For the first time ever, my judgment is in doubt.
I don’t know what to do with this uncertainty. Every time I think of her—which is more than I should—the sense of something being very wrong kicks me in the chest all over again. Unless she’s the most gifted actress ever born, she’s not the kind of girl who’d date a lowlife like Randy for long. That’s not her. Or did she have me fooled? And how did I let it happen?
I’m almost glad for the message from Tank that interrupts my dark, brooding train of thought. I might sit around and blame myself for the rest of the day, otherwise.
Tank: Kent missed his hourly check-in. Can’t get ahold of him.
I grip the phone tighter when the message sinks in. I’ve had Kent watching her building since part of me still can’t let her go. She’s been safe. More importantly, there’s been no suspicious visitors, either. No proof that she’s involved with anyone.
Before I can text him back, the phone rings with a call from Griffin. I answer the call, saying, “We might have a situation. Kent didn’t—”
“There’s a situation in the lobby, too. I’m on my way down there now. It’s the kid. Jase.”
I’m out the door and jogging down the hall already. “What’s he doing? Why would he come here?”
“Apparently, he’s out of his mind, begging for help. Saying somebody took his sister.”
A wave washes over me, knocking me flat and submerging me in water so icy cold, I’d swear needles are piercing me all over. At least, that’s how it feels as I race to the lobby with the image of Teagan’s face hovering in front of me.
By the time I find Jase, he is no closer to calming down than he was before. “You’ve gotta help me!” He’s shaking, sweating, lunging at me. Griffin makes a move like he wants to get between us, but I shake my head. This isn’t an act. My gut tells me so, and I haven’t done enough following it lately.
