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Muffled conversation rumbled from somewhere. Dark, angry, worried. Not angry—furious. That was Brett.
“I like him, but he’s worried about you so you need to wake up. You can tell him, honey.”
Mom started to leave.
I reached for her hand, my fingers sliding through hers. “Mom!”
“Billie, wake up.”
“You need to tell me why, Mom. I have to know why.”
She was fading.
She couldn’t go. “Mom! Why did you leave me?”
She just shook her head, love shining from her face. “Wake up, Billie.”
She said it again and again, her voice growing more firm. Insistent. “Wake up, Billie.”
“Wake up, Billie.” The voice changed, shifting so it was deeper, more masculine, and I jerked upright, trying one last time to reach for her. I crashed against a hard chest. A rough hand cupped the back of my hand, holding me close. “God, Billie. You’re awake.”
Brett.
Brett was holding me. Talking to me.
I clung to him, a deep sob working its way out of my core, up my throat. I let it out as I tipped my head into his chest.
She’d been right there. The answers were so close.
“Billie, you’re okay. You’re safe. You’re safe.”
It was Brett’s voice, but they were my mom’s words. I could hear her speaking through him, and I shuddered against him. Blinking, I pulled back, seeing more clearly. Feeling more clearly too. “What happened?”
It flooded back.
The gas station.
“Do you have the time?”
I repressed another shudder. The stench of death had clung to his hands.
“He used chloroform on you. I was almost too late.”
“Did you get him?” I grasped both of his arms.
The regret appeared even before he shook his head. “I didn’t hear a thing. I’m so sorry, Billie. The music from the gas station was so loud. He’d parked just behind us, to the side so we couldn’t see his vehicle behind the post. He was starting to pick you up when I slammed him.”
“You slammed him?”
His face was grave, his eyes haunted. He reached up, framing my face with his hands. His thumbs rubbed over my cheek, so softly, as if he thought I’d disappear. “I got him, but he dropped you, and I was worried you hit your head.”
“There was a squad car there—”
He shook his head. “Empty. It all happened so fast. By the time I’d checked to make sure you were okay, he’d peeled out. Another guy came running over, so I yelled for him to call 911. I didn’t know the cop was just inside.”
“Did they do a search?”
“Yeah. He was gone by the time anything was organized. Shit, Billie. I’m so fucking sorry.”
