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His words begin to register. “What do you mean they can’t find him?”
He rears back, his eyebrows pinching together. “I don’t know any other way to explain that they can’t find him.”
“But he was at the top of the bluff,” I answer.
“He wasn’t there.”
“He was,” I snap, try to wriggle free.
“He wasn’t,” he sharply remarks. “Don’t make me sit on you.”
I drop back with a sob catching in my throat, feeling utterly useless. The aches and pains in my body are a sign that I’m in no fit state to go looking for him. My back feels like it’s on fire, and I swear my ankle is three times bigger. It’s throbbing like hell.
“Everything hurts,” I choke out.
“If you wanted attention, you didn’t need to go to this extreme,” he states.
I splutter out a laugh that comes out more like a cry. “Arsehole.”
“I try my best,” he replies sweetly.
“Honey, you need to calm down,” Mum hisses softly, and Josh lets go of my hand.
“Calm down? They’re hiding something. My job is to suss out liars, and baby, they’re all fucking lying,” Dad replies heatedly, and I tense at his words. “What was she doing with Ben on that trail? I don’t get it. And no one is giving me a straight fucking answer. They won’t even look me in the eye.”
I hear Mum sigh. “Honey, Ben and Imogen… they are seeing each other.”
“Seeing each other?” he asks, and I can hear the utter shock in his words. “As a couple? Since when?”
“I’m not sure. She wanted to be the one to tell you. After the mess with Zach, and what with Ben working for you, she wanted to wait.”
“And look where that fucking got her,” he grits out. “Our daughter is in the hospital.”
The door opens and I try to force a smile. Instead, a sob catches in my throat. The fear and anxiety I’ve been trying to hold back come flooding out when I see my parents. My safe haven. My world. I feel safe, and no longer have the urge to flee.
“Imogen,” Mum whispers brokenly.
“I was so scared,” I choke out, tears staining my cheeks.
“Oh, sweet girl. You’re safe now,” she cries, rushing over to the bed. “You had us all worried. Are you feeling okay?”
“Again,” Josh mutters. “Attention seeker.”
“Just sore,” I whisper, my heart breaking for Ben.
Where is he?
Did Zach hurt him?
“Girl, I am so glad you’re okay but I want to throttle you,” Dad breathes. “What were you thinking going on a trail walk in a storm?”
“We didn’t plan to be out in it,” I choke out. “Zach turned up. He…” I can’t form the words.
“We know. We were already on our way when we got the call about your accident. His parents called us worried about a note he left.”
“He had a knife, Dad,” I rasp. “He was so angry, and he was drunk.”
“And Ben just left you to fend for yourself?”
