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“I’m sure she is,” Tazeem said even though he wasn’t sure. While he was speaking, he paired his phone to his car.
“And my mommy?” Frankie piped up. The chubby little boy’s expression was filled with worry. “Is she okay?”
“I’m sure they’re both okay.” Tazeem tried to force a smile but the effort of it almost split his face. He started the car. “But we’ll check on them to make sure.”
Though he kept his expression calm to avoid scaring the kids, on the inside he was fear personified. All kinds of horrifying scenarios haunted him as he drove toward the hotel. What if Evie had done something to Chess? What if Chess was hurt? What if something worse had happened to her? What if he’d already lost her?
Tazeem felt his lungs seize at the thought and for a second he couldn’t even breathe.
No. No. No. She was fine. He refused to believe that she was anything other than fine. He couldn’t lose her. Not when he’d just found her again.
He dialed her number, but again, he found her phone off, and he was sent to voicemail. But he didn’t quit. As he drove, he kept dialing, hoping against hope that she’d eventually turn on her phone again and pick up his call.
She’s okay. She’s okay.He soothed himself every time he was sent to voicemail.She’s okay.
28
C
HESS WASN’T OKAY. HOW COULD she be when a handgun was trained on her? Worse, Kendall was still lying motionless on the ground. Was she dead or just unconscious? Chess wanted to crawl over and check Kendall’s pulse, but it didn’t seem like the crazy lady holding the gun would be happy about that.
The crazy lady in question was, of course, Evie.
Evie looked nothing like the Evie Chess was familiar with. Usually, her blonde hair fell to her waist in perfectly styled waves, but today it was up in a messy bun with loose, scraggly tendrils falling to the sides of her face.
Her favorite preppy blouses, skirts, and pumps were nowhere to be seen. Today, she’d chosen to go with a green sweatshirt, black leggings that made her legs look even longer and thinner than they already were, and a pair of white sneakers.
But what caught Chess’s attention was the black eye Evie was sporting, as well as the purplish-red bruises around her neck as if someone had tried to strangle her. The injuries had Chess wondering what the hell Evie had been up to. However, the strong fumes of alcohol coming off the lady made her want to keep her distance. It was like Evie had bathed in the stuff.
Someone who smelled so strongly of alcohol should’ve been staggering around, but Evie appeared to be steady on her feet. Unfortunately, she wasn’t holding the gun too steadily. Her arm was shaking like it was made of paper and there was wind in the room… and consequently, the gun shook too.
“Evie.” Chess fought to sound calm despite the heavy terror that had eclipsed all her senses. “What the hell is going on here?”
“No questions.” Evie sounded breathless, and her eyes were wide with panic. Waving the gun in the direction of Kendall, she ordered, “Wake her up.”
Despite her fear, Chess was worried enough about Kendall to follow the instructions without question. She crawled closer to her friend and shook her shoulder. “Kendall.”
There was no response from Kendall.
“Kendall.” Chess shook the woman’s shoulder again. “Kendall, wake up.”
Kendall didn’t wake up.
“Why- why isn’t she waking up?” Evie demanded, her voice trembling.
“I don’t know.” Concern for Kendall overshadowing her fear of the gun, Chess glared at Evie. “What did you do to her?”
“Nothing. I just pushed her a little.” Eyes wide with fear, Evie took a step closer. “Make her wake up.”
“Kendall.” Panic driving her, Chess turned her friend so she was lying on her back. “Kendall, wake up.”
“Is- is she dead?” Evie asked.
Chess didn’t answer because she was too busy checking if Kendall’s chest was rising and falling. Though the movement was subtle, it was thankfully there. But just to confirm that Kendall was still alive, Chess brought her cheek closer to Kendall’s face. A tense second or two later, she felt Kendall’s breath whisper against her cheek.
Chess exhaled in relief. “She’s alive.”
“Good.” Evie’s grip on her gun firmed. “Wake her up.”
