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“Otherwise, I don’t know if there’ll be anything left to fight for. She’s been with Dean. When she left here upset, she ended up in his arms, instead of staying and talking things out with me,” he deadpans.
“I got a hunch on the case, went and interviewed Jade, and well, I already told you that part. She ran back to Camden Springs.” His face appears tormented; the color drains from his skin and his brows furrow in concentration.
“I can’t believe you didn’t go after her to explain,” I murmur.
He looks up at me. “No, I didn’t. I didn’t let her explain the pictures I got of her and Dean either, but I was so angry and hurt…I just couldn’t. Something always gets in the way.”
“Sterling, you’re wading in murky water. Don’t give up on the woman you love. I’m telling you, man. You’ll regret it.”
He laughs. “Why do you keep insisting you don’t do relationships? Listen to you talk to me about love.”
“We’re talking aboutyourlove life, not mine. I’ve got my reasons. You know that,” I growl at him.
He gets serious. “I do know you have your reasons, brother, but I’m not sure you realize you aren’t your dad and not all women are like your mom.”
I hold his stare. I know he means well but I’m not talking about this. “Yeah well, moving on. What’s your plan tonight for the party?”
His face hardens. “I need you to be there, so come prepared. You’re sharp and I know you have my back and Briella does too. I have a bad feeling about tonight. Something’s going to happen… I just don’t know what. So, get out your tux and be ready around four o’clock. We can meet up and go together. I’m about to go to Paris Hall and check security, then I’ll be back to get dressed.”
“I’m done for the day here. The hands have most everything taken care of. I just need to check in with Hawk and I can go with you now, if you want,” I tell him as I finish my coffee.
“That would be great. I’ll wait on you to talk to Hawk and then we can take off.”
I put my cup in the sink and head out the door. He’s right, I can feel it too. Something big is going down tonight. I’ve had a strange feeling since I woke up.
Iopen my eyes and feel cold. It’s dark. I let my eyes adjust as I feel the sting of something tied around my wrists. I realize my arms are up over my head, tied to the wall.Where am I?I’m in a room, it looks like a medical room, there’s no lights on and it’s dark outside the windows. How long was I out? Hours? Days?
“Hello?” I say to the empty room and nothing but silence answers me. I try to pull at my restraints and realize the harder I pull, the more they cut into me. My wrists feel raw and burned already, probably from my weight pulling on them before I came to. I try to move my legs and they’re bound too.
I lay my head back against the wall as dread and panic settle over me. I don’t know who took me or if they’re coming back. They could’ve left me here to die for all I know. Tears start to fall down my cheeks, but I can’t do anything to wipe them away except rub my face on my shoulder. When I do, I’m brutally reminded of Taylor’s attack. I must’ve reopened the gash because I feel something warm trickle down the side of my face again and it hurts. I suck in my breath from the sting of the fresh cut and the soreness around my swollen eye.
A few minutes later I hear quick footsteps and my heart freezes with fear. A light is suddenly flipped on, and I have to close my eyes against the brightness. “Hello Lucy, you’re finally awake and ready to join the party.”Jade Lancaster.What in the absolute hell?
“Jade, what are you doing? What’s happening?” I ask frantically and she sneers at me.
“Oh, Lucy. Still clueless. I would’ve thought you’d have figured it out by now. I’m the one who’s been stalking Ivie and Sterling,and you. And even your dear ole’ dad, Rhett.” She laughs. I’ve gotten a few texts from an unknown number, but not enough to tip me off. Now, thinking back, I don’t know how I didn’t see it. Then again, I’ve been dealing with a lot lately.
Jade pulls my phone out of her pocket and takes a picture of me. “What are you doing, Jade? Why are you doing this?” I plead. I can tell by the wild look in her eyes there’s no negotiating with her. She grabs a roll of duct tape I hadn’t seen sitting on a desk on the other side of the room. She approaches me and kneels before pressing it over my mouth.
She puts her hand on the side of my face that isn’t battered. She smooths some loose hair down and tucks it behind my ear. “I’m not going to repeat myself, so you’ll have to wait till the rest of the party gets here. It won’t be long now. Iamsorry about the shit Taylor’s been putting you through. My feelings and intentions aside, no one deserves what he’s doing to you. Looks like this time he went way too far.” My eyes widen. How could she possibly know?
She doesn’t say another word. She takes one more picture of me before going back to texting on my phone and her own. She walks the length of the room over and over. About thirty minutes pass, and I hear more footsteps. In my heart I know it’s Ivie. She’s the one Jade is fixated on. She’s using the rest of us as her chess pieces in this twisted game.
I must’ve been the bait. I glance at Jade as she hears the footsteps too. She smiles wickedly and backs behind the door, so she won’t be seen until Ivie is already in the room with no way out. I close my eyes trying to fight a new wave of tears. I can’t do anything to help.I’m useless.
Sure enough, Ivie steps through the doorway in a beautiful green dress. She must’ve been at Rhett’s retirement party which means I’ve been out for almost a whole day. Her eyes land on me and her face pinches with concern. She’s holding her heels in her hand and she rushes to my side. I can’t help but cry. She starts trying to untie me as I see Jade slip out from behind the door with a gun trained on Ivie. I shake my head trying to tell Ivie to stop.
“How nice of you to finally join the party. I hope you’re ready for a really big surprise.” Jade laughs evilly. Ivie freezes and looks me in the eye like she’s trying to reassure me, but she can’t. I finally figured out we’re at Taylor’s family’s old hospital. Nothing is near here now. We’re at Jade’s mercy.
“Get up and step away from her you little tramp.” Jade spits out. “Put your hands up now.”
Ivie stands and glances at me again before squeezing her eyes shut. “Jade,” she says.
Jade laughs. “I’m surprised you never figured it out. This has been too much fun.”
She has the pistol trained on Ivie, who still has her hands up. “Why are you doing this?” Ivie asks.
Her eyes change from controlled to wild and full of rage. “Are you really asking me that?” She laughs again and takes the safety off the pistol, suddenly turning serious. “Careful, or I won’t get to tell you about the rest of your surprise.”
