Page 210 of Hold Me Until Morning

The true fullness of it.

I rushed to my SUV and hopped in. Anger sprang to my chest when I put the key into the ignition. I didn’t hesitate to turn it over. I knew Pruitt didn’t want me dead.

He wanted me pathetic and afraid.

Destitute.

Subject to his will and his hand.

He just didn’t mind hurting the ones I cared about to get me there.

I backed out of the driveway, my hands shaking as I put it in drive and headed through my small neighborhood.

When I pulled out onto the two-lane road, I floored it.

A quiver of unease rolled through me as I lifted my hand to the door of the quaint house that was nestled in a family neighborhood in Time River, the trees high and the lawns manicured.

My fist rapped against the wood.

Even though the sun was steadily climbing into the sky, I shivered.

Apprehension ripped down my spine.

This was it.

There was no turning back.

It seemed like it took forever before movement finally rustled from behind the door, and the curtains swished on the window.

One second later, metal screeched as the locks were disengaged.

Savannah stood there with her daughter Olivia in front of her, a hand set over the little girl’s chest.

Concern twisted up Savannah’s face as she studied me. “Hailey? What are you doing here?”

“Hi, Miss Hailey! It’s so good to see you. Did you bring Maddie with you? I love that I got to meet her, and me and my cousin Evelyn had the best time with her. We think she should always be with us.”

Emotion clotted my throat, and I turned my attention to the little girl. “She’s not with me right now, but I promise we’ll get you both together to play again soon. How’s that sound?”

“That sounds great! I’m going to make her a special invitation for you to take with you so she can come to my house and play on my playset!” She looked up at Savannah. “Is that okay, Mommy?”

I could feel the dread dripping from the woman as she ran a tender hand down the back of the little girl’s head. “That’s fine. Why don’t you run and do it really quick so I can talk with Ms. Hailey?”

“On it! Stay right there, I’ll be right back,” Olivia peeped, and she disappeared back inside.

Savannah turned back to me, the same question I hadn’t been able to answer coming low from her tongue. “What are you doing here? Are you okay?”

“I need to talk to Ezra.”

She glanced around like she was looking for a threat before the terror was rolling off her tongue. “Ezra just got word from the station about what happened at Cambrey Pines yesterday. Is Cody hurt? Why didn’t you call us?”

Guilt climbed up my throat, and in a bout of disquiet, I twisted my fingers. “Cody insisted that we didn’t call. He wanted to be the one to tell everyone himself.”

He’d known they were going to be distraught, just like it was clear Savannah was right then.

She blew out a sigh. “Well, the second Ezra heard about it, he was in his truck and heading to Cody’s house.”

Distress buzzed in my being.

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