Page 110 of Finish Line

I jump. “God, you should wear a bell. I didn’t hear you.”

“Sorry, queen, I didn’t mean to scare you.” He runs his hands up and down my arms, soothing my nerves.

“I don’t know what to do with them,” I say. “The thought of them disgusts me. But I should keep them for evidence even if Roger won’t let himself be caught. Plus, the thought of someone else seeing them…” I shudder.

“We’ll burn them when we get them back from Nick.” He takes the envelope, walks to the fire pit, and drops it in.

He reaches over and grabs Peter’s lighter fluid, squirting some on the envelope before he strikes a match and drops it. The flames whoosh up, and the envelope’s edges curl before the entire thing burns away.

“Hold me?” My voice shakes.

Mav comes over, wrapping his arms around me from behind, pulling my back flush against him. He leans down and presses a kiss on the top of my head. “I’ll hold you together through anything.”

Mav squeezes me tighter, and borrowing some of his strength, I let the images burn out of my mind.

“You never have to worry about him again,” Mav says. “We’ll find Roger and deal with him, too.”

We stand for a little longer as the flames in the pit die out.

Turning in his arms, I stand on my toes and kiss him. “I love you, Mav.”

“Love you, too, babe.” He takes my hand, leading me back inside and up to where everyone else is.

We spend the rest of the night at Nick’s place, watching a movie while he searches for Lea.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

LUKE

I’ve been living in Nick’s apartment since Mom received that photo.

The second school’s over, Nick and I run home, and he gets on his computer.

I wish I knew my way around a computer like he does. I hate the fact I can’t help him. So, instead, I sit on Nick’s couch, quizzing Shelby for her GED test.

“I found her!” Nick exclaims.

Shelby and I hop up and rush over to Nick’s computer desk.

“She’s in Danville, Virginia.” Nick points at the screen.

“That’s right over the border. Let’s go! I’ll go tell Mom.” I move to run out of the room.

“Wait, Luke, it’s six o’clock. If we leave now, we won’t arrive until at least nine or ten,” Nick reminds me.

“So what?” I growl.

Shelby rests her hand on my arm. “Nick’s trying to say we should leave right after school tomorrow.”

I don’t want to wait, but what they say makes sense. My mom won’t let me miss school.

“You’re right.” I scrub my hands through my hair. “It’s so frustrating.”

Shelby wraps her arms around my waist, resting her cheek on my chest. “But let’s do this right, okay? I have my GED test in the morning while you are in school. I should be done before school’s over. We’ll meet at school, then I’ll go with you to Danville.”

Nodding, I kiss Shelby before hugging Nick, thanking him for finding her. Nick and Shelby follow me downstairs to the front door.

“I’ll see you tomorrow.” I step out of the door and wait for the lock to click before rushing back to my house to tell my parents the news.

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