Page 138 of Finish Line

I rub my fist over my heart. “Something’s wrong.”

“It’s been four days. Don’t you have faith that our girl can handle it?” Mav asks.

“Of course, I do, but I can’t explain it.” I pound my fist on the steering wheel.

“You’ll feel better once you have your arms around her,” Luke says.

I hope Luke’s right.

We pull into the parking lot.

“Wow, look at this place. It’s not what I was expecting based on the stories Shelby shared with us.” Cam climbs out of the car.

“Dibs on first kiss.” Mav jumps up and down.

We walk to the main door, and Mav hits the buzzer. A guard opens it.

“We’re here to pick up Shelby Winters,” Nick says.

“All of you?” he asks.

“Yes,” I answer.

“Okay, come into the lobby.” He stands to the side as we file in. “Wait here.”

He walks down the hall, then returns with another larger guy and a well-dressed woman, who stands between them.

“I’m Ms. Santos, director of this facility. George says you’re looking for a Shelby Winters?” she asks.

We nod, and she continues, “I’m sorry to tell you, boys, no one by that name is here.”

“She was brought here by her social worker four days ago,” Nick says.

The big guy crosses his arms. “Nope.”

His face is blank, making my eyes narrow.

Ms. Santos folds her hand in front of her. “I’m sorry you wasted your time, but you’ll need to leave. We don’t allow visitors without an appointment.”

“They’re lying!” a girl behind them shouts, then pushes past them. “She is here, and she’s hurt.”

The big guard grabs the girl by the arm and shakes her. “Laurie, what has gotten into you?”

Balling my fists, I step forward and get in the big guy’s face. “Let the girl go.”

He laughs. “Are you going to make me?”

I turn away to look at the guys.

“That’s what I thought.” The guard snickers.

The guys nod at me.

I turn back around and swing at the guard, striking him in his temple. His eyes roll back in his head, and when he falls, the girl goes down with him.

I point at the other guard. “Don’t make me hit you, too.”

The guard stands with his hand up.

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