Page 5 of Guarded from Corruption

Something is wrong.

Is it Shea?

I jump off the treadmill without shutting it down. “What’s wrong?”

Rhiannon holds the phone out to me as she says, “I don’t know. Her name is Jade Bell, she asked for you specifically, and she sounds upset. Very upset, really.”

In a sickening swoop, my heart leaps from my stomach to my throat.

Jade. Shea’s best friend.

The last time she called me, something was terribly wrong with Shea.

Shea promised me she’d be okay. I just talked to her two nights ago and she sounded fine. But what if she was lying?

Willing my hand not to shake, I grab the phone and nearly bark into it, “Jade. What’s wrong with Shea?”

Her shaky sob in response sends ice through my veins. No. Not Shea. Not my little sister.

But then Jade says in a tiny, trembling voice, “It’s not Shea. I… I need help. I’m in trouble. And I—” There’s a sudden rustling, like branches or leaves moving. Her breath quickens, loud enough to hear over the phone.

What is happening? This isn’t the Jade I know, calm and confident. This Jade sounds afraid. Her breathing is so fast I fear she might hyperventilate.

My tone drops, gently commanding. “Jade. Talk to me. What’s wrong?”

Rhiannon and Xavier close in, matching expressions of concern on their faces.

“Can you come?” It’s whispered now. “Please? Come get me?”

“Of course.” I’m already on my way out of the gym, headed toward the wing that houses my apartment. “Where are you? I’ll head out right now.”

“I’m not sure.” Her voice cracks. “A campground. Near a parking area. In the woods.”

“Okay.” Keeping my voice calm and soothing, I ask, “Can you send me a pin? I can find you that way.”

Another quick sob, and then a small, “Yes. I can. I’m doing it now.”

As her location pops onto my screen, about forty-five miles away, Jade whispers, “I have to put the phone back. It’s not mine. I don’t want… if they go looking for it…”

Shit. I burst into my apartment and snatch my car keys off the table by the door. “Jade, it would be better if you stayed on the phone with me.”

“I can’t. I have to be quiet.” Another silence, this time long enough for me to be on the verge of panic. “I have to go. But I’ll stay right here.”

“Ah, Jade, can you please?—”

“I have to go. But Niall. Don’t call out to me. Okay? Please? I’ll watch for you.”

“Jade. Wait?—”

But the call ends. Fuck.

What happened to Jade?

I’ve gone through a thousand scenarios over the last hour, all of them ranging from bad to worse.

Jade hurt while she was camping. Trapped somewhere with a broken leg. Assaulted. Hiding in the woods, bruised and bleeding. But in all of those scenarios, why wouldn't she call 911? Why call me first?

She wouldn’t call unless she was desperate. Although she had to know I’d come for her anytime she asked. How could I not? Shea’s best friend since freshman year of college; I’ve known Jade for over a decade. We’ve celebrated holidays together.

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