Page 49 of Left in the Dark

Oh, fuck.My hand moves to his chest, pushing him out of my way as I hurry from the bathroom. “I’ll go after her.”

He grabs my arm, stopping me. “She was bloody and bruised. Someone beat the hell out of her.”

“What?” I gape at him like a fish, my mouth opening and closing as my thoughts whirl.

“She looked bad, man. Her eye was nearly swollen shut. There was blood running from her nose?—”

I don’t wait to hear anymore.

Yanking from his hold, I sprint to the door, shove it open, and dash into the parking lot. My wild eyes search the area rapidly, my heart banging in my chest.

“Delaney,” I yell.

But there’s no sign of her.

A dark-haired guy climbs out of his car and hurries over to me.

“She’s gone.” He’s slightly breathless as he spits out the words. “I was with Callie. Delaney texted her and told her she was coming here. Once Callie and I said our goodbyes, she asked me to drive her here to meet her friend.”

My mind is whirling with too many questions to say a word.

“Delaney was staggering toward Callie’s car when we arrived. She looked like shit. Someone…” His face is pale, and he looks like he will be sick. “Someone beat the shit outta her.”

“Was it that fucker, Tim? I’ll kill him.” My hands curl into fists, rage coursing through me before the horror sets in.

I let this happen to her. If she were still with me, this never would’ve happened.

He shrugs. “No idea. Callie hugged her, and Delaney said, ‘We need to go before he returns.’ They jumped in the car and raced away.”

“Where were they going?”

“Cape May. Callie told me she and Delaney were hired as lifeguards this summer.”

Fuck. Cape May is nearly four hours away.

“What’s your name?”

“Mark. Mark Dixon.”

“I’m Zayne Morine.” My breath stutters as I imagine an injured Delaney leaving town.

Fuck, fuck, fuck. Who the fuck hurt her?

Was it Tim? Her brother? Aidan? All three of them?My panicky thoughts spin wildly. Did she come to see me? Oh, fuck. She needed me, and I wasn’t there.

Anxiety courses through me, making the world spin. I take deep breaths in and out, trying to gather my composure and quell rising emotions inside me. “Can I text you any questions I have? I need to call my dad and get him here to cover the bar.”

“Sure.” He pulls out his phone, his hands shaking. “Sorry, man. It just sucks seeing a woman beaten like that.” He heaves out a breath. His fingers tremble, and he curses before he says, “Okay, go ahead.”

I give him my number, and he enters it. “Sending you a text now so you have my number.”

Running a hand through my hair, I nod. “My phone’s in the bar. I tucked it under the counter earlier.”

“Do you work here?” He nods to the bar. “Why do you need to call your dad?”

I nod. “I’m going after the son of a bitch who hurt Delaney.”

CHAPTER 32

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