Page 35 of Forget Me Not

But I have to figure out something, otherwise my best friend will pay the ultimate price.

Deciding I need to work smarter instead of harder, I pick up my phone and shoot off the video to Kayson and Aris. I stare down at the device, begging it to ring back for somebody to tell me what to do. But as time draws on with no response, I decide it's time to do what I have to do.

Sacrifice myself.

After all, she'd do the same thing for me. It’s what best friends and family do for one another. Years ago, we took a knife to our thumbs and pressed them together, becoming blood sisters.

We vowed that we’d die for one another if the occasion ever arose.

We pledged our lives to one another as only sisters could do.

And now it's time for me to keep my oathed vow.

I quickly dress and call for Tracker.

“Come on, boy. Let’s go outside.” His tongue lolls out the side of his mouth as his tail begins whipping around. He follows me like the dutiful dog he is. I feel bad taking him away from Berkley. But if it all works out, he’ll be back at his side soon and my twin will be safe from all threats.

He's gonna be my distraction.

He always goes to the eastern part of the property to take care of his business, which means I need to jog for the west side. Because once he trips the safety wires, they'll all go running in that direction to try to find out who or what tripped the detectors. I may have a few men left behind that I’ll need to make my way around, but I’m a gymnast, so climbing trees and swinging from the limb of one and catapulting myself to the other won’t be too difficult for me. I did it a lot as a teenager.

It's the only plan I can come up with at the spur of the moment that makes any type of sense. I disarm the security panel by quickly inserting the code. Once the green light goes off and the red one takes its place I know it’s go time—I only have so long before somebody realizes what I’ve done.

With bated breath and a silent prayer, I grip the doorknob and swing the door open. I watch as Tracker darts to his favorite area in the back quarter panel of the land and rearm the system and step outside.

“Please let this work,” I pray.

I can’t stay glued to the side of the house because Aris has spotlights aimed toward it. Getting in a runner’s stance, I wait until I hear the sounds of men crashing through the trees. Once I hear the fallen branches snap underneath their weight, I dash for the opposite side of the property and stick to the shadows, allowing the illumination from the bright moonlight to guide me. I haven’t done a lot of exploring on the outside since we arrived, so I let my instincts take over and keep my feet moving. If I stop, I’ll start second guessing myself. I tell myself that I gave them a chance to help me come up with a better alternative when I called. Even though they didn’t answer, I know they’re not going to see that as a good enough excuse.

How can they when I don’t think it’s an adequate one?

“Hang on, Addison. I’m coming. You’ll be free soon,” I say, clutching my fist over the center of my chest where my heart aches, hoping that even if she can’t hear me, she can feel me.

Once I climb up the tree that has enough knots for me to hold onto, I swing from branch to branch like Tarzan until I'm over the property fence.

When my feet crash down onto the dirt path, I pick up my phone and respond to the email.

I’m off the property. I’ll be in the parking lot in an hour or so but you won’t see me. Not until I watch you release Addison and witness her walking away.

I delete my reply and start over. He won’t take demands well, but he’s getting one anyway. I know that if I keep running I can be there in forty-five minutes. The thing is, I need a little time in order to find a good hiding place where they won’t find me so I need to give him a different timeline.

I managed to escape my guards but it’s going to take me more time than you allotted for me to arrive since I’m hoofing it by foot. It’ll take me at least an hour and a half to get there since I can’t take any of the main roads without taking the chance of being spotted. I’m warning you now, Dad, that you won’t see me, you won’t know I’m there until Addison is put into a vehicle and let loose. The very second I see that she’s sitting behind the wheel of a getaway car, I’ll reveal myself to you. I won’t budge on this; her safety and freedom is my only priority.

I don’t sign off with any doting end quotations like I usually would after responding to a message. He doesn’t deserve any love or sincerely Berlynn’s, he hasn’t earned any of thoserespectful words from me. I just hope the guys check their emails soon and see that I forwarded my dad’s video to them before it’s too late for Addison and me.

CHAPTER

TWENTY

ARIS

“Why don’twe have a signal out here?” Garrick grumbles as he attempts to call in his team for backup. In his mind, we don’t have enough men to handle the magnitude of lowlifes Berlynn’s father has at his disposal.

“It’s hit or miss in this area. Not to mention, I heard that overnight, the cell towers were being updated which means we’ll be without service for the time being,” I tell him.

“That’d explain why I haven’t had any bars for most of the night,” Garrick expresses, his face contorted into a look of displeasure. “It’s gonna make keeping in contact with one another next to impossible.”

“They’ve worked randomly, Garrick. Let’s just hope they wrap up soon.”

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