Page 98 of Risking it All

“You mean, what’s he doing now?”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“I’m sorry, Relic.” His eyes filled with tears. “She just needed to keep her mouth shut. That’s all she needed to do, but she didn’t. And I told you to stay away from her. I told you not to go after that money. I did everything I could to keep her alive, but neither of you would listen.”

“Macie’s safe,” I said, my own voice distant. “She’s at home surrounded by people who will protect her.”

His forehead furrowed and his face twisted as if trying to stop himself from breaking down into tears. “Knowing Macie was talking about the carjacking, Brayden stole Gianna’s phone so he could draw Macie out. She just texted Gianna because she’s trying to find you and he got Macie to come to him. She’s already left.”

I turned and burst out the door. Racing down the steps, I called Macie. One ring. Another. Too many and I went into voicemail. I sent her a text.Call me. Right now. Don’t go anywhere. Stay at the house. Stay with your parents. Tell them to call the police.

Picking at her nails like she did when she was nervous, Lyra pushed off the front of the car, which she’d parked. “Tell me what’s going on.”

“Give me the keys,” I demanded.

“Not until you tell me what’s going on!”

I called Macie again and the phone rang and rang and rang. “Dammit!” Who do I call? What do I do? “I need to get to Macie. Give me the car keys.”

“You just left there!”

“Lyra!” I roared.

“Don’t let your relationship with some girl get you killed!” she shouted back at me.

My brain stilled and my head sharply tilted. “How do you know my relationship with Macie could get me killed? Because last I checked, I hadn’t told you shit about me or Macie or anything about her or anything that could get me killed.”

Her mouth popped open, and it grew wider as I could tell she was trying to find something to say, but I wanted to hear nothing from her. A car rushed into the parking lot, brakes squealing.

Dad yelled out to me from the driver’s side window. “If you want to help Macie, get in the car.”

Lyra grabbed my arm. “Don’t do it, Relic!” She then shouted at Dad, “Don’t either of you do this!”

I shook her off, jumped into the passenger side, and slammed the door. “We need to get to the Auburn neighborhood now.”

Dad took off and I texted the only other person I had a number for who could help me—Ariel.

Tell Macie’s parents to call the police. Get them over to Gianna’s now. Tell them to get ahold of Macie. She’s in danger.

Chapter forty-eight

Macie

Ipulled into Gianna’s driveway, and the adrenaline rush of making it here on my own, driving on my own, with a manual no less, made me laugh. A small triumph amid so much panic.

Relic.His name a wish, a prayer, and my heart ached from fear. He had to be stopped from doing something stupid.

Hopping out of my car, I made my way to the front door, rang the doorbell, eventually knocked, and then frowned. I leaned to look into the window, and all seemed still and quiet within the house. I sent Gianna a text:Where are you?

My forehead furrowed. Missed calls and texts from Relic.

Aw, hell.I had my phone on mute from when I was sneaking out of my house. The sound of footsteps. I turned toward them, expecting Gianna and froze. A gun. A masked person. I blinked and saw the dark night all those months ago. The gun. The person behind it. The shot. I flinched, blinked again, and saw the person in front of me now. Time slowed. What should I do? What I didn’t do last time. I ran. But my legs weren’t moving fastenough. Sluggish. I was going to die this time. This time it would be over.

“Macie!” Relic shouted. “Macie, get down! Get down!”

Another blink, I snapped out of my haze, and ran faster, but then someone tackled me from the side. I screamed as a body pushed me to the ground. Gunshots rang out. I covered my head, waited for another bang, for the explosive pain, but there was only the sound of a scuffle. Another shot, a shout of pain, and I shook.

Relic.

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