Page 128 of The Rogue

I shake my head. Not bothering to correct her. “No—I got a call—a text that he wasn’t in school today?” I start breathlessly. “His uncle dropped him off this morning. He was supposed to be in the yard. Are you su—”

“Ma’am,” she shouts, holding up her hands. “Please keep your voice down.”

Was I screaming?

“Jackson is here today. It must have been a mistake,” she says softly with a smile I know is fake.

I sigh with relief. “Thank you. I just wanted to make sure. It’s been—he’s—thank you.”

She nods and I swear, she thinks I’m insane. I’ll just have to explain this one to my husband later. “May I…see the message?”

I nod and tap my pockets. “Oh. I left without my phone.”

She stares at me.

I laugh nervously and swallow. “You’re sure he’s here?”

She nods. “I saw him today and no one leaves school grounds until pick up. Which is in thirty minutes if you’d like to wait.”

I shake my head. “That’s alright. I need to get back. Thank you.”

Still shaking and feeling stupid, I walk back to the car.

What the hell was that text then?

I want to cry. I can’t keep living like this. I slide into the driver’s seat and glance at my guard.

Jesus, no wonder Kenny never wants to sit. The man is out cold, head leaning against the window.

“Please, don’t get up,” I mutter, buckling myseatbelt. “I’ll drive.”

“Sounds good to me.” A lethal voice comes from behind me. One that’s rottenly familiar. Followed by something cold pressed against my temple.

I freeze.

“Sleeping Beauty is going to wake up soon. We’re going to toss him on the roadside. Drive.”

My breaths come in sharp, ragged gasps, chest heaving with panic.

“Drive!” he roars.

I jolt and grip the steering wheel, barely giving it a beat before my gaze lifts to the rear-view mirror. His eyes meet mine there.

It’s him.

Eddie Graves. Dark hair, tanned skin, hostile grey eyes.

“If he wakes up, I shoot him. Go.”

I shift into drive and hit the gas.

My heart pounds against my chest as we drive through and then out of Hideaway Springs. In the rearview mirror I see him glancing at his phone, giving me directions from his GPS.

“Take a right, then get on the expressway.”

Swallowing hard, I resist the urge to ask where he’s taking us.

I’m not sure I want to know yet.

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