Page 53 of In the Midst of Chaos

Duncan laughed. It sounded like choked sobs.

“Of course he did,” he muttered.

That’s when I looked around to see what kind of room we were in. It had to be a basement. And not in a shitty house. It looked new with just enough structure to get the house sold and the promise of turning the room into the basement of your dreams. The kinds you found the upper middle class living in. The room was quiet, and I could see the light peeking through a window in the far corner.

“What happened?” I whispered.

“I’m not sure, Finnegan, but I’m sure they…” Duncan stopped talking. He was in so much pain, and I bet he had a bruised rib. They weren’t fun. I had one when I was learning how to ride. “…they call this kidnapping.”

“If you weren’t in pain, I’d kick you.”

“Kinda h-hard to do being tied up, Finnegan.”

Well, judging by the shit coming out of his mouth, he was okay for now. Or unless this was that thing that people went through—that adrenaline push before they died. My lip wobbled.

“Focus, Finley.”I could hear my father’s voice as if it were yesterday. When my fight-or-die nature kicked in, he spoke to me.

“Dun-Dun,” I whispered.

“Mhmm,” he moaned.

“Don’t die on me.”

I wiggled in my chair, knowing what I had to do for us to survive.

Fuck.

Here goes nothing.

When he heard the first thump, Duncan raised his head and glared at me. He had murder in his eyes.

“Finley!” he warned, but it was too late.

* * *

Nash

The drive back to the manor passed in a blur. I didn’t even know how fast it was going, just that I couldn’t stop until Finley was in my arms.

As we pulled up, I all but jumped off my bike. At the moment, I didn’t care if it was shredded to pieces.

I jogged the steps to the main entrance, not breaking a sweat. My heart kept thumping me, telling me to find her.

“Finley!” I started to yell as soon as I walked through the doors.

“Finley!” I screamed louder as I made it to the other set of stairs going up to her tower.

“What the hell is going on?” My father came out of his study, glaring at me.

“Have you seen Finley?”

“No, should I have?” he asked, annoyed.

“Mom’s car was found wrecked and abandoned,” I spat at my father, his face ashen by my news.

“None of the boys have seen Duncan today,” Nate informed grimly. I had forgotten he was behind me.

I took off running, ignoring my father’s shouts, and made my way to her room, barging in through the door.

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