Page 131 of Can You Take It?

The last thing I hear is my grandmother saying, “There’s someone here—” before Victor cuts her off with, “I’ll talk to you later.” His footsteps creak as he walks out of the house.

I look up and freeze. Richard is staring at me through the window in my room—well, Isla’s room. My entire body runs cold. The explosives suddenly feel like they’re sinking into me. I see Richard making a move, and with a subtle shake of my head, I silently beg him not to. If Richard comes down, Victor will surely trigger the explosives.

Richard looks unconvinced so I move my coat slightly, revealing the explosives strapped to me. He stills, and our locked eyes convey more than words ever could.

The moment is broken when Victor’s voice shatters the silence. “Let’s go.”

I nod and climb into the car. Victor starts the engine, and we pull out of the driveway. I steal a glance at Richard from the rearview mirror as we drive away, and he looks like he is about to unleash hell.

Chapter 35

RICHARD

I watch Izel drive away, and it feels like my heart’s about to punch its way out of my chest. She’s wearing a fucking bomb vest. What the hell is Victor planning to do to her? The birth certificate crinkles in my hand as my eyes lock onto the name listed under “father”—Victor. A name I never expected I’d see there. My fingers tighten around the paper until it crumples, but I can’t let it go. This… this proves it. Izel’s father was never Will. It was Victor all along.

My jaw clenches so tight I feel like my teeth might break. Ava never had a chance. She wasforced—by her own father, no less. He orchestrated the whole fucking thing, then sat back and watched as his lie poisoned everything. That son of a bitch didn’t just hide the truth—he rewrote it, got that birth certificate forged, made it disappear, and let Will take the blame for something so monstrous it’s hard to wrap my mind around.

I let the birth certificate slip from my hand, watching it fall to the floor like the piece of evidence it is, the truth that’s beenhidden for years. I feel the heat crawl up my neck as I sprint down the stairs.

Luna is right behind me. I almost crash into Mrs. Montclair who is standing at the door.

“What happened?” she asks, but I can’t answer. My throat is too tight with fear for Izel.

I bolt for the car, practically throwing myself into the driver’s seat. Luna jumps in beside me, and I slam the key into the ignition, firing up the engine. Mrs. Montclair’s questions fade as we peel out of the driveway.

“What’s wrong Rick?” Luna mutters.

“Izel is in danger. Victor has her and he is taking her away,” I say through gritted teeth.

We tail Victor’s car, keeping a safe distance but close enough to keep him in sight. The streets blur as I push the speed limit. I can’t shake the image of Izel with that vest.

“Where do you think he’s taking her?” Luna asks, scanning the road ahead.

“Somewhere he thinks is safe, somewhere he can control,” I reply. “But he’s underestimating us.”

We weave through traffic. Victor’s car takes a turn onto a secluded road, and I follow. Every second counts and I feel like time is slipping through my fingers.

“I can’t believe this is happening,” Luna says. “We’ve got to get to her before he does something irreversible.”

“We will,” I say, more to myself than to her. “We have to.”

Victor’s car suddenly veers off towards Virginia. What’s his endgame here? I activate the Bluetooth system in my car and call for the patrol officers.

“Dispatch, this is SSA Reynolds. I need units to tail a black sedan, plate number Echo-Mike-4317. Approach silently from all directions. Do not, I repeat, do not make a move. We might have a casualty on our hands.”

I quickly call Emily and Noah, sending them my location. “Get here ASAP. Bring Colton. We might need backup.”

Victor’s car slows down near a hospital and I frown. What the hell is he doing at a hospital? I pull over at a safe distance away and watch as Victor and Izel get out of the car. But then I notice Victor carrying someone else from the back. The person is covered in blankets.

“Stay close,” I whisper to Luna as we get out of the car, following them inside.

We enter the hospital and Victor heads straight for the emergency room with purposeful strides. Izel glances around anxiously when she finally spots Luna and me standing in the corner. Her shoulders tense, and she takes a hesitant step forward. My heart aches, and it takes every ounce of self-control not to rush to her, scoop her up in my arms, and shield her from all this madness.

Victor approaches the nurse’s station, speaking to a nurse who nods and quickly ushers him to a room. He lays the figure—who I now realize is Ava—on a gurney. She’s pale, barely conscious.

Izel stands beside him and her fingers trace the bomb vest hidden under her coat. She looks around, and for a brief moment, our eyes meet. There’s a flash of recognition, and I can see the fear and desperation in her eyes.

I pull out my phone and text Emily and Colton: “They’re in the ER. Izel has a bomb vest on. Approach with extreme caution.”

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