Page 87 of The Lair

My ears start ringing, my hands get clammy, and suddenly I don’t think there’s enough oxygen for me in this bar.

“I’ll take that as a yes,” Tom continues, his eyes never leaving my face.

My fingers find the beads on my bracelet and start toying with them, willing the panic to die down in vain.

I need air.

I need to get out of here.

Quit. Flee. Start again.

“What do you want?” I blurt out, my voice quivering but quiet so Travis doesn’t hear me. If he comes to the front and sees how tense Tom is making me, he’ll have questions. Questions I can’t answer.

Tom raps his knuckles on the bar, a casual gesture that poses such a vast contrast to my frantic heartbeat. “We don’t want to bother you. We just want to know if you’d be willing to speak out on?—”

“Who’swe?” I cut him off. “How did you find me? Whoareyou?”

Blood drains from my face then, remembering that Charlie mentioned Tom worked in the entertainment industry. He never explained what his job was, and I’d been careless to not think anything of it.

“I work for George Eden,” he says, confirming my suspicions. “We got a lead a while ago from someone on our team. Someone who came to The Lair and thought she recognized you.”

“Mindy?” It comes out as a whisper.

The woman I almost killed because I gave her a burger with onions. The woman Iknewhad recognized me but hadn’t said anything. How foolishly wrong I’d been.

“Yeah.” Tom’s eyebrows lift in surprise. “She was here on vacation and had an issue with her food, and… Anyway, not the point. Since my family lives here, I offered to talk to you during the holidays. George is fascinated by your case, and he’d like to interview you for his talk show. You flew under the radar for six years, Allie. That’s no small feat.”

And now it’s ruined.

All my efforts to start anew, gone.

“Our audience would love to know why you left in the first place. Why you changed your name and your appearance. What happened with… you know, the kidnapping.”

Before he finishes that sentence, I’m already shaking my head.

It was too good to be true. All of this—my job, my friendships, my new life.

Amid the chaos in my head, I realize starting over has never been a true possibility. Not when I could never, no matter how hard I try, escape a past that was broadcasted for millions of people to see.

“No.”

One word. That’s all I can manage as my throat closes and unshed tears collect in my eyes.

Tom sighs. “I understand this is hard to take in, but please hear me out. We only want your statement—that’s it. We suspect something went down with your family that made you leave despite their claims that everything was fine. One doesn’t change their name and physical appearance for no reason.”

I shake my head again as the nervous tears falls. My head spins, and I brace myself against the bar so I don’t pass out.This can’t be happening.

“Leave. Please.”

It’s not a question or an invitation, but Tom persists. “Influencer families overexposing their children online is becoming a very dangerous issue. We’re trying to bring awareness so that Congress considers new laws to protect children?—”

I’m barely listening. I’m barelybreathingas this stranger ruins my life and I’m helpless to stop him.

“Leave me alone. Please,” I beg him, not caring anymore who sees me break down. “I left for a reason. I don’t want to remember. I don’t want to relive my kidnapping. You can interview someone else.”

His eyes soften just a tad. “I understand. I do, Allie, but think about it. Your experience could help us move forward with Congress. You were kidnapped, and many people are convinced it had to do with your family sharing personal information online. The police never issued an official statement, and the rumors have gone in all directions. Any proof you have of parental abuse or neglect would really help our case. We’re only trying to protect other children from going through the same thing.”

I’m hearing the words, but my head and heart don’t respond. They’re stuck in the nightmare unfolding right before my eyes.

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