Page 56 of Allison

“Yes, sir,” Bruno had conceded. “I understand.” He had turned his attention back to Allison, who had had the feeling he was only telling his boss what he wanted to hear. Bruno would come after her, sooner or later.

Allison shivers as she remembers the look in Bruno’s eyes. He fully intends to do her harm, of that she has no doubt. She makes sure to secure all of her locks and checks every window, even though she’s on the eighth floor it isn’t like someone could easily break in through a window, but after what she’s just been through, she isn’t taking any chances.

Unlocking her phone, she wonders how masked-man had been able to get into it and use it. She is going to need to change all her passwords and maybe even get a new phone. The man has likely installed tracking software on her phone so he can monitor her to ensure she is following their agreement.

Opening her message app, she sees the messages between her and Emma, or the fake her, who had texted Emma back to keep Emma from worrying and sending someone to search for her. Then she reads the messages to and from Russell. Those bring tears to her eyes. Whoever had responded to his messages had made her sound like a raging bitch. She is certain Russell will never speak to her again.

She presses Emma’s contact information on her phone. It only rings once. “Hello? Allison?” Emma’s frantic voice comes over the line. “Where are you? Are you okay?”

Allison takes a deep breath to keep the tears that have formed at hearing Emma’s voice. “Hey, Emma. I’m at home. I’m okay. I’m really sorry about the last few days,” Allison manages to keep her voice even and clear. “Please forgive me. I’ve just been tied up in a story. You know how I get when I’m on a hot lead.” She forces a chuckle out, but her voice cracks. Tears slipping down her face.

“Allison! You don’t sound okay,” Emma accuses, “and I know you would never leave me worried and freaking out like I’ve been, if you could help it. What happened?” Allison muffles the phone to keep Emma from hearing her sobs. She forces herself to get control.

“I really am s-s-sorry,” Allison stutters. “I have been wrapped up in a story.” She sniffs, swallowing hard. The silence over the line, tears her up as much as the kidnapping. “I just wanted to call and apologize. If you can’t forgive me, I understand.”

“Stop! Just stop!” Emma exclaims. “You know I could never stay angry with you, even when you’ve done something to deserve it. I know you didn’t do this on purpose, Ali. Something happened to you. Please, just tell me.”

“N-nothing happened,” Allison lies. Masked-man had warned her what would happen to those she loved if she revealed what had happened to her in the last few days. “Look, I said I’m sorry. I can’t—, uh, don’t have anything else to say. I gotta go. I love you, Em. I’ll talk to you later.” Allison ends the call with her heart breaking. She’s never lied to Emma in all of their lives, but it is necessary in this situation.

Allison takes a deep breath and heads to her room. She drops her suitcase on the floor in front of her closet. The knowledge that she lied to Emma is weighing on her, but it had been necessary. She couldn’t take the chance that masked-man wouldn’t know if she told someone what had happened. He’d been very graphic about what would happen if she told anyone.

She forces herself to undress and take a shower. Tomorrow will be a better day. She repeats this over and over in her head, willing it to be true.

37

WORM

Worm paces the length of the gym where he has come to blow off some steam. Thankfully, not many are here at this late hour. His emotions are out of control. He desperately needs to get rid of all this nervous energy in a constructive way instead of flying out to San Diego and kicking someone’s ass. He doesn’t know what is going on with Allison, but he can’t rid himself of the feeling she’s in trouble and needs him.

Emma had called a few minutes ago to inform him, Allison had called her to apologize for ghosting all of them for the last few days, but something seemed off with the conversation. Emma is certain that Allison is lying about where she’s been for the last three days. Emma had said Allison had been tearful, but remained adamant she’d just been busy with a story. Worm agrees with Emma. Allison isn’t acting like herself, not that he knows her that well, still her actions don’t align with what he does know about her.

His phone rings. He hurries over to his gym bag to retrieve his phone. He sees Allison’s name on the caller ID. “Sugar? Are you all right?” Worm does his best to keep his voice calm and even. Emma had said when she’d pushed Allison to tell her where she’d been, Allison had ended the conversation. Worm doesn’t want that to happen on this call.

“Um, hey, Russell.” Allison sounds nervous. He wants to climb through his phone and take her fear away, hold her close. “I-I…I just wanted to apologize for the things I’d said in the texts the other day. I didn’t mean them. I…I, just, got caught up in my work. I get impatient when I’m on a hot lead. I’m sorry I was so rude.”

“Sugar.” Worm does his best to keep the irritation out of his voice. He knows she’s lying. She didn’t send those texts, but he’s so relieved to hear from her, he doesn’t want to piss her off. Still, he needs her to know that he knows. “We both know you didn’t send those texts, but if you want to keep up this charade, then you’re going to have to grovel to make it up to me.” He forces a chuckle to keep the mood light.

A hitched breath comes over the line before a combination laugh-crying sound. “Baby, talk to me. Let me help you. Are you safe? I can have someone come to you until I can get out there.”

A long silence follows. Worm doesn’t push her to talk, knowing how stubborn she can be, she’d likely hang up on him. “Russell, I just called to say, I’m sorry.” Worm waits patiently to see if she’s going to say anything more. “I have to go. Please don’t be angry with me.”

“Allison! Wait! Don’t hang up yet,” Worm demands. “I’m here, sugar, anytime of day or night. All you have to do is call.”

“Th-thanks, Russell.”

The call ends, leaving him feeling worse than he had before she’d called. He resumes pacing while mulling everything over in his head. Allison is obviously in some kind of trouble, but she’s unwilling to share what that is with him or Emma.

He needs to do something, but he can’t just get on a plane and go to San Diego. He’d be going AWOL which is career ending and would honestly destroy him. He’s worked so hard to get where he is.Can he give it all up for a woman he’s known for a handful of days? But can he leave her to fend for herself?

Pulling up contacts on his phone, Worm types out a text to the one man he is certain will have the answers he needs to help Allison and not end his military career at the same time. He isn’t expecting a reply as it’s so late at night, but hopefully the man will reply by morning.

Worm picks up his gym bag. He needs to head home and get some sleep. He has PT in the morning. He’ll be lucky to get three hours of sleep, if he can even fall asleep after that call from Allison. Worm is just sliding into the driver’s seat of his pickup when his phone chirps.

Tex:What do you need?

Worm:I need you to look into Emma’s cousin, Allison Simpson. She’s the one that we had you looking for on Sunday.

Tex:Wallace said she made contact

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