Page 81 of Kortlek

Cove quickly goes to the dresser I was sitting on top of not too long ago, pulling out some of my clothes that I left behind. He tosses them at me, then goes to change his clothes. I catch mine with ease, putting on a new pair of underwear, a pair of jeans, and a hoodie.

“Wyatt made contact.’’

Cove’s apartment is thirty minutes away from Arlo’s. The drive there seemed to be never-ending. I was in no state to drive, and Cove didn’t want to risk anything, so he opted for his car instead of his bike.

My heart is hammering in my chest as I stare out the window, rain pouring. I tap my foot impatiently and don’t know what to think. My mind goes back to Rose, and I’m praying silently, with all my might, that she’s okay and unharmed.

The longer I think about my friend, the longer the ride seems to be. I’m mentally counting down the minutes before we reach Arlo’s place, and I can’t stop worrying. Cove puts his hand on my thigh, giving it a soft, reassuring squeeze. He doesn’t say anything, just offers his silent support.

My mind’s in turmoil, especially since I haven’t heard back from Uncle Niko or Lucas.

I called and texted, but it’s been radio silent on their part. I’m not writing them off completely just yet, because knowing Uncle Niko, he’ll want to help — he wants to help. I’d like to believe and hope that they’re just looking for the perfect timing.

Cove parks, and I’m out of the car before he can turn the engine off. The rain pours all over me, but I don’t find it in me to care. I enter the building with the code, then immediately sprint up the stairs. Using the elevator would’ve taken too long.

As soon as I’m in Arlo’s apartment, I find him and Blair sitting in the living room, a laptop on the coffee table.

One look at Blair, and I can tell she’s furious. Her face doesn’t give away much, but the blank stare, the way her hands are clenched on her lap, and the way her body subtly trembles tell me everything I need to know.

Arlo’s not as angry, though he’s definitely not too pleased.

Rose may’ve been brought into the friend group as my friend, but there’s no doubt all of them see her as a close friend, too. He’s staring at the screen, not bothering to look at me as I enter the room. Instead, he turns the device to face me and presses the play button.

Rose’s gagged and tied to a chair with a cloth covering her eyes. Her hair’s a mess, but a deep breath of relief comes from me when I see that she’s mainly unharmed. I inspect her body for any injuries, bruises, or ripped clothes but find none.

I sit on the floor, pulling the laptop closer to me, completely immersed in the video.

Rose’s breathing, and immediately, alleviation is brought to my face. She’s not moving, head hung low, but she’s breathing. It’s not as good as having her back, but it’s a start. Cove’s words echo in my mind, and he was right — Wyatt won’t hurt her as long as he can get to me.

The camera angle switches, shifting to Wyatt.

It’s surprising.

The rest of Arlo’s living room fades around me, and I don’t notice Cove sitting down next to me. Everything except the audio of the video is shoved away, my sole focus on the man whose face is now close to mine, albeit through the screen.

I don’t feel fear.

The paralyzing effect he had on me in the basement lingers, but it doesn’t overpower me. Instead, it serves as a reminder that he cannot control me anymore. He’s lost the grip he had on me for too long, and the power I need to take back comes in bits and pieces, slowly building in me.

Everything is fresh in my head.

Every scream, every manipulation tactic, every lie. Every time he laid his hands on me, then promised he wouldn’t do it again. Every time he tried to isolate me from my loved ones, every time he told me I was worthless, a whore, and that no one could ever love someone as useless as me.

Everything I’m feeling at this moment is an overwhelming amount of anger. The menacing look in his eyes, the twisted smirk that he’s not trying to hide — everything infuriates me. My blood boils in my veins, and I swallow, trying to prevent an outburst.

“I think I’ve given you enough time to think about this whole thing, eh, baby?” Wyatt’s voice rings in my ears. He chuckles, shaking his head. Even through the screen, he’s trying to assert dominance, looking down on me as if I’m some sort of a pest. “You have an hour to meet me at the place where we met. Come alone or she dies.’’

That’s it. The screen goes black, the message ending with his final words. I slam the laptop shut, pushing it away from me and taking a deep breath to try and regulate my emotions. It’s not working, though. The more I try, the angrier I get.

Cove places a hand on my shoulder, giving it a soft squeeze. My hand covers his, and I hold him there, letting his warm touch soothe my nerves. I glance up at Arlo and notice him waiting for my reaction.

“If the message is for me, why did you get it?”

“I’ve been monitoring your devices for this specific reason.’’

I nod, not surprised at all.

“Alright,’’ I straighten up and slowly stand up. “I didn’t bring anything. I’ll need a gun from you, Arlo, and possibly a couple of knives.’’

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