Page 180 of Sincerely, Your Enemy

First step was securing the target—i.e., my underage sister. Second step was sending one of their guys in to gather intel, such as whether or not the victim had friends they could target as well. Maybe even distract the parents, in this caseme, if needed.

Just like that, memories of all the conversations Aaron and I had about my family travel to the forefront of my mind. I used to think he was sweet for being interested in my backstory, when all along, he was playing a part.

How could I be so blind?

A million thoughts are racing in my head, but I figure I’ll have plenty of time to beat myself up for not seeing it sooner ifI make it out of here. First, I have to find a way to make sure I don’t end up as another one of these missing girls.

The men drag me to the trunk in spite of my best efforts, and I rack my brain for a way out of this nightmare. The two men push me closer to the trunk, and I miraculously get a shot at one of them, elbowing him straight in the face. Blood begins gushing out of his nose instantly, and he groans in pain, cursing me out in a language I don’t understand.

His face is covered in blood, but it doesn’t slow them down, and I have no other choice but to face the impending truth.

I can’t fight two grown men, let alone three. If these monsters want to take me, do God knows what to me, and sell me to the highest bidder, there’s nothing I can do to stop them.

I don’t think I’ve ever screamed harder than when they manage to shove me inside the trunk.

And I don’t think I’ve ever cried harder than when the man I love appears out of nowhere and throws himself at the two bastards out to ruin my life.

He’s here.

TJ’s here.

I don’t know why, but he is. And he’s doing the exact same thing he did the night Sierra almost got taken, proving to me just how wrong I used to be about him.

The two men are completely blindsided for a moment, and TJ uses their surprise to his advantage, driving his fist into the side of Fake Cop Number One’s head with so much strength we hear something crack.

The man immediately drops to the ground, unconscious, and I jump out of the opened trunk, aiming to run to my car to make sure the cops are on their way while TJ takes on Fake Cop Number Two.

“Get her!” the man grappling with TJ screams at Aaron, and Mr. Traitor doesn’t miss a beat, running after me and intercepting me just as I’m about to reach my car.

His hand circles my throat roughly from behind, and he manages to overpower me by digging his nails into my neck like he’s trying to cut me open.

“Sorry, Lace, can’t let you do that. We’ve worked too hard on this one,” Aaron whispers in my ear before burying his nose in my hair and breathing me in like the lying, manipulative psychopath he truly is. “Now, be a good girl and get in the fucking car.”

All I can do is scream as he hauls me to the fake cop car. TJ, who’s still wrestling the same guy, looks in my direction when I do, and the man fighting him pulls out a gun while he’s distracted.

“TJ!” I let out a bloodcurdling scream.

TJ realizes what’s happening just in time to catch the man’s wrist in midair and stop him from shooting. The fucker cries out in pain when TJ manages to disarm him by twisting his wrist so hard the gun slips out of his hand and under the cop car.

The man cocks his fist back and punches TJ in the jaw the next second. TJ’s knees buckle, but he manages to keep upright.

Only, as soon as he finds his balance, the man’s coming at him again, delivering an uppercut TJ didn’t anticipate.

That’s enough to send him plummeting to the ground, and the man doesn’t waste a second straddling him to pummel his face with strong blows.

Meanwhile, Aaron is forcing me toward the car, my resistance faltering with every passing moment. Thrashing is clearly not going to cut it. I need a weapon. Anything that might help me escape him.

Think, Lacey.

The answer hits me like an avalanche.

I might not have a weapon, but I do have my keys.

My car has a push-to-start button, and I used to lose my keys all the time because of it. I’d end up tossing them on the passenger seat or in the center console and either forget they were there and lock myself out of the car, or they’d slide out underneath the seat.

Since then, I’ve picked up the habit of keeping them in my coat pocket and then zipping it up. That way, I know where they are at all times. I just need to get Aaron distracted long enough to fish them out of my coat.

“I can’t believe you’re a part of this. How can you live with yourself?” I choke out, my hand snaking down toward my pocket.

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