Page 119 of Done Waiting

I’m done waiting, Ben.I’m getting Abby back. I know what I’m doing is risky as hell, but I’ll fight like hell to get back to Jagger.And I know he’ll burn down the fucking world until he finds me.

I’m about five minutes from the hospital when Jagger’s phone rings. Looking at the screen, the caller is listed as “Unknown.” But I know exactly who it is.

“Hello, Ben.” My voice is strong and steady, despite the butterflies flapping their wings inside my stomach.

He sounds surprised. “Well, hello, Maddie. Where’s Jagger?”

“Not here. This is between you and me.”

Ben releases an evil chuckle. “You have no idea how true that is.”

My eyes narrow. “This is how it’s going to happen. I’ll go to whatever location you desire to meet you and Abby. I’m alone. You release Abby for me. She’ll take my Mustang and go.”

He snorts, his voice full of arrogance. “It’s funny you think you’re the one calling the shots.”

“You obviously want me for some reason, so let’s do this. I’ll take her place, but you must agree to let her go.”

There’s a pause, and Ben finally says, “And if I don’t?”

Briefly closing my eyes as I stop at a red light, I say, “Then the deal is off. Me for Abby. Take it or leave it.”

“You’ve gotten more aggressive since you’ve been withhim.” He pauses, and I say nothing, willing myself to be strong.

Finally, he says, “Fine. Here’s where I want to meet.” Ben gives me the location and address and then hangs up.

Breathing in and out, I picture Jagger’s face, trying to calm my racing heart.

Driving as quickly as I can, it feels like time slows down until I finally spot the dilapidated warehouse ahead. It’s at the edge of town, near the woods, and my heartbeat stutters inside my chest as images of the woman he violated, then killed in the woods behind campus, float through my head.

Stop it, Maddie. You need to focus.

Pulling into a parking lot overgrown with weeds and covered with potholes, I slowly drive toward the double doors that Ben told me to park in front of.

Putting the car in park, I stare through the windshield, waiting. I don’t turn the ignition off because I want Abby to be able to slide behind the wheel and leave as soon as he releases her.

The doors open, and Ben stands in them, his arm around Abby’s waist. Tears run down her cheeks, and her eyes widen when they lock on mine.

Leaving Jagger’s phone inside the car, knowing Abby can use it and that Ben would only take it and get rid of it if I take it with me, I heave out a breath, then open the door. Climbing out of the car, my eyes are trained on Ben, who holds a knife to Abby’s throat.

I slowly head toward him, holding my arms up in the air. “You can see I’m alone. Now, let her go.”

“Come closer,” Ben orders, his feral gaze on me. A shiver courses through my spine as I look into his psychotic eyes, glimmering with desire and something else. Something I’ve never seen before.Want?Need? Revenge?I’m not entirely sure. But whatever it is, it creeps me out.

Each step seems to take an infinity, yet time seems to speed up simultaneously. My gaze never wavers from Ben’s, not trusting him at all. “Let her go.”

Ben stares at me, eyebrows raised. “How do I know this isn’t a trap?”

“Unlike you, I keep my promises,” I snap. “Release her,” I say through gritted teeth.

His arm loosens, and Abby pushes against it, running toward me. “Maddie, why?” Tears coursed down her cheeks. “It’s a trap.”

But Ben is there, grabbing my arm—and Abby’s.

I anticipated this.

Turning my head as though I’m looking at someone behind him, Ben follows my gaze. As fast as lightning, I grab the knife from my back pocket, open it, and slide it across his arm that grips Abby. He howls, lifting his arm to see the blood trailing from the wound.

Shoving Abby away, I yell, “run.” We exchange a loaded look as I put myself between her and Ben, watching her as she takes off, heading to my car.

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