Page 120 of Done Waiting

“You fucking bitch.” I turn to face him, and before I can react, his fist slams against my cheekbone, knocking me to my knees. Searing pain goes through my face, tears filling my eyes, temporarily blinding me.

Ben grabs a handful of my hair, but I’m not done fighting yet. Still gripping the knife, I plunge it into his thigh as he pulls me to my feet. The scream of agony that falls from his lips reminds me of an injured wild animal, the sound piercing my eardrum. He doesn’t let go of my hair, though I squirm and fight against him. My face throbs from where he hit me, but the pain is minimal from the adrenaline flowing through me as I fight for my life.

From behind me, the tires of the Mustang burn across the parking lot, growing fainter as Abby peals away.

Please, Abby. Call Jagger. Wake him up.

I get to my feet as Ben grabs the handle of the knife, trying to pull it from his leg. “You stabbed me. Fucking bitch.”

He yanks the knife from his thigh, then his fist flies at my face. It connects with a sickening, loud crack.

Then everything goes black.

46

THE STALKER

An annoying pounding on my front door makes me jolt in my chair. My neck is stiff as I lift it from the table, gazing around through blurry eyes. My eyelids are heavy as I blink, the loud pounding on my door continuing, along with Jason’s voice yelling my name.

What the hell?I glance around the room again, my limbs heavy as I push my hands through my hair. “Maddie?” I call out. But there’s no answer.Where is she?

“Jagger. Open the goddamn door!”

After scrubbing my hands over my face, I blink a few times, my vision finally clearing. My gaze lands on a piece of paper lying on my laptop. My heart slams inside my chest, dread hitting me hard, as my hand reaches out, grasping the paper. Lifting it, read the note, my heart heavy.

Dear Jagger,

I’m so sorry for doing what I did. I had to do it. I couldn’t let Ben kill Abby and her unborn baby. I know how much she means to you. You’ve already lost too much.

I know you’re pissed, but you’re the only one who can save me. I’m counting on you.

Please find it in your heart to forgive me. I love you with every single piece of me.

Yours forever,

Baby Girl

What the fuck?Rage rolls through me with all the energy of a category-five hurricane. A guttural roar leaves my lips as I realize my cell phone isn’t beside my laptop.

Why the hell did I fall asleep at the table? And how did Maddie escape without waking me up?Since my cell phone is missing, it’s natural to assume she took it and used it to turn off the alarms and unlock the doors.

Jumping to my feet, adrenaline courses through me as Jason and Bryce take turns yelling and banging on the door. Hurrying toward it, I unlock it, then yank it open, causing the alarm to blare at a deafening volume. Turning, I punch the code into the system beside the door, successfully stopping the annoying screeching.

“What the fuck, man? We’ve been calling and trying everything to reach you,” Jason says, standing in the doorway. “You never ignore calls or texts.”

“Maddie took my phone.”

“We’re aware,” Bryce says. “Abby called us. She has your phone, along with Maddie’s Mustang.”

“How the hell were you sleeping at a time like this?” Jason’s eyes roam over my messy hair and exhausted face.

Realizing I’m still holding the note Maddie left me, I thrust it forward. “Fuck if I know. I haven’t felt like this since the last time I took a sleeping pill.” My forehead wrinkles as I remember Maddie going upstairs to get pills for her headache. “Son of a bitch. Maddie must have grabbed my sleeping pills and slipped them to me.” Images of her sliding the iced coffee to me spin inside my head, making my head pound. “Goddamn it!” I punch the wall, spinning and running my hand through my hair.I’m so fucking pissed at her.

“Smart,” Jason looks impressed, but his face changes when I whirl around, shooting him a look full of pure rage.

Dread fills my heart, and chills running down my spine. “Where the fuck is Maddie, and why the hell does Abby have Maddie’s Mustang?”

Jason and Bryce look at one another, not saying anything.

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