Page 49 of Forever Mine

“Like two hours ago? Listen I…” I didn’t hear what else he was saying because I was running out of the room again. I’d feel bad about it later and would have to make sure I apologized, but I couldn’t worry about that right now.

A few people cursed at me, which I ignored, until I made my way to Dr. Kiley’s office. The door was closed and the lights were off. I peered in, but it looked empty. Fuck.

I went to the nurse’s station where Sharon was watching me like I’d lost my damn mind.

“Hey, have you seen my boyfriend anywhere? Jay Parks? His mom was here a while ago?”

She frowned at me. “I saw him a few hours ago, but I assumed he left. You haven’t heard from him? Did you try calling?”

I didn’t have time for that ridiculous question. “Have you seen Dr. Kiley?” I asked instead.

“He just left. Said he had an emergency. Dakota, what’s going on?”

I was already running. My phone was vibrating in my pocket. I almost ignored it but then realized it might be Jay. It was Beck. I answered, not bothering with a hello.

“Jay was last seen with Dr. Kiley, who’s leaving the office now. I’m headed to the doctor’s lot now, you can meet me there.” Then I hung up.

I wasn’t completely clueless. No way was I sitting still until I knew what was happening, but I also realized I was way out of my league. That was obvious by how I was fucking panting as I ran down the steps since I didn’t want to bother with the elevator. After I found Jay, I needed to do some more cardio. My chest was burning with the exertion.

Not that I had a clue what to expect when I got there. It wasn’t like Dr. Kiley took Jay and had him stuffed in a closet or something. But I did hope he at least could give me some answers. He was always kinder and friendlier with the nurses than most doctors. He was Lydia’s primary doctor when she was here, so he probably remembered Jay. Maybe he saw him struggling and sent him somewhere while he waited for me. That didn’t answer why Jay’s tracking was off and he wasn’t answering his phone.

The doctors had their own floor in the parking garage with their own designated spots. I ran all the fucking way to their floor in time to see Dr. Kiley closing the trunk of his BMW. He stopped and wiped his brow before looking around the lot, like he was making sure he hadn’t been seen.

I paused, catching my breath as I watched him. Alarm bells started to blare. Something was not right here. Dr. Kiley checked his phone. He put it in his pocket and then pulled something else out of his other pocket. Another phone? He pressed a button on the side and waited. I realized he was waiting for it to turn on. Once it lit up, he typed something on it. From where I was standing I couldn’t make out what he was doing.

I itched to get closer since my instincts were screaming something was wrong, but I hesitated. Maybe I should wait till Beckett or Wes got here. I was way in over my head .

I took one step back into the shadows so I wouldn’t be seen, when my phone buzzed. I was relieved I didn’t have it on ring or any alerts on, and I was able to check it without Dr. Kiley realizing.

It was…a message from Jay. No. No. This wasn’t fucking happening.

Jay: Hey I had a little issue at the hospital and had to leave. Need to get out of my head. I’m going to hang out with Beckett. I’ll talk to you later.

Tears stung my eyes as I watched Dr. Kiley stare at the phone. It had to be a fucking coincidence, right? Please, please don’t tell me it was Dr. Kiley doing this.

But, it obviously wasn’t Jay. First, I knew damn well Beck was on his way to this lot at this very moment. Second, Jay had never in all the time I’d known him typed out anyone’s full name while texting. Even if I hadn’t realized he was missing, that would’ve set off alarm bells for me.

Dr. Kiley started to head to his driver’s seat. I had to do something. I couldn’t let him leave.

Taking a deep breath, I made sure my tracking was on and working, then shot Beckett and Wes a quick text.

I think it’s Dr. Kiley.

Then I did what was probably the most reckless thing I’d done in my life. Stepping out of the shadows, I ran toward his car, arms waving in the air. “Dr. Kiley! Dr. Kiley, wait!”

CHAPTER 21

JAY

The first thingI noticed was the fucking machete slicing my head open… Okay, so there wasn’t an actual machete or anything slicing my head open, but there may as well have been with how badly it was hurting. What the fuck happened? Even my worst hangover never hit me like that. I tried to open my eyes and realized that I couldn’t. That wasn’t really true either, but even when I opened them I was in complete darkness. Something brushed against my eyelashes as I blinked. Was I fucking blindfolded?

A wave of panic washed over me when I tried to move my arms and I couldn’t. They were stuck behind me somehow. Okay, I needed to fuckin’ think.

I was lying on my side with my legs curled up into my chest. I tried to stretch them out, only to hit something. It was soft but it was restricting my movement. I wiggled my legs side to side and determined there wasn’t a whole lot of space on either side of me. I was definitely caught in something, but if I moved enough, I could feel something solid all around me. Maybe a trunk or some kind of cage. My arms were tied behind my back. It wasn’t metal cuffs, more like a strap. I tried tugging at it, but from this angle, I didn’t have enough room. When I went to open mymouth, it wouldn’t budge. Was it duct-taped shut? I didn’t know for sure, but I couldn’t fucking move it at all.

I’d never loved tight spaces. I’d spent a lot of time locked in closets when I was little, when my ma had clients over or boyfriends who didn’t want me around. One time she went on a bender and forgot I was in it. It took me a whole day to get brave enough to try to get out on my own and then probably close to another day for me to do enough damage to the doorknob to break it open and get out. After that, no fucking thank you. I never let my ma put me in a closet again, and any time I was in small spaces it became hard to fuckin’ breathe. Like right now.

I tried to suck in air, but I couldn’t because of whatever was over my face. I got the impression that it covered more than just my mouth, too. Like my nostrils were free, but now that I was aware, it felt like the stuff was over most of my face. My chest burned and I started to wheeze. I had to get out of here. My feet were tied together, but my legs were free. I started kicking and screaming as best I could through the gag. Something was definitely restricting me. Was I in a fucking duffel bag? My chest heaved and I couldn’t get any fucking air. Oh fuck, fuck, I was going to suffocate. My body shook and tears stained the blindfold.

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