Page 289 of Redeemed

Isaiah shoves Haven into the backseat before crawling in next to her, and the older man gets into the driver’s seat. Before I’m even halfway to her, they’re already speeding out of the parking lot, almost hitting a few families on the way out.

Through the back window, I watch Haven try to open the door to throw herself out, but Isaiah grabs her and slaps her across the face. My stomach drops as her head snaps to one side.

Bike. I need my bike.

I make a sharp turn to my right. I parked on the other side of the lot. Even running as fast as I can, it’ll take me a minute or so to get there. This place is too damn big.

Panic spikes through me at the realization that I’ve lost sight of Haven. I grab my phone and fumble with it until I manage to hit the button to call Colton.

“You found her?” he demands.

“They took her. Drove off. I’m following.”

“Fuck.Fuck!”

“Tracking app,” I pant, regretting all those times I avoided going on runs with Lucas. “Need you to pull it up.”

We probably should’ve told Haven we put tracking software on her phone, but we were too worried she’d take it off. It felt like crossing a line to me, but now, I’m glad we installed it.

“Already on it,” Colton says, although his voice seems off. “You have to get to her, Xander. Youhaveto.”

“I know.”

We’re all well aware of what could happen to her if Isaiah manages to get her back to that goddamn cult.

By the time I’ve made it to my bike, sweat is pouring down my back, and my heart is beating out of my chest. I’ve already torn off my graduation robes and thrown them to the ground. With the tap of a button, my phone connects to the headset in my helmet, and Colton’s voice sounds in my ear a moment later.

“Putting you on speaker,” Colton says. “Looks like they’re going east on Kingston. Probably headed for the interstate. They’re already a mile out, moving fast.”

“On it.”

The parking lot and campus roads are already clogging up with everyone leaving the graduation ceremony. Isaiah managed to get out just before the bad traffic hit, but I’m stuck in the middle of it.

Luckily, I can slip around the cars to get ahead. I ignore the people honking their horns, too focused on getting onto Kingston. If they get on the interstate, I’ll be able to pick up speed to catch up. But considering how fast they’re going, it looks like Isaiah and that other man know we’ll chase after them.

Once I’m off campus, I turn left onto Kingston. Traffic is slowed to a stop, but I move in between lanes to get to the front. People who get pissed can eat a bag of dicks.

I can’t let her get away.

A rush of voices come through the headset. I can make out Lucas, and I think Athelia. Maybe Wesley as well? Colton says a few things I can’t make out before asking me, “What type of car?”

“White Toyota Camry. Didn’t catch the license plate.”

“Okay. Okay, that should be enough. Wes and Kellan are heading out, too, just in case you need backup.”

Thank fuck.I have no idea how to even get the car to stop, let alone pull Haven away from Isaiah and who I’m now realizing is probably her father.

Oh, shit.

I completely abandoned my family again.

“Luc—Luc, my Dad and Rachel.”

“They’re here with us,” Lucas says. “I ran into them while I was looking for Haven, and I caught them up to speed.”

Over the years, I’ve caused my dad a lot of pain. This feels exactly the same as blowing him off to skateboard with my friends or go to some party. Or, in more recent years, heading off to Birchwood when I was still in high school, or coming back here when he needed help recovering from the accident.

“Dad. Dad, I… I’m sorry.”

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