Page 172 of Dark Endures

“Thank you.”

Don’t thank me yet.

He rushes up and hugs me. “I didn’t know what I was going to do.”

You were going to die or run. I hug him back despite the pain it causes my ribs. These things are never going to heal. “You would have figured something out.”

Waylon squeezes me too tight. “Thank you. I love you.”

“I love you, too.” That must be true, or I wouldn’t be doing this.

“Call me as soon as you know.” Waylon starts off in the other direction.

Dazed and in pain, I move towards the street to find a cab. Will Winnie understand? I hardly understand. Maybe I should call Leonie, and she could arrest the loan shark instead of paying him off.

Except Leonie has told us way too many stories about the one who got away. That would be really bad for Waylon.

Should I tell Maddox? Is this one of those dating things?

Would he get mad at Waylon or refuse to help?

It isn’t in Maddox’s nature not to help when someone’s in need.

The street is full of cars, but there aren’t many cabs. The next one over will probably be better.

I lift my phone to call—

“Don’t move or I’ll shoot.”

What feels distinctly like it could be a gun barrel pokes into my ribs, sending a sharp pain down through them.

A car door opens right next to me, and the man pushes me in before I can even let out a scream. I tumble hard into someone’s knees, then the floor, taking the breath right out of me.

I’ve been kidnapped. In less than thirty seconds, I was abducted. They never tell you what to do when you’ve been kidnapped.

What is with my life?

Maddox is going to be so mad.

He’s going to find me. He’s got to find me.

One second, I’m lying on the floor, trying to figure out if I can move. The next, I’m sitting on the seat next to an average-looking man. Aren’t all bad guys supposed to look evil? Adonis did when he was drunk. But he tricked us all with his good looks.

Bad men should be required to wear a sign.

I’ve officially lost my mind.

“Call him.” The bad guy holds up the phone. “Call your boyfriend.”

What? How does this guy know that I’m dating Maddox?

The bad man shoves my phone in my face. “Do it on video. I want him to see your face. And don’t try to call the cops or anything. You’ll be dead before the first word gets out.”

Dead. That really isn’t how I planned to spend my evening. Kissing Maddox was on the schedule after I made a phone call and took a nap. Dying…not so much. I take my phone, almost dropping it. My hands are shaking so much.

Why didn’t my mother teach me how to fight a guy with a gun who had you shoved in his car?

Like I would be any good at that. I’m going to let Louisella teach me to throw knives if I make it out of this thing alive.

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