Page 40 of Savage Truth

“You have me. It should be enough for you to stay.”

She shook her head. “You know that’s why I have to go.” She grabbed her suitcase, leaving the box.

I couldn’t bring myself to pick it up. That would have finalized it. I followed her down the stairs. Raelyn was nowhere in sight, and my dad was pacing, his phone pressed against his ear.

Riley opened the door and dragged her suitcase outside, and I rounded on my dad. “Do something.”

He hung up and got in my face. “What do you think I’m doing? I’ve got things in motion and people ready. We’ll nail this sick fuck and put him away so he never sees the light of day again.”

“Good.” I clenched my teeth, barely getting the words out. “And when this is over, you’ll come clean to Damon and me about Raelyn, Mom, and anything else you’ve been keeping to yourself.”

Dad gave a clipped nod as Raelyn rushed into the foyer, her suitcase trailing behind. Like lightning, she was outside before Dad could stop her, and not a second later, she popped her head back in. “Tell Riley it’s time to go.”

Ice infused my veins at what her words could mean. “She’s already out there.”

“No.” Raelyn shook her head. “She’s not. Her car’s there, and the trunk is open. I saw her suitcase. But she must have gone back in to get the rest.”

Fuck.I rushed around Raelyn and to where Riley’s car was. She wasn’t anywhere. When I rounded the corner to the garage, my heart almost stopped. “Dad!” Two men lay on the grass with their throats slit.

She’s gone.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

RILEY

Pain both dull and sharp throbbed through my skull, and the musty smell didn’t help. The surface beneath me was soft like a bed. With effort, I cracked open my eyes and had to blink several times to get my vision to work. Finally, I made out the room’s shape—or at least heavy blinds, like the kind in motel rooms, pulled closed.

I’d seen enough of those to know that was where I was. I wracked my brain, trying to remember.Is Mom here? No…The last thing I remembered was putting my suitcase in the trunk of my car then blinding pain. I hadn’t seen anything but felt the hit. Everything after that was blank.

Only one person could have been behind it: my fucking father.

I felt woozy. Nausea churned my stomach, and I swallowed excess saliva, trying not to throw up as my eyes adjusted even more. My arm was handcuffed to part of the headboard, and I lay on an ugly mustard-colored bedspread with orange and yellow flowers. I pushed myself up, sitting with my back to the headboard.

I scanned the room, ensuring he’d only gotten to me and not Mom—if he had her, she would be in worse shape than the last time.Where the hell is Uncle Ronan?

The metal cuffs rattled as I moved, but I had to check for my phone. My pockets were empty. All I could hope was that the tracking app still worked or had pointed help in the right direction before he disabled and tossed it.

And my shoes were gone. Uncle Ronan had taught Mom and me many things, including the need to keep a long pin tucked inside the material of one of each pair of our shoes. That way, we could pick a lock if needed. It would have come in handy with the stupid handcuffs.

No one was in the room with me, a small saving grace for the time being. Nick had to have been close by with his goons. Suddenly, the door opened, and bright light pierced my brain like a dagger through an eye.

I reeled, trying to stop the tidal wave of nausea brought on by the pain. I got it under control by breathing in through my nose and out through my mouth. I felt him looming near the door. When I managed to open my eyes, he was right where I thought he would be. Close to six feet and broad-shouldered, he leaned against the door, wearing a stupid smirk on his shadowed face. I couldn’t make out all his features, but I remembered the dark slicked-back hair from our other unfortunate encounter at Cole’s.

“I wasn’t sure you were going to wake up. Thought I’d hit you a little too hard.”

“Why? What day is it?” My stomach sank.How far are we from Mom?

“Sunday.”

Have I been out for two days?His smoker’s voice grated on my last nerve. “What the hell do you want with me?” I spat venomously.If only I could kill him just by speaking.

Silence settled between us. He didn’t answer my question, and I refused to repeat myself. Something landed at my side, and I looked down. He’d thrown a bottle of water at me.Guess he doesn’t want me to die… yet.

I waited for his next move as we stared each other down and he obviously cataloged everything about me. I did the same, as much as my double vision would allow. The asshole had given me a concussion. I hadn’t felt the back of my head, but I was sure there was dried blood there.

“You look just like that bitch Raelyn at seventeen.”

I bared my teeth at him.Asshole.

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