Page 94 of Innocent Intentions

Margot

For thirty minutes, my mind races.

Big city or small town? Do I dye my hair? Cut it? Can you report an adult missing? What do I pack?

I need a plan. I need to think.

But all too soon, I pull into my driveway.

The first thing I see is a black van parked in front of my house. I don’t think anything of it. Just a neighbor using my spot.

I stare at my house.

It’s not fancy. It’s old. Small.

But it’s mine.

Or…it was.

I exhale sharply, pushing away the emotions creeping up my throat. There’s no time for tears.

Benny lets out a sharp, aggressive bark.

I snap back to reality, rubbing my eyes. There’s no time to cry. No time to grieve.

I leave the car running and step out. No one’s going to steal my car the five minutes I’m inside.

I reach the potted plant by my front door, which is now dead and brittle, lift it and grab the spare key. I slide it into the lock and turn the handle.

The door swings open.

It shouldn’t.

It should be locked.

I step inside, and everything stops.

My world tilts.

My furniture is flipped over. My decorations are shattered. My cabinets are hanging off their hinges. There are holes in my fucking walls.

I can’t breathe.

I can’t think.

Did someone break in? What happened?

Then realization slams into me.

Matthias. His men. They did this.

What little was left of my heart shatters completely.

I walk to my bedroom, carefully dodging the mess, when I hear footsteps.

Heavy, male footsteps.

Fuck!How did he find me so quickly?

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