Page 89 of Secret Crush

Colt and Clara were also there, unless he went to the beach condo. Alice held her tongue, not wanting to give away her family to Smith. Officer Soliz and the others stayed behind her, though it was obvious that they rushed around to do something.

Her stomach clenched and her vision blurred. She closed her eyes and rocked on her feet. At any moment her father might walk in and then this would get so much worse. Her dad had a heart issue. "Oh, God."

John texted Colt. She grabbed his arm to keep him next to her, as she saw the name on her screen.

With her hands shaking, she begged into the phone, "Please leave my family alone."

Smith sighed. "I will. Tell your mom to get in the car."

No. This was wrong. She rubbed her forehead and tried to loosen her tight shoulders. "The police arrested Serena. Now is the time for you to run."

Then gunshots echoed in the house. Black spots danced before her eyes and her pulse rushed. The phone turned off as Mom screamed.

Alice trembled and the world became black even as there was a swarm of activity around her. John's arm around her waist was the only warmth she felt as he picked her up and rushed her toward his car. Alice needed her mom and in the end the arguing never mattered.

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