Page 85 of Tangled Up

I’d much rather have my sexy, mountain of a boyfriend protecting me—no offense to Kevin. The breeze lifts my hair, and I walk a little farther away from the truck, closer to the shore.

Beck said he’d text when he got on the road, and I look in the direction of his family home. I think about Jessica’s wish to have us all back here again, and it makes me smile. Even if I was annoyed at the prospect of a cop following me around, Kevin’s a nice guy. I can’t complain.

I take a deep inhale of fresh, salt air, and I’m turning back towards the truck when a voice yelps from down the hill towards the shoreline.

“Help!” It’s barely audible, and I can’t see anything for the tall sea oats.

Taking a few steps closer, I strain my eyes and call, “Hello?”

A few seconds pass, and I’m about to think it was just a bird or I imagined it when I hear the cry again. “Help me!”

It’s loud, but not so loud as to attract a crowd. I’m the only one here on this side of the truck, and I take several steps closer, moving further into the beige grasses. They’re too tall, and I can’t see below me.

“Are you okay?” My stomach is tight, and I know the protocol. Kevin is waiting out in front of the truck for me to reappear with the tray of drinks, but if someone down below is in trouble or being attacked…

“It’s the orange cat! I can’t reach him. He’s hurt!”

“Oliver?” Breaking into a trot, I push through the grasses. “Hang on! My brother’s a vet.”

As I reach the rise of the hill, I see what looks like a young woman with a long, dark ponytail. Her back is to me, and I’ve lost track of how far I’ve gone. I’m far enough away from the food truck that when she stands and turns to face me, my scream is lost in the cloth she smashes against my nose and mouth.

Throwing up my hands, I attempt to fight her off, but she grips the back of my head, holding the cloth with aggressive force. I try not to inhale, but I’m winded from jogging, and instinctively, I take a deep breath of what smells like polish remover.

“Alize…” Tears are in my eyes as my vision goes blurry and my knees buckle.

“No, you don’t.” Her face is at my ear, and she hoists me up against her side. “Put your arm around my neck.”

My vision is foggy, but I’m able to do as she says. I’m propped up by her body, and my brain shuffles for an excuse, any reason to get out of her arms.

I look up in the direction I came, and with sluggish lips, I mutter. “I left my order.”

“They’ll take care of it.” She’s speaking fast and stern, and I’m drifting to a soft, fluffy place.

I’m not afraid as I hold onto the person at my side, doing my best to keep up with her rapid pace. We’re traveling farther away from safety, and when we reach the sandy shore, she takes a sharp turn in the direction of the tourist resorts.

An older woman power walks past us, and shoots me a disapproving look.

My head drops forward heavily, and I look down at my legs, trying to think what I could have done to offend her.

“I’m fully dressed,” I slur.

“Just keep walking. We’re almost there.”

Turning my head to the side, I meet a pair of flat brown eyes. They’re so old in her young face, so lined. “What are you doing, Alize?”

Whatever acetone-scented drug she put over my mouth and nose has rendered all my emotions useless. I’m completely numb.

Her gaze returns to the path ahead, and she only says, “You’ll see.”

My eyelids droop, and I almost go down again.

“Nope.” She pulls me up fast. “Just a little bit farther. You can take a nap in the room. Then you’re going to deal with me.”

CHAPTERTWENTY-FOUR

BECK

Ihad planned to get on the road before ten. Then I saw my schedule. Two telehealth interviews and a video conference later, I’m just hitting the road at noon. I pick up my phone and shoot Carly a quick text, letting her know and saying how much I can’t wait to see her.

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