Page 53 of Saved from Obsession

A message flashes across it, the letters in all caps, screaming at me.

ANSWER YOUR FUCKING PHONE

A bleat of fear comes out, and I nearly drop the phone. A chill sweeps over me, cold perspiration breaking out over my body. Another message appears.

IF YOU DON’T ANSWER RIGHT NOW HE’S DEAD

What? Who? Why would I answer the phonenow? Is the person sending these messages crazy?

The phone rings again, jittering in my hands. As the last note of the song peters out, another message pops onto the screen. But it’s not like the others. It’s a photo, and when I see who it is I almost throw up right here on the carpet.

It’s Leo. It’s Leo, leaving the prison, the shot taken from behind and zoomed in so I can see every detail of him, even the little pink scratch mark I left on the back of his neck.

Then the text follows.

If you don’t answer the next time I call he’s dead.

Bile rises in my throat and into my mouth and I have to swallow hard to keep it from escaping.Leo. I want to call him, warn him, but the phone is already ringing before I get a chance to do anything.

I answer the call with a weak, “Please. Don’t hurt him.”

“I won’t unless you make me.” The voice is garbled, manipulated, and gut-clenchingly terrifying.

“What do you want?” My brain is flying through options to warn Leo.I can still text him.

Swiping down to minimize the call, I tap to open my messages and start typing. But the app closes unexpectedly. I try again. The app closes. And again.And again.

A low, crackling laughter comes across the line. “Youcan’t, Georgia. I hacked your phone. You can’t do anything I don’t want you to. And if you don’t stop trying to warn your boyfriend, Iwillhave my associate shoot him.”

Another photo appears. It’s Leo again, approaching his car. The sun glints off his blonde hair, turning it a rainbow of yellows and golds. My heart stops.God, no. NotLeo.

“What do youwant?“ My words are all shaky, trembling as much as I am.

“What I’ve been waiting for,Georgia.“ The voice pauses. “For you to come to me.”

“What?”

“Listen to me. You are going to leave Blade and Arrow right now.”

A tiny gasp slips out. Of course he knows where I am if he’s hacked my phone, but the thought is still absolutely petrifying.

“Yes, Georgia. I know where you are, what you’re doing. You’re going to leave there without anyone knowing. And if I don’t see you outside the building in five minutes,alone, Leo is dead.”

“No talking to anyone about this, Georgia.” The robotic voice gets louder. “The microphone and the camera on your phone will be on. And don’t think about ditching the phone, either. I’ll know, and—”

”Iknow.“ A flash of anger fires through the icy chill of terror. “I’ll do what you want. Justdon’t hurt him.”

The camera on my phone turns on, showing an image of the room in front of me. “Five minutes, Georgia. Once you get outside, I’ll send you the pin for where to meet me.”

Shit. Shit. My mind is racing. How can I find some way to warn Leo and leave a trail for him to find me?

“GO, Georgia. Or you won’t make it in time.”

I need to think ofsomething.Anything. Andquickly. “Okay,” I grit out. “I need to hang up so I can concentrate on getting out of here.”

“Fine.” Another garbled chuckle. “The timer starts now.”

Ideas are ricocheting in my head but none of them will work. And I don’t have time to come up with an elaborate plan. A timer starts, ticking down from five minutes. The camera is still on and watching.

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