Total pages in book: 89
Estimated words: 84203 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 421(@200wpm)___ 337(@250wpm)___ 281(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 84203 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 421(@200wpm)___ 337(@250wpm)___ 281(@300wpm)
You are nothing like your mother.
I repeat the words, trying to stop myself from getting in my own head, but what I need is for Micah to hold me, to tell me everything will be okay. He’s my safe place. My strength. He’ll know what to do, what to say. He’ll make it better.
This is literally the worst timing, but that seems to be the theme of my life.
I call his phone, but it goes straight to voicemail. So I call again—voicemail. I’m about to send him a text when my phone lights up with an incoming call from unknown.
“Hello.”
“Sienna.” Only my name is spoken, but the way it’s said sends chills racing up my spine.
“Who’s this?”
“I have your sister. If you want her back in one piece, I suggest you come get her. This is her only chance at escaping.”
“Who are you?”
“You won’t get another chance to save her. She’ll be waiting for you at Tesoro Park. Come alone so you don’t draw attention.”
The line goes dead, and I race toward Micah’s office where he keeps his car keys, grabbing the ones I use when I need to drive somewhere. As I run out the door, his security tries to stop me, but I demand they move, desperate to get to my sister. I don’t know who that was on the phone, but it doesn’t matter. My sister needs me.
As I drive to Tesoro Park, I try calling Micah once more, and this time he answers. “I’m going to get Ellie,” I cry out, the second I hear his voice.
“What do you mean you’re going to get Ellie? Sienna, where are you?”
“I’m going to get her,” I repeat. “Some woman is helping her escape. I have to pick her up from Tesoro Park.”
“Sienna, baby. I need you to calm down. You can’t go alone. Give me a few minutes and we’ll figure this out. I have guys working on—”
“I can’t,” I say, cutting him off. “She’s going to be waiting for me. The woman said it’s her only chance. I have to go get her now.”
“Fuck,” he curses. “I don’t like this, Hellcat.”
“I have to,” I choke out. “She needs me.”
“Okay, I’m tracking you now. As soon as you have her, you need to drive toward the edge of town. I’m going to stay on the phone with you and start heading that way, and then we’ll figure out what to do next.”
“Okay, thank you,” I tell him, as I arrive at my destination and pull into the empty parking lot. There’s a playground nearby, but nobody is there. I spot an SUV at the end of the road and drive toward it, my heart pounding in my chest.
“Sienna, do you see her?” Micah asks.
“Not yet, but there’s an SUV.”
“I don’t like this,” he murmurs.
The door to the SUV opens and a woman gets out. I don’t recognize her, but with her jet-black hair and pale skin, she looks to be Hispanic.
“I think the woman who called me is walking over. I’m going to get out and talk to her. I don’t see Ellie anywhere.”
“Stay on the phone with me!” Micah barks, as I open my door.
I’m not paying attention to my surroundings, too focused on the woman, so I don’t realize what’s happening until it’s too late. Someone comes up from behind me and snatches my phone out of my hand, sending it flying, while my hands are pulled together and tied.
“What are you doing?” I yell at the woman, who stands there in her tight black dress and stilettos, her blood red lips curled in an evil smirk. “Where’s my sister?”
“Don’t worry, dear, you’re going to see her soon,” she says, with a thick accent.
“You said you were helping her escape!”
“I lied,” she says, nonchalantly.
I’m dragged down the street to the SUV, where another man opens the trunk and shoves me in. I kick and scream, but it’s useless.
What feels like forever later, I’m lifted out and forced into what looks like some sort of basement.
“Sienna!” Ellie shrieks, flinging herself at me just as the door slams shut. "I’m so sorry,” she cries, and goes about untying my hands. “I never should’ve went to see him. I’m so sorry.” Tears stream down her cheeks. “I’m so sorry. I’m so—”
“Shh, it’s okay,” I tell her, wrapping my arms around her shaking body. “It’s okay. Who is she?” I ask, rubbing my hands up and down her arms, trying to calm her.
“Eleazar’s wife,” she cries, burrowing herself into me as she apologizes over and over for going to him when she should’ve listened to us and stayed.
“It’s okay,” I murmur. “Micah knows something is wrong. He’ll get us out of here.”
I move to let go of Ellie so I can check the place out, but she clings to me, refusing to let go. I hold her tight, repeating to her that everything is going to be okay.