“Boss wants her alive. Don’t do anything stupid,” the first voice says.
“I know but she’s fucking feisty,” the man holding me says. I look down at the arm holding me in place and push my head down until my mouth is level with it. Then I take the biggest, hardest bite I’ve ever taken until the arm releases me.
“The fucking bitch bit me,” the guy howls as he shakes out his arm.
But I’m not going to hang around and watch him cry. I try to run. I run right out of the bathroom—and fall face first into the wall when he kicks my foot out from under me.
He drops down on the floor and twists my body around, pinning me in place while he straddles my legs. He’s bending over me, trying to grab onto my flailing arms. I once again start kicking and hitting. I glance over and see Marcus, face down with his arms pinned behind his back by another man dressed in black.
I kick my foot out at the man again and hit right between his legs. He stills for a split second before falling over on top of me. I try desperately to wriggle out from under his considerable weight, but he’s much bigger than I am. I actually manage to get on my hands and knees when I see the glint off his gun shine out of the corner of my eye. I turn to the mirror just in time to see his reflection raise his gun hand high over his head. I try to brace myself as I watch him swing his arm in a downward arc and pistol-whip me on the back of the head.
I come to in the back of a vehicle. We drive over a bump, which causes my face to knock against the window bringing a sharp pain across my forehead. I groan as a wave of nausea comes over me.
“Sorry about the head. I needed to get you in the truck.”
“Don’t speak to her,” Marcus hisses from behind me. I look over and see he’s sitting in the very back behind a caged divider. He starts smiling as he stares at the driver through the rearview mirror and says, “I’m going to fucking kill you.”
He then continues to laugh as I sit up. I grip my head when I start swaying a bit. “Where are we going?”
The man doesn’t answer me, and Marcus starts to try to break down the cage wall by kicking it repeatedly, with zero success. Our driver continues to watch the road and only glances back at us every few minutes or so. I try to ask a few more questions, but I’m only met with silence.
I couldn’t sleep. I’ve barely slept since Fallon went missing. I can’t even lay in my own bed comfortably when she’s not there. It just feels wrong without her. But knowing that I’ll have her back in a few hours and she’ll finally be safe had me tossing and turning for most of the night. I gave up on sleep and ended up pacing my room for the last few hours. There isn’t much else I can do while I wait.
Noon is finally approaching, and we’re all mentally preparing for the trade-off in our own ways. I place my hands on my dresser and lean back, stretching my arms a bit. My nerves are frayed. It’s almost too much to handle. The indestructible Jesse has been brought to his knees. It’s been a humbling experience.
“Are you sure about this?” Cason asks. I didn’t even hear him come in.
“So you’re talking to me again?” I ask as I turn and lean against my dresser with my arms crossed. Neither Jade nor Cason have spoken to me in the last forty-eight hours. It’s been pure silence on their end. It’s not something I’m used to. We had our fights as kids, sure, but nothing like this. I can feel the rift between us. They love Fallon, and they want to save her just as badly as I do, but the cost of today’s exchange is not an easy pill for them to swallow. I get it. It’s not an easy one for me either—and I’m the one who will make the sacrifice, not them.
“I just needed to process what’s happening,” Cason says, “It’s not easy. I care about you both, and this isn’t a solution that I want for either of you.”
I nod my head; I can understand that. I’m still processing it myself. There’s only one thing I can tell myself to be able to continue on. “She’ll be safe. That’s all I need to know.”
“Yeah, she’ll be safe. But she’ll be alone, and you’ll be miserable,” Cason says. “I want her safe and home too, you know. I just wish there was another way. One that didn’t require you to sacrifice everything, including her happiness.”
I sigh and let my arms down. “Me too.”
“Dad said it’s time to go. He sent me up here to get you.” Jade is standing in the doorway. Her eyes are red and puffy. She’s been crying, and judging by the look of it, I’d say for most of the night. “He won’t let me come. Will you . . . Just keep me updated.”
She doesn’t wait for an answer; she just walks off. I hear her bedroom door click not long after. It makes me wince. I’m used to Jade being
