CHAPTER THIRTY
“P sssst.” That insistent noise tries to barge into my fantasy again.
I swat at the pest before rolling over to get pulled under again. It’s such a vivid dream. Brody was just about to—
“Paisley.” The low whisper breathes against my ear. “Wake up.”
I fling upright off the pillows, the blanket falling to expose my nakedness. “Whuh?”
Bianca slaps a palm over her eyes. “Good grief. Put some clothes on and meet me downstairs. Hurry.”
Muscles still snoozing, I tumble out of bed in a disheveled heap. The sheets are tangled around my ankles. That reminds me of how they got there. I sigh, arching in a lazy stretch. But then I remember Bianca’s impatience.
Grumbles trip from me as I force myself off the floor. My movements are sluggish while I get dressed. Brody is already gone, most likely holed up in his office. Some mornings, he’s still snoring beneath me. Others, like this one, give me the grace to lumber around without disturbing him. A glance in the mirror is a mistake. My fingers begin working on untangling blonde snarls while I make small strides in the right direction.
The instant my hand grips the knob, the door is wrenched open. I pitch forward directly into Bianca. My friend shoves me upright and spins us around. It’s all a blur as she hustles me along the hallway.
Drowsiness sits heavy on my eyelids. “I thought you said—”
“No time. Let’s go.” She grabs my arm and hauls me down the stairs.
“Jeez, Bee. What’s the rush?”
“I need you to go somewhere with me.” There’s a restless urgency in her tone while she shoves me out the door.
My left boot is barely on and I hop across the porch. “Sure, of course.”
“But you can’t tell Brody. Not until we get back.”
I slam on the brakes. “That’s a no-go, sis. We’re in a really good place now. I won’t jeopardize that by running off again.”
“This is really important, and we need to go.” She motions for me to get moving. “Right now.”
Her insistence raises a red flag, flapping in the early breeze. That’s when I take notice of the scene she’s set. There’s a truck idling in the driveway. She’s backing toward it, beckoning me to follow. A gooseneck trailer is hitched to the bed. Prickles spread across the back of my neck.
I pin her with a stern stare, hands parked on my hips. “What’s going on? ”
Tears collect in her unblinking eyes. “I’ll explain on the way. There’s only so much I can share.”
“Are you in trouble?”
“No.” But she drops her gaze.
I approach her slowly, gathering her hands in mine. “Spill, Bee. Or I’m not going.”
She’s wringing her hands to the point that her knuckles are white. “I’m afraid you’ll tell Brody, and I was given explicit instructions not to do that.”
My stomach sinks to the concrete. “You’re freaking me out.”
“I’m freaking out! Please,” she begs. “Just do this for me. Brody will forgive you.”
“I’d rather not give him a reason for needing to,” I argue.
Her lips wobble before she traps the bottom one between her teeth. “Text him that we’re leaving. Be super vague.”
“He’ll want to know where we’re going.”
“Good thing you don’t know. That means it’s not lying when you can’t tell him.”
But I still hesitate. “I don’t like this.”
“Too bad.” She opens the passenger side door and sweeps her arm. “Get in.”
My knees lock. “I need more information first.”
“If you care about Echo, you’ll get. In. The. Truck.”
A switch is flipped and I instantly respond. I stumble forward after her punctuated demand. My hands tremble as I fling myself onto the seat and buckle up. Bianca does the same, speeding through the motions. Tense silence smothers us while she slams on the gas.
The farmstead becomes a fading dot behind us .
“Echo has been taken,” she whispers after several minutes.
My heart lurches. “Taken?”
Her nod is a bobble. “Stolen. Held for ransom. Horse-napped.”
I stare out the window but don’t see the passing landscape. “Who took her?”
“That’s what we’re going to find out.”
“Holy shit.” I grab my phone, thumb poised to request backup.
Bianca blindly smacks it out of my hand. “No.”
“But—”
“I won’t let them hurt her. Brody isn’t allowed to know or they’ll do just that.”
This is beginning to sound entirely too familiar but in a much more extreme context. “We’re supposed to go alone?”
“Yes.”
Pulse squeezing my throat, I try to find logic. “This seems… scary.”
“The guy who called earlier assured me that there’s nothing to fear unless I don’t follow their directions.”
My blank stare whips toward her. “And you believe him?”
“What’s the alternative?”
I rake trembling fingers through my hair, no longer caring about the tangles. “How did this happen?”
“Uncle Jimmy handed her over to them to pay off a debt.”
“You better be joking.”
“I’m just repeating what I was told,” she exhales roughly. Her hands tighten on the wheel. “My uncle is in cahoots with these nincompoops. He’s fallen off the wagon again. Worse than before. Dad is going to lose his shit when he finds out.”
“What if we don’t get the chance to tell him?” This must be related to the bad news Jimmy was talking to the other day.
“They’re not going to hurt us. Aren’t you listening?”
“You can’t be that gullible, Bee.” One glance at her bleak expression confirms otherwise. “This is just like the gummy bears.”
Bianca’s posture slumps. “This creep has my mom’s horse. What else was I supposed to do?”
“Tell Brody,” I cry. “He’d burn their shady operation to the ground.”
She shakes her head, eyes on the road. “I couldn’t risk it. He sounded serious, like he won’t hesitate to inflict harm for fun.”
“And we’re driving straight into his trap.”
Her gulp is audible and she turns up the radio. “Don’t assume the worst.”
But as civilization evaporates into rural fields, it’s obvious we’re in trouble. The address appears to be in the middle of a wooded area. It looks abandoned or undeveloped. There’s nobody out here to help even if we yelled. My blood pressure is ready to blow as we crawl along a gravel path.
“There!” Bianca points at a lone building straight ahead.
“I have such a bad feeling about this.”
Her hand sneaks along the center console to clutch mine. “We’ll be okay.”
As she parks, I send a text to Brody. It’s basic and bland, but will hopefully soothe his feathers that are certainly ruffled by now. I’d call him if it were up to me. Bianca seems convinced that would end poorly. Unease slithers down my spine and I can only hope we escape this situation unscathed.
Bianca cuts the engine when a man appears in the doorway of the steel structure. His stature suggests we don’t delay. A sideways glance reveals that my friend is eager to get this over with. I follow her bold lead, hopping out into the morning chill.
“You made the right choice, Bianca Benson.” The guy uncrosses his arms and steps into the sunlight.
It’s difficult to stifle a gasp. One glance and I can tell he’s bad news, like the type I cross the street to avoid. But this threatening presence is looming directly in front of us.
He’s older, probably in his sixties. Age doesn’t appear to have slowed him down. Muscles bulge under his Western shirt. There might be a few weapons packed in the mix too.
His expression is flat to match the dead stare in his eyes. It’s unsettling in the worst way. I shiver from that hollow glare even though it’s not aimed at me. He ignores me completely, focusing entirely on Bianca. It’s obvious I’m just here for her sake.
Almost on cue, she shuffles closer to me while addressing him. “Where’s Echo?”
He lifts his chin to where the mare is getting loaded in our trailer. “This won’t take long. I just needed to get your attention.”
“By stealing my horse?”
“Jimmy owed me money. I have something we need to discuss. Opportunity fell in my lap. ”
“Okay, so…?” My friend rolls her wrist, in possession of some large lady balls for trying to speed this process along.
Without looking at me, the man passes along the message that whatever he has to say is private.
Bianca’s smile is the fakest thing I’ve seen since our spray tans last winter. “Will you go check on Echo while I finish this… friendly chat?”
Uncertainty has me glancing from her to the scary dude and back again. “Are you sure?”
She nods. “I’m fine. Echo needs you more than me.”
Which convinces me to do as she says while constantly glancing over my shoulder. My friend stays in my sight as I approach the trailer. Frantic whinnying shrieks from inside. Rapid pawing soon follows. A cramp tightens my gut as I hurry to calm her nerves. She’s probably terrified after getting snatched.
I unhook the latch, pulling the thick door open. More hysterical neighs greet me. The upset rattles the metal surrounding us. She’s in the front stall and mostly concealed behind the dividers. Routine motions make quick work of getting to her.
“Hey, pretty girl. I’ve got you.” But just as I’m about to pet Echo’s neck, she swings her head at me.
And everything goes black.