Chapter 27
Twenty-seven
Ryker
This is a hospital day, and the text comes just after I finish my afternoon rounds.
Unknown Number: She’s out. Excommunicated. No place to go.
My thumb hovers over the reply button as my heart starts to pound.
Me: Who is this?
The number’s not saved in my phone. There’s no area code clue. Why anonymous? Is someone trying to help without getting caught? Or is someone trying to screw with me?
Me: What are you talking about?
No dots. No typing bubble. Nothing.
My mind spins. Excommunicated? No place to go?
Ginny.
I call her. Straight to voicemail. The second I hear her message begin, my throat closes.
“Hey. It’s me.” My voice falters. I clear my throat and try again. “I got a text from a number I don’t recognize. I don’t know if it’s true, but Gin, if it is, if something’s happened, please call me. Just let me know you’re okay. Please.”
I end the call and stare at my phone like I can will it to ring.
Panic tingles in my extremities. I knew things were bad between her and her family, but this? Being cut off entirely?
I scrub a hand over my face and pace the length of my office. I don’t know where she is. I don’t know who sent the message. I don’t even know if it’s real.
But I know one thing for damn sure.
If she needs me, I’ll find her. I don’t care what her last name is. I don’t care what lines we’ve crossed. She’s it for me. I just keep waiting for her to realize that, to choose me too. But if she’s hurting, if she’s out there alone, it’s an emergency.
Screw this.
I scroll to Sadie’s name and hit dial. She picks up on the second ring.
“Ryker? Everything okay?”
“Is she with you?”
“Who?”
My heart sinks. “Ginny. I got this weird text. Something about she being out and excommunicated. It was vague and from an unknown number. I can’t find her to figure this out.”
A pause. Then Sadie sighs into the phone. “It must be her. I can’t believe she did that. Fucking Evelyn.”
“I don’t know for sure. Ginny’s not answering her phone, and I have no idea where she’d go.”
“Alaric maybe? Her mom’s place? And she’s always welcome here.” Sadie exhales. “I never thought she’d do this. I thought Evelyn wanted control, not total destruction.”
“Right? We’re not that bad,” I quip.
She manages a laugh, and we agree to keep in touch and reach out if we hear from Ginny.
I have several patients left on my schedule back at the clinic, but in between I check my phone. Nothing. No calls. No texts. Not even a read receipt.
With my appointments finished, I duck into my office again and scroll to Alaric’s name. I want things to be professional between us, but surely, he’ll be concerned as well. And right now, I’ll take anything that gets me closer to Ginny.
He answers on the second ring. “Paradise.”
“Have you heard from Ginny?” My voice is hurried and decidedly not professional.
“No,” he says slowly. “Why? What’s going on?”
“She’s not answering her phone. She hasn’t reached out to Sadie. I got this vague text earlier. Someone said she was ‘out’ and ‘excommunicated’. They didn’t use her name, but things have been tense with Evelyn. I don’t even know what that means, but—” I exhale hard. “I don’t know where she is.”
He’s quiet for a second. “Okay. Breathe.”
I close my eyes, jaw tight. Of course the shrink tells me to breathe.
“I haven’t heard from her,” he continues after a moment. “But if this involves my grandmother, Ginny wouldn’t want to put me in her crosshairs. She’s smart, though. Resourceful. She won’t just disappear. If she needs space, she’ll take it, but she knows how to land on her feet.”
I rub a hand down my face. “If you hear from her—”
“I’ll have her call you. Promise.”
“I really care about her,” I tell him, hoping he understands.
“I know she cares about you,” he replies. “There are just some things at play that are out of her control.”
“I understand. I’m having some of the same issues.”
“Maybe the two of you can be the pair that bridges the gap.”
I should appreciate that vote of confidence more than I’m able to in this moment. “Thanks.”
We hang up, and I close my eyes, sending a silent message out into the universe. Come on, Ginny. Just tell me you’re okay.