Chapter 29
The cup dropped from her trembling fingers, the shattering mug echoing in her ears. She pushed to her feet, but again the world moved and swayed, and this time she swayed with it.
But she didn’t fall. Because Herbert was there to wrap an arm around her waist. To shoulder a lot of her weight. “Come on, honey, let’s get out of here.”
She shook her head and tried to dig her heels into the ground, but her body wouldn’t listen. Herbert pulled her forward, and it was like she’d lost all bodily autonomy. She just stumbled in the direction he led her.
She blinked, trying to focus on the gate. The gate that Briar had locked. He wouldn’t be able to get them out.
Hope began to weave through her chest.
He pulled open the gate easily.
What the hell? She’d seen Briar lock it.
But…she actually hadn’t. She’d just seen Briar stop there and had assumed the other woman was locking the gate.
She tried to grab onto the gate as he pulled her through, but it felt like trying to grasp water with her fingers…impossible.
“Herbert…please. I’m not Lila. I’m Raven.” She stumbled as her heavy feet hit a tree root.
Herbert kept her upright. “No, darling. You’re not. You’re my daughter. My baby. I even showed photos to Briar, and she agreed. You are my child.”
Briar had bought into this?
Confusion made the fog in her head thicken.
“I’m sorry I had to drug you,” he said softly, not slowing or stopping as they moved through the trees. “I gave you a small sedative. Just enough to get you out of there and to the car. It’ll wear off quickly and then we’ll be on our way.”
On their way where? And did he have a car hidden in these woods? How had he organized all of this?
The questions bubbled in her head, but her tongue felt heavy and words were too hard.
“Maybe one day, when you’re feeling better, you can tell me what happened to you,” he said gently. “Maybe you’ll even tell me what Lotus was.”
The sound of rushing water pierced the air.
“There were days where I thought the currents took you from me. Days where I wanted those currents to shatter me too, for letting you go.” A tremble was in Herbert’s voice now. He tightened his arm around her. “I’d come down to the river and stand for hours just to feel close to you.”
Raven sucked in a deep breath, her body starting to get used to the hum of the sedative. Maybe even to the point she could make a run for it soon.
“But then I saw you,” Herbert continued. “You tried to convince me it wasn’t you, but a father knows his child.”
“I’m sorry you lost her,” Raven whispered, words barely reaching air. “That must have been really hard. But I’m not her.”
Her phone vibrated from her back pocket. Was that Connor? Did he know she was in trouble?
“They had to have been drugging you,” Herbert pushed, not seeming perturbed by her words. “They did something to your brain. But I’ll get you help. I’ll get you whatever you need. And you’ll never leave my sight again.”
Her throat constricted.
She sucked in one long, deep breath before suddenly dropping her weight.
“What are you—”
She kicked the old man in the shin, cringing at his harsh cry when he fell. Regardless of what he’d done to her, she didn’t want to hurt him. He was sick. But she also couldn’t stay.
She pushed to her feet. The trees swayed, the ground trying to pull her down. She grabbed a tree to steady herself. Then she stumbled to another.
She moved slowly. Awkwardly. But it was better than going God knew where with Herbert.
“Lila! No!”
There was pain in his voice. A grief she couldn’t begin to understand.
Still, she ran, stumbling through the forest, not even sure where she was heading.
The sound of the river grew louder, the wind fast and cold over her skin.
When she reached the water’s edge, the currents were wild and dangerous. She moved alongside it, hoping it would lead her back to safety. To the care facility. To people who could help her.
When a wave of dizziness rushed through her head, she stumbled to her knees.
God, her head was a mess. She was so tired, she could barely think. She tried to reach for her cell in her pocket, but footsteps sounded behind her. They weren’t fast, but they were loud and steady, and they were closing in on her.
She grabbed a tree and used it to get to her feet—only to scream when someone grabbed her wrist and swung her around.
“Don’t do this!” Herbert cried, his words more sad than angry. “Don’t leave me again. Please.”
“I’m not Lila, Herbert. I’m Raven Price. I work at the local community center. My parents are Gene and Craig Price. I’m an only child. I’m dating Connor Blackwood, a man who I love and can’t leave. I’m so many things—but I am not Lila.”
His brows drew together. “You’re not Lila?”
“No.”
His grip on her wrist began to loosen. “I—”
He jerked as someone hit him from behind, his eyes rolling up. Then he dropped.
Raven gasped and stumbled back at the sight of Briar Allen standing there with a rock in her hand.
Connor checked the entrance of Trap for what had to be the tenth time in just ten minutes.
Raven was late. She should have left her parents’ at five, and the place was barely five minutes from Trap. It was quarter past. Where was she?
He tapped the screen of his phone. No messages. No missed calls. He was about to call her when Dusty set a beer in front of him. “You look like you could use this.”
Drinking was the last thing he felt like doing right now. “Thanks.”
“Haven’t you heard?” Zac, who sat beside him, looked at the bar owner. “He’s in love.”
Dusty shook his head. “Loving someone can be a dangerous game.”
“You’ve been in love?” Connor asked.
“Once. Didn’t work out.” He threw a bar towel over his shoulder before looking back to Connor. “This bar is my only love now. She’s been good to me. You be careful with that heart.”
“Yeah, well, the owner of this heart is late.” Another glance at the door.
“How late?” Zac asked.
“A couple of minutes.”
“I’m sure she’s just taking a bit more time saying goodbye to her parents. Maybe even helping them settle into dinner. That care facility could use some help with all the escapes lately.”
“You talking about Deep River Residence?” Dusty asked, crossing his arms over his chest.
“Yeah, you know it?” Connor asked.
“Don’t know it personally. But a woman who works there used to come in quite a bit to see Nathaniel.”
Connor straightened. “What woman?”
“What was her name? Brielle? Brianna?”
“Briar?” Connor asked.
“Yeah. That’s the one. Got the feeling those two were close. Sometimes seemed to love each other. Sometimes fought like cats and dogs.”
Briar had never said anything about knowing Nathaniel. “I never saw her here.”
“You wouldn’t have. She used to come outside of open hours, while he was setting up. Sometimes she’d drop him off.” Dusty shook his head. “I don’t think I’ll ever get over what that kid did.”
As Dusty walked away, Connor turned to Zac. “Briar was close with Nathaniel.” He wasn’t sure if he was saying it out loud just to try to make sense of it.
“Did Ward say anything about Nathaniel dating someone?”
“I hear my name?”
Connor almost groaned when Ward came to stand on the other side of him.
“You know anything about Briar Allen?” Zac asked.
“Who’s that?”
So, no.
“Dusty, could you get me a beer?” Ward called, before he turned back to Connor. “I followed up on that account Alexander Stevens was trying to access. The one in Raven’s name. Apparently, he wasn’t the first to try to get that money out.”
Connor frowned. “What are you talking about?”
“Bank already received a call from a woman claiming to be Raven Price. But she didn’t have enough information. Makes me wonder if they roped in a third person, a woman, for help.”
A woman had called the bank impersonating Raven. And Briar had been close with Nathaniel.
His skin prickled, a sickening thought coiling in his gut.
He lifted his phone and called Raven.
Pick up, Raven. Answer the call.
“What’s wrong?” Ward straightened. “You got a lead on something?”
“I think it was Briar who called the bank. She was involved with Nathaniel. She could have gotten involved in the business.”
Zac cursed beneath his breath as he stood.
“Who the hell is this Briar?” Ward growled.
Connor didn’t stick around to explain anything. He sprinted out of the bar and toward his truck. He started to climb behind the wheel, but Zac snatched the keys from his fingers. “I’m driving.”
“Zac—”
“I’m not arguing about this, Connor.”
He cursed and ran to the other side. The second Zac pulled out of the parking lot, he sent a message to his team.
Connor: I need everyone to Deep River Residence now. Briar may have been working with Xander and Nathaniel, and Raven’s not answering her phone.
The three texts of confirmations came in fast succession.
When they reached the parking lot of the assisted care facility, Connor saw her car.
She should be here.
He climbed from the truck and raced toward the entrance.
The common area was almost empty, but voices and the clatter of dishes sounded from the dining hall. He ran in there, spotting her parents immediately.
Craig looked up first, concern creasing his brow as he stood. He met Connor halfway across the room. “What’s wrong?”
“Is Raven still here?”
“No. She left about twenty minutes ago.”
Fuck. “What about Briar?”
Craig’s brows shot up. “Briar?”
“Hi.” An older woman wearing a Deep River Residence shirt stopped beside them. “Are you here to find Herbert?”
“Herbert’s missing?”
She nodded. “Well, yes. I assumed that’s why you’re here. Someone called you, right?”
Was he connected to this too? Or was it a coincidence? “Is Briar Allen here?”
“Briar? Well, she should…” The woman scanned the room, suddenly looking confused.
She wasn’t here. Briar was missing, and so was Raven.
He turned and raced back into the common area and out the back door.
Raven was in danger. And he had to find her before that danger turned deadly.