Chapter 41
Chapter Forty-One
LOLA
We wait down on the road, just a little way from the diner.
Lyndall looks at me. "Why can't we wait with the car?"
"It's kind of stolen."
"From Cade."
I bite my lip, push up from where I'm sitting on the ground, and walk to the edge of the parking lot, Lyndall tagging along.
"We could get a shake."
"After." I go back to the shade of the tree, Lyndall still following.
"I think we should call or text Enzo, let him know."
I frown. "Know what?"
"Know we're not at the house. Cade is probably climbing the walls."
"He probably hasn't noticed." I look at my phone, but there is nothing from Alex.
Her eyes go straight to the phone. "Call my brother to let him know where we are."
I shake my head. "It's a bad idea."
"Maybe I should call Cade to get me?"
"We have his car."
"Oh. Yeah. Well, Enzo would help, I know it."
I hesitate.
It is clear she is doubting her decision to come with me, so I decide to tell her the truth. And after, if she wants to go back, she can call from the diner when Alex comes. But if her brother is so dangerous, then it is good she is with me.
"I don't really know how to say this, Lyndall. So, I'm just going to come out and say it. Enzo has been stalking me for years—influencing my life, manipulating me, and watching me. I think he's very dangerous."
"Lola..."
"Look, I know he's your brother, but we both have dangerous families. Or I did, too. So..."
There is not one drop of shock in her expression.
I grab her hand. "Talk to me."
Lyndall sighs. "I told Enzo this would happen."
I frown at Lyndall. "Wait, you knew about this?"
She shrugs and moves under a tree.
I follow her. "Lyndall? You knew?"
"I saw some photos. A couple. Of you. I teased him."
"You should have told me."
She shakes her head. "Told you what? He's my brother, and he's a good guy."
"Is he?"
She nods. "He's been trying to keep you safe—"
"By stalking me? He had thousands of photos of me on his computer. That's not normal behavior."
We wait.
I know Lyndall has a thousand doubts. I know because I have them, too.
But Alex will show. I know it.
I don't know how long it is going to take him, and the diner's parking lot is mostly deserted as it is those few hours between lunch and dinner. It reminds me of something that pops in summer and on weekends, but not so much in cooler months and weekdays.
It is one of the reasons we are not outside the diner.
If we were, we would stand out, someone might be able to describe us and the car we eventually get into.
And for someone like Enzo, it is all he will need.
A car pulls up, and I straighten, coming to a stop.
A man gets out, and I take one step toward him.
Then I see the gun in his hand.
It is pointed at me.
Even without the gun, I can tell he is big, greasy, and bad news. From the nondescript clothes to the smirk to the gun.
I try to shove Lyndall behind me, but she stands her ground.
"Lola, and you brought a tasty young thing." He gives me a shit-eating grin.
Lyndall pulls out her phone, but he lunges and grabs it, dropping it to the ground.
He smashes it with his shoe.
"Not fair, kiddo, no phones. I can't leave you, but I'm all for the old two for the price of one. Now, be a couple of dolls and get in the fucking car."
"Fuck off," Lyndall shouts.
And I grab at her, hauling her in close.
We are to the side of the diner, and he shakes his head at her.
"Soap is the answer for dirty little mouths. That, and a good fist to the face."
"Asshole," I say.
"I take it she's interested. Fine by me."
Lyndall bunches her hands and takes a step. "Let us go, now, or—"
"Or what?" he taunts us.
I turn, looking wildly around for Alex or for anyone. Even fucking Enzo.
The man starts laughing, and he shakes his head. "Alex isn't coming, darlin'."
I shove Lyndall, stepping in front of her as he aims the gun. "Run, Lyndall, now!"
She does, and so do I.
But she runs in the opposite direction, making me spin hard, and she throws herself at the man, trying to knock him over.
"Lyndall!"
I grab at her just as he plucks her up and throws her to the ground. "In the fucking car. Now."
He opens the trunk, picks her up, shoves her in, and slams the lid shut, all the while the gun trained on me.
But I run for the car, for Lyndall. If I can get in, I can drive off.
He grabs at me, trying to shove me in the back seat.
I kick at him.
His gun falls as he shoves me to the ground. "If I can't have two, I will take one."
And then to my horror, he gets in, guns the motor, and drives.
Oh God, oh God. Lyndall.
I start to run, pulling out my phone, racing as hard as I can after the car.
It turns a sharp corner, and it is gone.
I almost fall to my knees, sobs burning in my chest.
I stumble to a stop, and shaking, I turn my phone on.
Where is Alex?
Is he...?
What if this guy hurt him?
And what if he hurts Lyndall?
This is all my fault.
If the man lays a finger on her, I will never forgive myself.
A sob breaks free.
With shaking fingers, I turn on my phone.
The screen is smashed, but it kicks into life, and I can just see Alex's number.
I press call.
Over and over, I'm praying he is okay, that he isn't bleeding out or dead somewhere at the hands of whoever the fuck took Lyndall.
Someone answers.
"Oh, God—"
"Lola?"
It takes me a moment to place the voice.
It is not Alex's.
Fuck me, it is Enzo.
Why...?
I physically reel like I have been punched.
"Lola?" he barks. "Are you okay? Tell me where you are so I can come and get you."
My confusion gives way to clarity as it all clicks into place.
Enzo and Alex are the same person.