Skylar
Shit. Fuck. Shit.
A cold rush of panic floods my bloodstream when Josh pulls two girls—and a drunk Phoenix—into one of the bedrooms.
Given he’s been partying all weekend, I figured he’d be too preoccupied to go digging through my things.
Thinking I could hide that fentanyl in my purse was so fucking stupid. I should have just tossed it.
Evil incarnate or not, he’s still an addict. Of course, he’d sniff out drugs like a bloodhound.
Laughter pours through the door as I approach.
Grinding my molars, I pound on it. “Josh, I swear to God—”
“Relax, baby girl,” he says, amusement lacing his tone. “We’re just talking.”
I don’t give a shit what he’s doing with her. I give a shit what he might end up giving her.
And Phoenix.
Swallowing the ball of anxiety working its way up my esophagus, I bang on the door again. “Get out here.”
“Give daddy Phoenix a little sample,” Josh murmurs.
No. No. No.
Their next exchange turns my fears into reality. “What kind of coke is this?”
“The heroin kind.”
My heart sinks. Dread twists my stomach.
I wanted Josh to die. Not drag Phoenix with him.
He’s innocent.
Tears rise. Hot and useless. I slam the door so hard it rattles. “Please open the door.”
The longer I’m out here…the more they’ll do.
And the more they do…the more likely they are to die.
Screw this.
I need to get my shit together because standing here crying helps no one.
Wiping my eyes with the back of my hand, I charge into the kitchen. There has to be something—anything—I can use to unlock that damn door.
“What are you doing?” Storm asks—eyebrows knitting together as I yank open all the drawers one by one in a frenzy.
“Looking for…” I hold up the screwdriver I finally stumble across. “This.”
He says something, but it’s lost beneath the blood pounding in my ears as I hightail it back to the bedroom.
My hands shake as I unscrew the knob.
Come on, you son-of-a-bitch.
Where’s Memphis when I need him?
Not talking to me. Because my soon-to-be ex-fiancé is the biggest piece of garbage on the entire fucking planet.
A moment later, the knob falls to the floor with a heavy thud.
I barrel inside and straight into Josh.
“Baby.”
I am not his baby. I am not his anything.
A cloud of rage engulfs me, and before I can stop myself, I pound my fists into his chest. “I fucking hate you.”
I hate that he made me homicidal.
I hate that I fell for his bullshit all these years.
I hate that I had to hurt the man I actually love.
“Relax,” he slurs, wrapping his arms around my waist and pulling me into a hug. “Nothing happened.”
I don’t give a flying fuck. The only thing I care about is finding the fentanyl.
He looks at Phoenix, and I use the distraction as an opportunity to shove my hand into his pocket.
“Tell her, Phoenix.”
Defeat sinks like a brick in my chest when I pull out a clear Ziplock. Damn it.
“You know how much I love you,” he drones as I fish through his other one.
Relief floods my veins when my fingers close around the blue bag. Thank God.
After giving Phoenix a quick once-over and determining that although intoxicated, he’s otherwise fine, I push Josh as far away as I can.
I wish I had a pair of handcuffs so I could fasten him to the bed for eighteen days and let him experience what it’s like to be powerless.
“It’s over.”
His brows rise, humor fading.
But I don’t care what he does or what he threatens.
I would rather spend the rest of my life in jail than another second being his puppet.
“Do not fucking follow me,” I warn as I storm out. “I’m done.”
Done…and free.
Because not only is he too high to strategize, we’re in a big house full of people. Which means there are too many witnesses.
This is the only window I’m going to get.
Chandler catches me by the elbow as I rush past him on my way to the bathroom.
“Everything okay?”
No. But it will be.
After tugging my arm away, I lock the door behind me and examine the bag. There’s still a decent amount left. I don’t think they took much, if any.
I dump the shit into the toilet and flush.
One problem solved.
However, the bigger one still remains. Memphis.
I search the lower level first—including the patio—but there’s no sign of him.
Heart hammering, I head upstairs, opening every door I pass.
Nothing.
Did he leave?
I fish my phone out of my pocket and call him.
Straight to voicemail. Of freaking course.
I just don’t know if it’s because Memphis blocked me. Or because Josh had Memphis permanently blocked from my phone.
Damn it.
I run downstairs in search of Storm. If anyone knows where Memphis went, it’s him.
I find him rolling a joint in the kitchen. “Where’s Memphis?”
He scoffs, “Un-fucking-believable.”
“I don’t have time for your attitude or judgment right now. Where is he?”
Sticking the joint behind his ear, he stares me down. “He left.”
I already figured that much out. “Did he go home?”
“No idea.”
He knows. He just won’t tell me. “Damn it, St—”
My phone vibrates with an incoming text.
Josh: I sure hope nothing bad happens to Phoenix.
The color drains from my face.
Another message flashes on the screen.
Josh: I hear fentanyl can kill you if you’re not careful. Then again, you know all about murder. Don’t you, babe?
Oh god. Oh god. Oh god.
My knees nearly give out. I clutch the counter to keep upright. “Where’s Josh?”
Storm’s eyes practically pop out of his head. “Are you fucking kidding—”
“We need to find him. And Phoenix. Now.”
That gets his attention. “What’s wrong?”
“I don’t know.”
The only thing I do know is Josh sent that text to scare me.
It worked.
I pull up Josh’s number in my phone. “Call Phoenix. I’ll call Josh.”
It rings twice before going to voicemail. Like he intentionally hit ignore.
Fortunately, Storm has more success. “Where the hell are you?”
I can’t hear what Phoenix is saying, but Storm’s response has my blood running cold. “What the fuck, Phoenix? You’re shit-faced—”
“Where are they?”
“Pull over now,” Storm barks. “And tell me where you are so I can come scoop you two assholes.”
A bilious feeling settles deep in my gut. They’re driving.
How? Neither of them came with their cars.
Storm digs his keys out of his pocket. “I’ll be there soon.”
Chandler strolls in just as Storm hangs up. “What’s going on? I could hear you screaming from the patio.”
“Her idiot fiancé and Phoenix stole your car.”
“What the fuck?” Chandler booms. “They’re drunk.”
“No shit, Sherlock.” Tossing him his keys, he motions for him to follow. “They’re on the coast. Let’s go.”
I stand frozen in the center of the kitchen after they head out.
I don’t want to be here when Josh gets back.
But I also don’t want to leave until I know Phoenix is okay.
I scan the party.
Music blares. People laugh, drink, dance…all while my entire world has imploded.
A chilling thought hits me.
Josh knows I tried to kill him.
God only knows what he’ll do to me after he returns.
As much as I’d love to be the kind of woman who doesn’t need saving, I’m in way too far over my head to pretend I don’t anymore.
I have to get in touch with Memphis.
Spotting a group of girls nearby, I tap one on the shoulder. “Can I use your phone?”
The tall brunette gives me a curious look as she eyes the one in my hand.
“It’s dead and I don’t have a charger.”
Shooting me a sympathetic smile, she fishes her phone out of her shirt. “Sure. But make it quick because I’m leaving soon.”
“Thanks.”
After she unlocks it, I dial Memphis’s number. Of course, it goes straight to voicemail.
Because even the universe is tired of my bullshit.
Fuck my life.
Storm said they were on the coast…which means they’ll be back soon.
I can’t just stay here like a sitting duck.
I’ll call Storm in a little while and tell him about the fentanyl. This way he can keep an eye on Phoenix.
But while it solves that issue, it still doesn’t solve mine.
I have no car. No money. And no way to get in touch with the only person who’s made me feel safe.
But what I do have is two legs.
It will take all night to get to his apartment, maybe even longer, but it’s better than the alternative.
I grab a few water bottles from the fridge and toss them in my purse.
I’m slipping out the side door when another potential problem dawns on me.
The house is right on the coast. They’ll spot me as soon as they drive by.
However, if I go in the opposite direction, it will only add miles.
So, I do the only thing I can.
I head to the beach.
The cool ocean breeze kisses my skin as I settle into a spot in the sand that’s far enough away to stay invisible.
For the first time in weeks—maybe longer—I can finally breathe.
Like half the weight of the world has been lifted off my chest.
However, freedom doesn’t feel triumphant. It feels utterly exhausting.
I inhale deeply, filling my lungs with the sea’s salty air.
I don’t know what the future holds, but I do know this.
Despite everything I’ve been through, I still have the will to survive.
Memphis.
I whisper his name to the ocean, as though the tide might carry it to him like a message in a bottle.
The first thing I should have said when I saw him was that I loved him.
That I’ll never stop loving him.
I glance up at the night sky, silently pleading with the stars to fix the mess I’ve made.
Because it’s always been him.
There was just something in the way—something dark and conniving—that I mistook for love.
The sound of my phone ringing rips through my heavy thoughts.
“Not tonight, Satan.” Not ever again.
I’m about to hit ignore, but Chandler’s name flashes across the screen instead of Josh.
I hesitate a beat before deciding to answer. “Hey—”
“Skylar, honey. Where are you?”
Honey? It’s no secret Chandler tolerates me more than most, but not term-of-endearment tolerate.
“Um…I…”
It’s definitely not in my best interest to answer that.
“Please, Skylar. Tell me where you are.”
Only his tone isn’t irritated like it usually is when he’s barking out an order. He sounds upset. Scared even.
I instantly jump to my feet, brushing sand off my legs. “What’s going on? Are you okay?”
There’s a long pause.
Too long.
“There’s been an accident.”