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Don’t be stupid, Immy.

“I don’t know who you are, but you don’t have to do this,” she told them. “I haven’t seen your face. I don’t know who you are. Please, please, don’t kill me.”

The man took a step toward her. Was it a man?

God. She just wasn’t sure. They had on baggy clothes and they were tall. With broad shoulders.

It had to be a man, right?

What does it matter, Immy? They’re about to kill you.

Suddenly, headlights filled the area and the sound of a truck hit her ears. She didn’t know how she hadn’t heard it approach before now. It was almost silent out here. She closed her eyes, certain that the shadow of death would still kill her.

But when there was no pain, she slowly opened them, staring at the space where he had been.

Where there was now nothing.

“Immy!”

She turned at the cry, seeing Sampson jumping out of the driver’s side of the truck. But he was behind Jenner and Tobias, who had already reached her.

Another sob broke out of her and she winced in pain.

“Oh, baby. Oh shit, baby. What the fuck happened?” Jenner asked as he kneeled next to her. His hands hovered over her. “I want to touch you, but I’m too scared. Where does it hurt? What happened?”

“I—”

“Who the fuck did this?” Tobias said in a carefully-controlled voice. “Tell me.”

“I—”

“It’s going to be all right, baby,” Jenner told her. “Just tell us what happened.”

“Fuck!” Sampson snapped.

She looked over to find him by the car.

“What?” Tobias asked. “Who is it?”

“It’s Lauren,” Sampson said. “And she’s dead.”

“Dead? Lauren?” Jenner asked. “What happened? Was there a car crash? Why would you get into a car with Lauren and come up here?”

“Fuck, Cherry. Tell us what’s going on!” Tobias demanded.

“Lauren didn’t die from the car crash,” Sampson said, pulling a gun out from the small of his back as he glanced around. “She was shot.”

“There’s a man,” she said urgently, before anyone else could interrupt. “With a gun. We have to go. We have to go now.”

Immy was terrified that he was going to come for them. That he would shoot them all. It was up to her to keep the guys safe. Tobias drew a gun, glancing around as though he expected trouble.

“Please, please, let’s go!” She tried to move, letting out a scream of pain as she did.

“Shit. Fuck. Let me help you,” Jenner said urgently.

“Jenner, get the truck up close, cover her,” Sampson ordered. “Tobias, you lift her in while I cover you.”

Jenner ran to the truck and drove it as close as he could get. Then he opened the back door and Tobias carefully picked her up.