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“Who? Forrest?”

“Yes. Who else would I be asking about?” She really wanted to push her way inside, check out the place, and make sure that Savannah and Brinley were safe, but she was stuck outside the door and unable to see inside. Was Forrest holding them hostage?

“Fallon, what’s going on?” Savannah opened the door a little wider, and finally Fallon was able to see clearly inside.

No one was there.

The hall was empty. What she could see of the living room was empty. If Forrest was there, surely he would have come out by now, right? Fallon canted her head and held her stance. “You texted, and when I tried to get hold of you, you didn’t answer.”

“I had my phone on silent.” Savannah lifted her phone up to show Fallon, as if that would prove why she didn’t answer. And while it did, that didn’t exactly put Fallon in the best mindset.

“But you texted.”

“I didn’t text you.” Savannah furrowed her brow. “I thought after the other day that whatever was between us was done.”

“It’s not…” Fallon bit her lip and clenched her jaw. Had she really left Savannah with that impression? She hadn’t meant to do that. She’d simply meant that she needed a bit more time to come to a decision. “You scared me when you didn’t text me back.”

“I didn’t text you to begin with.”

The elevator dinged behind Fallon, and she watched as Savannah visibly tensed and stepped back from the door.

“Come inside already.”

Fallon moved into the apartment, surprised when Savannah’s first reaction was to shut and lock the door—every lock she had. Normally she’d leave it, especially if Fallon wasn’t going to be there very long, but this time felt different. Savannah seemed off.

Gripping Savannah’s upper arm, Fallon pulled her close. There was fear in her eyes—Fallon hadn’t mistaken that. “What’s wrong?”

“Are you in this or not?” Savannah asked, exhaustion clutching at the edges of her tone.

“What?” Fallon’s heart shuddered like she’d been stabbed. “I’m here, aren’t I?”

“But why are you here?”

“You texted me.”

“Fallon, I didn’t text you.” Savannah scoffed and started toward the living room. Fallon followed her, watching every step she took, the way her hips moved side to side and her feet dragged a little more than normal. “I don’t know why you keep saying that.”

“Because you did.” Fallon pulled her phone out of her purse and unlocked it. She shoved the screen in front of Savannah’s face. There, right on it, was a text from Savannah.

Savannah:Come over now.

Savannah’s eyes widened, and she took the phone, pushing her thumb against it so that she could see what time it was sent. “I didn’t text you.”

“I did.” Brinley’s small voice echoed from the edge of the hallway where she peeked around the corner.

“Brin!” Savannah scolded. “You weren’t supposed to come out until I came to get you.”

Brinley shrugged and dragged her feet as she walked closer to where they were. She leaned against Fallon’s side and wrapped her arm around Fallon’s waist in a side-hug. Fallon flicked her gaze from mother to daughter, trying desperately to figure out what to say and do. She’d been duped by a nine-year-old, which she really didn’t appreciate. But at the same time, there was something else going on here that she didn’t know about, something that was setting off warning bells—one after the other.

Savannah not texting back.

The way Savannah had opened the door.

The fear at the sound of the elevator.

Sliding the locks as soon as possible.

Brinley banished to her room.