Page 116 of Not How I Saw That Going

“Only seven times,” I shout, running down the front steps. I stop short when I hit the bottom. Two sparkly heels that look exactly like the ones Lyndi was wearing are laying on the ground.

“Was Lyndi wearing silver heels?” I ask Maddie, needing to know for sure.

“Yes. Why?”

“Because I just found them.”

“Why would she leave her shoes? She’d never do that.” Maddie’s quiet for a moment. “Unless she had no choice. If she needed to run. Oh no. You don’t think… no. But what if…”

“Maddie, what?”

“Rodney! H-he’s been calling her. What if he took her?” Maddie’s voice turns hysterical, but I can’t let myself focus on her emotions or I will get hysterical myself.

That’s the call she was avoiding the other night? Why didn’t she just tell me?

“We don’t know that,” I say, trying to comfort myself more than her. “We can’t jump to conclu—”

“HELP!”

My head whips around toward the alley, and I listen. But all I can hear is my stupid heartbeat. “Call 911,” I yell to Maddie, then hang up. “Lyndi!” I shove my phone into my pocket and sprint into the darkness.

“He—” The word is cut off by a thud.

“Lyndi!” My voice is loud against the quiet night. No one responds. I stop and listen. There’s a rustling sound straight ahead and I don’t pause to think. I charge right for it.

I enter the alley and stop short. There, almost hidden by the shadows, is a body. The blue dress confirms my fears. I race to her, dropping down to her side. My hands rush up her side until I locate her wrist.

I wait. There it is: a soft pulse. Relief floods my body.

I fumble for my phone and shine a light on my girl, but a movement by the dumpster catches my eye. I swing my light in that direction.

A man.

He freezes like a deer caught in headlights.

I narrow my eyes and stand up, my back arched, ready for a fight.

He curses, then takes off running.

I don’t want to leave Lyndi, but I can’t let that man go. He hurt what is most dear to me, and he will pay. I sprint after him, my phone light the only thing illuminating my way the farther we disappear into the darkness.

I yell at my phone to call Caleb.

“Hey man, where’d you go?”

“Outside alley. Lyndi’s unconscious. I’m chasing the perp west,” I yell into the phone. I don’t bother hanging up. I know in a second he will find Lyndi, and she will be safe.

The man stumbles over a pipe, and I gain ground on him. “Stop right there!” I call after him.

“What are you going to do? Kick me with your loafers?” He cackles, then coughs.

Something like that.I dodge around a stray garbage bag.

The alley opens up into the back street and the man speeds up. For a thug, he’s pretty fast, but he won’t get away. I won’t let that happen. I pour every pain I’ve ever suffered, every ounce of passion for righting wrongs into my steps.

I come up a foot from him and leap. My body crashes down on his and we fall to the ground, punches already flying.

The faces of all the men I let down flash into my mind. I couldn’t avenge them, but I won’t let Lyndi down the same way. I drive my fist into his face, shaking with all the anger and helplessness I’ve felt over the years. This guy hurt the woman I love, and he needs to pay.