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“I’d like that.”

After waving goodbye to Cara, I exited the shop and walked toward the hotel whenYolanda walked by with two of her friends. She wore a pretty yellow sundress. I didn’t know if she recognized me, but she didn’t say hello when we made eye contact. I didn’t blame her. We didn’t know each other. I only saw her sitting with Forrest at Taco Haven. I couldn’t believe I’d been jealous of Forrest’s cousin in the beginning. But all of that was in the past. He was with me now.

As I walked, I swung the shopping bag containing the willow amulets and my mom’s herbal mixes like a gleeful girl who had gotten everything she wanted. A plan formed in my head for when to give Forrest his amulet. I’d tell him I had a dinner date planned but wouldn’t tell him with whom. Would he be jealous?

My visit to Full Circle Apothecary was the adventure I needed today. I felt rejuvenated just being in that tranquil atmosphere. It was like taking a stroll inside the woods, where every nook and cranny had things to discover. The incense, herbs, live plants, lotions, soaps, perfumes, and essential oils healed me indirectly. I had enough energyto take over the world.

My phone rang, and I stopped by a bench.

“Howdy, Olivia! What y’all up to?” I asked, trying out the Southern accent.

“Why are you so cheerful?”

“I bought some cool gifts. What’s up? How was lunch?”

“I just got a call from Yvette, the manager hosting the fashion show. She said the stage and showroom are all set up now. She invited us to check it out. Want to look at it with me? I want to see the space and the clothes I’m going to wear. The images in the email looked gorgeous, but I’d rather see and touch them myself.”

I always preferred to familiarize myself with the setting before taking photos. Paying a visit would save me time trying to gauge the angles, shadows, and light.

“Sure, let’s go. I have my camera with me.” I told her my location and waited for her car.

Twenty minutes later, she arrived. I put my shopping bag and the camera in the back seat and buckled into the passenger side.

The GPS took us down a small residential street. A murder of crows flew out from a tree and across the car windshield, startling us.

“Shit!” Olivia shouted as she screeched to a stop.

An uncomfortable feeling squeezed my stomach. “Are you sure this is the way?”

When the crows left, she continued on and came to an intersection. “GPS is usually reliable. I’m just gonna call Yvette to double check.” She pulled over to a parking spot.

I could see industrial buildings across the street.

Ablack van drove up and parked beside us. Two men wearing white masks got out from the side door and aimed a gun at us. “Get out. Keep your mouths shut, and keep your hands up or I will kill you.”

Oh my God!Olivia’s hands shook as she dropped her phone.

Fearspiked in me, and for a moment, I remembered that day when I saw Forrest’s bloody body on the ground. I snapped myself out of it because I wasn’t a little girl experiencing extreme fear for the first time anymore.

“Let’s get out,” I said to Olivia. “Do as they say, okay? If they wanted to kill us, they would’ve done it already.”

Olivia nodded and squeezed my hand.

I pushed the fear down, and it sat in my gut, churning and churning. I had to be strong to survive.

Looking at the men, I said, “You need to open the door if you want our hands to stay up.”

One man yanked my door open while the other went over to Olivia’s side, dragging her out. I considered using the self-defense moves I’d learned in Vivian’s class, but I hadn’t been practicing enough. Fear had numbed parts of my body, so my chances of escaping two huge men were slim. Not to mention, I had Olivia with me.

I tripped on something on the ground, stumbling into the man in front of me. He turned and grabbed my breasts and squeezed. I slapped him, and he slapped me back. It stung and infuriated me. I’d never been hit before.

Olivia screamed, “Leave her alone, you asshole!”

He slapped her too, and tears gleamed in her eyes.

I clasped Olivia’s hand, pulling her into me.

Who the hell were these guys? What did they want with us?