Page 106 of Break the Barrier

Thea gets the letter threatening her, a letter saying parole may happen, then she dumps us out of the blue with no real reason.

“You’re being a coward, Thea. You’re running away from something great because of your fear.”

My words come back to me suddenly. She was running away because of fear, but not fear for herself, fear for me, fear for Lue, fear for our family.

Fuck.

I can’t believe I was so fucking stupid.

I scan the area quickly, looking for her, hoping to God that she’s not hurt or worse.

My heart is tight in my chest, and Mitch taps my shoulder, pointing near the entrance where Juniper and Annmarie are standing, talking with the cops.

I race to them, stopping short, and grabbing Annmarie’s shoulder. She spins to me, looking tired and worried.

“Where’s Thea?” I ask urgently, my head and heart already preparing for the worst possible answer.

“Thea?” Annmarie asks but doesn’t really ask, her eyes unfocused for a few seconds. “Shit.” She looks around her, her eyes scanning like mine did moments ago. “Fuck.”

Suddenly, she turns and marches into the restaurant. I’m right on her heels, along with Juniper and Mitch. We all scan the empty bar.

“Fuck,” Annmarie hisses, her hands digging into her hair, and she turns to me. For the first time since I’ve known her, she looks genuinely frightened.

“The fire was so chaotic,” she starts. “Everyone was running out of here, people were yelling and cursing and making a fucking scene.”

“I saw her run into the kitchen,” Juniper interrupts, her lip burrowed between her teeth. “I thought she was just making sure everyone was out.”

“Who else was in here?” I ask, my frantic thoughts narrowing in on one objective. Find Thea.

“No one that we saw.” Annmarie frowns, then something dawns on her, and she looks at Juniper. “Fuck,” she repeats.

Juniper looks back at her, fear crossing her face. “You think?”

“He wouldn’t,” Annmarie says.

“You don’t think so? He was a fucking psycho.”

I’m about to scream when Mitch grabs onto Juniper’s shoulder, gently turning her to face him. “Who are you talking about?”

“E-Eric,” she says, stumbling over her words and looking over to me. “Her ex, you know, the one you’ve been trying to protect her from.”

“That motherfucker.” I turn and kick one of the chairs behind me. “Where would he take her?”

I look at Annmarie. Her face shows just how pissed she is as well. “I don’t know. He’s not welcome in his club anymore, and that was way down in South Denver.”

“He would stay somewhere close, not risk kidnapping achick and then going too far,” Mitch pitches in, and it’s the most I’ve heard of his voice since he came home. I wish I could appreciate it.

“I have to go.” I start out the front door.

“Wait!” Annmarie calls, and I feel her and the other two at my back. “What are you going to do? How are you going to find them?”

“I have my ways,” I respond, reaching my truck. I glance around, and the emergency service people are still tending to the distraught guests. I look at Annmarie and give her a serious look. “Don’t tell anyone she’s missing.”

Confusion crosses her face before she looks from me to my little brother. Something in his expression must solidify what I’m saying to her, and she nods, tucking her arm around her little sister’s. “Just bring my sister back.”

I give her a serious look and nod. “I will.”

Hopping into my truck, I turn it over and Mitch jumps in the other side. Before I can worry about anyone realizing what’s missing, I peel out of the parking lot, intent on finding my girl.