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45

MADISON

I ’m not sure how long I was asleep, but the ringing of Jagger’s cell phone startles me awake. He groans, reaching over the edge of the bed until he’s able to grab his jeans from the floor. Lifting them, he pulls his phone from the pocket. He frowns as he looks at the screen, hitting the button to answer it. “This better be important,” he snaps.

“Jagger,” Bryce’s voice is strained and tense.

My body jolts and every muscle tenses from his grave tone, knowing something is seriously wrong. Sitting up, I pull the blankets to my chest, meeting Jagger’s eyes.

“I-I-It’s Abby.”

“What about her?” Jagger’s voice is curt, his eyebrows drawn together.

“H-He’s got her,” Bryce says in a rush.

“Who? Who has her?” Jagger’s voice grows louder, his muscles straining beneath his pale skin, but I see the fear on his face.

“Ben.”

The room is silent, filled with our mutual horror, as Jagger and I stare at one another in shock. The color drains from my face as I finally find my voice. “What?” I shriek. No. Not Abby.

Bryce clears his throat. His voice trembles when he speaks, on the verge of tears. “Abby left for work, and about fifteen minutes before her shift started, she called me. Only, it wasn’t her voice, but his .”

“Oh my God.” My hands tremble as I lean forward, drawing my knees to my chest. The room spins slightly as fear rushes through me. Tears leak down my cheeks as Abby’s face swims through my mind. She’s pregnant… and the worst kind of fucking animal has her.

“What did he say?” Jagger demands, his face ashen, his voice tense and curt. His hands curl into fists like he’s ready to kill someone.

Bryce heaves out a breath. “Ben said… He wants to make a trade.” A loud sob comes through the phone, and my heart splinters. I know how much he loves Abby. She’s his entire fucking world.

All the air leaves my lungs as I know his next words before he says them.

“Abby for Maddie.”

“Fuck.” Jagger’s fist pounds the top of the nightstand beside him as he gets up. Pacing across the floor, his body is tense, like a tiger going insane inside of a cage, desperate to get out.

Anger and guilt cloud his eyes when he stops and looks at me. I know his decision before he says a word.

“No, Jagger,” I whisper. His sharp look cuts me off, staring daggers at my face. He won’t trade me, even for his sister.

“He says he’ll call back in two hours, and if we don’t give up Maddie, he’ll kill Abby.” Bryce’s voice breaks before he sobs, “I can’t fucking lose her, Jagger. Abby’s my life. She’s…. fucking pregnant man.”

Tears course down my face. In the short time I’ve known Abby, she’s not only become a friend, but she’s like the sister I never had.

Shooting up from the bed, horror fills me as I get to my feet. The room tilts, spinning violently. I ran to the bathroom, feeling sick.

Gripping onto the counter, my breaths heave in and out of my lungs as I try to control the nausea swirling inside me. Bile rises in my throat, and I swallow hard, fighting to keep it down. This is all my fault. I was the one who dated Ben, and now look what’s happening.

I smell his leather, cinnamon, and cigarette smell seconds before his arms wrap around me. “Baby girl. Please, don’t.” His head lowers to my shoulder, raining kisses against it. “We’ll get her back. I promise.”

We may, but will she be unharmed? Or will that bastard torture and rape her, doing irreparable damage to her before we can rescue her?

And if they don’t give in to Ben’s demands, we may not get Abby back.

Turning into his embrace, I cling to him, unable to say a word as my body shakes, unable to see him clearly because of my tears. His arms cage me, holding me tightly as his face lowers to my hair. His body trembles, and I hear him sniff.

God, stop it, Maddie. Jagger needs you. That’s his sister.

“Jagger, we have to make the trade. There’s no other op—”

“No,” he roars, his voice so loud my ears ring. “What fucking good will that do? I don’t fucking trust him.”

“She’s your sister,” my eyes pleading. “I can’t… If anything happens to her…”

“I know she’s my sister.” The rage in his voice is barely constrained. “Have you considered this could be a trap? That he won’t give up Abby and will only take you, too?”

My heart stutters inside my chest. “I don’t think that’s the case. I think he’ll make the trade—”

“Why?” Jagger roars. “Because you know him so well? Maddie, you didn’t even know you were fucking a serial killer.”

My loud gasp fills the room, and I rear back as though he slapped me across the face. “ How dare you ?” My entire body shakes from my rage and the sting of betrayal from his harsh words.

Jagger’s expression is contrite, but it’s too late. Anger flows through my veins like lava. I try shoving him away from me, but he doesn’t move. When he doesn’t release me, the loud sting of my hand across his cheek punctuates the room. His body goes still before he slowly raises his hand to his cheek. His eyes drop to mine, and I shake from the fear coursing through me as he glowers at me.

My trembling hands cover my mouth. “I’m sorry,” I whisper.

“What I said was uncalled for. But so was that slap.” He moves his hand from his cheek, an angry red handprint shockingly bright against his pale skin.

Wrapping my hand around his wrist, my eyes beseech him to forgive me. “That was wrong. I just… Freaked out.” My head hangs in shame, regret heavy in my heart. Taking a breath, I can’t fill my lungs with air because of the self-loathing that runs through me.

His hand moves to my neck, drawing my eyes to his. “I’ll forgive you—this time. I know you’re upset. I’d never hurt you, and even though the hit stung, it hurt my pride worse than my face. Don’t do it again.”

I nod as best I can, considering his hand is around my neck. He releases his hold, his arms sliding around me. Collapsing in his arms, I cling to him, raining kisses over his heart. “I’m sorry,” I whisper over and over. The last thing we need is to be driven apart by this. Abby’s life—and the life of her unborn child—hangs in the balance.

His arms tighten around me, and his finger moves beneath my chin, lifting my face to his. “It’s okay, baby girl.” He peppers my forehead with kisses. “But consider that your only warning.”

The tension in my body releases, gratitude filling me. “I love you. I…” Pushing a lock of hair from my face, I clear my throat. “I need to get it together. I’m just… so fucking scared for her.”

“I know.” His face is drawn and pale. “I am, too.” His arms shake around me, ratcheting up my fear… Seeing his confidence slip shakes me to my core.

“What do we do?” I whisper.

Jagger’s eyes meet mine. “Let’s get dressed and go downstairs. Jason is on his way to Bryce’s house. I want to call him and see if he knows how to proceed.”

Following Jagger out of the bathroom, my hand clasped in his, he leads me to the bedroom. As I hurriedly dress, I shoot looks at this terse expression. His muscles are tightly coiled. I’m surprised they don’t explode.

“Thank you for moving my clothing up here with yours. It means a lot to me.”

Jagger’s expression softens, and a small smile tugs his lips up. “Of course. What’s mine is yours, baby girl.”

A smile crosses my lips as I study him. My words did what I needed them to do. I need Jagger back in control, coming up with a plan to get Abby back.

Once we have our clothing on, we head downstairs to the kitchen. Jagger clutches his phone as he waits for Jason to answer. Jason’s tone is subdued, telling us he’d just gotten off the phone with Bryce.

As Jagger slumps into his chair, my fingers massage his tense back and shoulder muscles. From their terse conversation, the news is grim, and we have very few options. Jagger and Jason are adamant that handing me over to Ben isn’t a good idea.

I slump into the chair beside Jagger, hopeless and guilty, wishing I would have done something that prevented Abby’s capture.

When Jagger hung up, his concerned obsidian eyes locked on mine. “Are you okay, baby girl?”

“I have a headache.” I gesture toward the bathroom. “I’m gonna grab some pain pills from the medicine cabinet upstairs. Would you mind getting me some water?”

“Of course. I can get the pills if you want?”

I shake my head, already standing. “No, that’s okay. I’ll get them. I need to use the restroom anyway.” As he nods, I force a smile to my face. “Thanks.”

Heading upstairs, I go to the restroom, my head pounding. I open the medicine cabinet, grabbing the pain medication. As I do, I spot a bottle of sleeping pills on one shelf. Curiosity fills me, and I grab them, reading the name and dosage instructions. Jagger must take those when he can’t sleep from his nightmares.

Closing the medicine cabinet, my heart aches for all he’s been through. And now he’s enduring more, thanks to the asshole serial killer I dated.

What a damned nightmare.

Blowing out a breath, I head back to the kitchen.

W hen I head downstairs, Jagger’s eyes meet mine. “Here’s your water, baby girl.”

Nodding my thanks, I grab the water from his outstretched hand, then pop the pills into my mouth. My attention is diverted back to Jagger’s phone when Jason says, “Abby’s phone is still in the parking garage at the hospital.”

Jagger blows out a frustrated breath, leaning back in his chair. His hand angrily goes through his hair as he shakes his head. “No way do I believe he’s holding her there. The amount of people and traffic going in and out of there is too risky. My bet is he took her elsewhere.”

“Agreed.” Bryce’s voice is full of sadness and resignation when he says, “But where? We’re running out of time and have no leads.”

“Are there cameras in the parking garage? Maybe you can hack into them?” Jagger’s voice is eerily calm compared to the look on his face. I know he’s trying everything to keep Bryce calm.

“I’m examining them now. There’s so much traffic in and out of there.” Bryce’s voice holds a note of hopelessness, making my heart bleed for him.

A sigh slips out of Jagger, turning into a yawn. His hand goes over his mouth, trying to suppress it, but the sleepless nights and stress are catching up. Dark circles rim his eyes.

Heading to the coffee pot, I work on making iced coffee, knowing we need all the caffeine we can get today.

When they are ready, I slide one across the table to Jagger. He winks at me, blowing me a kiss, his bloodshot eyes locked on mine. Despite his exhaustion, his love for me shines in his ebony orbs.

Coming around the table, I drop into the chair beside him. My gaze moves to the screen of Jagger’s laptop, looking at it over his shoulder, hoping I can find something the guys missed.

It all seems fucking hopeless.

Jagger hangs up the phone, rubbing his hands over his face. His shoulders slump from dejection as he takes a long drink of his coffee, his hand trembling slightly. He can’t prevent the yawn from escaping as he sets his mug on the table.

Wrapping my arms around him, I pull his head to my shoulder, aching for him. He’s been through so much shit in his life, and now this.

We sit there like that, comfortable in our silence.

After a few beats, he sighs, lifting his head. Cracking his neck from side to side, he pulls his laptop closer. I get out of my chair, my hands moving to his shoulders, kneading the tense muscles with my fingers. A moan comes out of him as I work on the knots until I feel them finally loosen.

T wenty minutes later, Jagger’s head is on the table as he snores. I scribble a quick note, then grab his phone, my heart beating frantically inside my chest.

Deactivating the alarm, I quietly unlock the patio door and hurry to the garage. Opening it, I run inside, gaze darting around the garage, searching for the keys to my Mustang. Spotting them on the workbench, I grab them.

Before slipping inside my car, I glance at the cabin. I’m confident Jagger’s still out from the sleeping pills I put in his iced coffee. He’s going to be so pissed at me, but there’s no other option. This is my fault, and I need to fix it. I can’t let Abby die. The thought of Ben sexually assaulting her, then murdering her, has bile rising in my throat.

I start the Mustang, then back out of the garage. Closing the garage door, I activate the alarm for the house and garage via the app on his phone. Turning the car around, I stomp my foot on the gas, flying over Jagger’s driveway, using the GPS in the car to navigate across the mountains toward the Falls Creek Hospital.

I’m done waiting, Ben. I’m getting Abby back. I know what I’m doing is risky as hell, but I’ll fight like hell to get back to Jagger. And I know he’ll burn down the fucking world until he finds me.

I’m about five minutes from the hospital when Jagger’s phone rings. Looking at the screen, the caller is listed as “Unknown.” But I know exactly who it is.

“Hello, Ben.” My voice is strong and steady, despite the butterflies flapping their wings inside my stomach.

He sounds surprised. “Well, hello, Maddie. Where’s Jagger?”

“Not here. This is between you and me.”

Ben releases an evil chuckle. “You have no idea how true that is.”

My eyes narrow. “This is how it’s going to happen. I’ll go to whatever location you desire to meet you and Abby. I’m alone. You release Abby for me. She’ll take my Mustang and go.”

He snorts, his voice full of arrogance. “It’s funny you think you’re the one calling the shots.”

“You obviously want me for some reason, so let’s do this. I’ll take her place, but you must agree to let her go.”

There’s a pause, and Ben finally says, “And if I don’t?”

Briefly closing my eyes as I stop at a red light, I say, “Then the deal is off. Me for Abby. Take it or leave it.”

“You’ve gotten more aggressive since you’ve been with him .” He pauses, and I say nothing, willing myself to be strong.

Finally, he says, “Fine. Here’s where I want to meet.” Ben gives me the location and address and then hangs up.

Breathing in and out, I picture Jagger’s face, trying to calm my racing heart.

Driving as quickly as I can, it feels like time slows down until I finally spot the dilapidated warehouse ahead. It’s at the edge of town, near the woods, and my heartbeat stutters inside my chest as images of the woman he violated, then killed in the woods behind campus, float through my head.

Stop it, Maddie. You need to focus.

Pulling into a parking lot overgrown with weeds and covered with potholes, I slowly drive toward the double doors that Ben told me to park in front of.

Putting the car in park, I stare through the windshield, waiting. I don’t turn the ignition off because I want Abby to be able to slide behind the wheel and leave as soon as he releases her.

The doors open, and Ben stands in them, his arm around Abby’s waist. Tears run down her cheeks, and her eyes widen when they lock on mine.

Leaving Jagger’s phone inside the car, knowing Abby can use it and that Ben would only take it and get rid of it if I take it with me, I heave out a breath, then open the door. Climbing out of the car, my eyes are trained on Ben, who holds a knife to Abby’s throat.

I slowly head toward him, holding my arms up in the air. “You can see I’m alone. Now, let her go.”

“Come closer,” Ben orders, his feral gaze on me. A shiver courses through my spine as I look into his psychotic eyes, glimmering with desire and something else. Something I’ve never seen before. Want? Need? Revenge? I’m not entirely sure. But whatever it is, it creeps me out.

Each step seems to take an infinity, yet time seems to speed up simultaneously. My gaze never wavers from Ben’s, not trusting him at all. “ Let her go .”

Ben stares at me, eyebrows raised. “How do I know this isn’t a trap?”

“Unlike you, I keep my promises,” I snap. “ Release her ,” I say through gritted teeth.

His arm loosens, and Abby pushes against it, running toward me. “Maddie, why?” Tears coursed down her cheeks. “It’s a trap.”

But Ben is there, grabbing my arm—and Abby’s.

I anticipated this.

Turning my head as though I’m looking at someone behind him, Ben follows my gaze. As fast as lightning, I grab the knife from my back pocket, open it, and slide it across his arm that grips Abby. He howls, lifting his arm to see the blood trailing from the wound.

Shoving Abby away, I yell, “run.” We exchange a loaded look as I put myself between her and Ben, watching her as she takes off, heading to my car.

“You fucking bitch.” I turn to face him, and before I can react, his fist slams against my cheekbone, knocking me to my knees. Searing pain goes through my face, tears filling my eyes, temporarily blinding me.

Ben grabs a handful of my hair, but I’m not done fighting yet. Still gripping the knife, I plunge it into his thigh as he pulls me to my feet. The scream of agony that falls from his lips reminds me of an injured wild animal, the sound piercing my eardrum. He doesn’t let go of my hair, though I squirm and fight against him. My face throbs from where he hit me, but the pain is minimal from the adrenaline flowing through me as I fight for my life.

From behind me, the tires of the Mustang burn across the parking lot, growing fainter as Abby peals away.

Please, Abby. Call Jagger. Wake him up.

I get to my feet as Ben grabs the handle of the knife, trying to pull it from his leg. “You stabbed me. Fucking bitch.”

He yanks the knife from his thigh, then his fist flies at my face. It connects with a sickening, loud crack.

Then everything goes black.