Page 120 of Killer Confections

“Who are you?” I mumble in frightened awe.

“Doesn’t matter,” she says easily, drawing the gun back. “Do as I say, and we won’t have any issues.”

My jaw grinds. I may be terrified out of my mind, but this istwiceI’ve felt like a victim.Twicesomeone from this stupid syndicate has made me feel vulnerable. “Atlaswillfind me.” I spit.

Blondie’s lip quirks. “That’s what I’m betting on, sugar. Why don’t you call him right now?”

My brow furrows as my eyes flicker to Blair. She’s propped up in the backseat, a laptop over her thighs. She nods, encouraging me to do as the woman says.

“Are you going to hurt him?” My voice sounds small in the space and my heart pangs. If she plans to hurt my husband, I already know the decision I’m making. I won’t let him die forme.

Blondie sighs, tucking her gun between her legs. “Listen, I don’t give a fuck about you or him. It’s nothing against y’all. I’m sure you’re a lovely person, but I need you right now, Loxley. You’re my ticket back in. So, no, I’m not trying to hurt Atlas.”

Ticket back in?

And how does she know my name?

“Am I going to get hurt?” I don’t know why I ask. Maybe it’s morbid curiosity, but with the way this woman is watching me like she’s expecting me to run, I know I’m not getting away. I’m going to be her bait whether or not I want to.

The woman sighs. “As long as you listen to me, you won’t.”

I take a few deep, uneasy breaths as I pull my phone from my pocket. I try to calm myself, but my hands shake as I press Atlas’s number.

He answers quickly, sounding out of breath. “Hey, what’s wrong?”

He knows right away something isn’t right, and it makes my gut twist.

“Hey,” I say uneasily, feeling a breathless chuckle bubble from me.

“Short Stack,” he warns. “What’s.Wrong?”

My throat feels thick and I swallow the emotion in it as my eyes water. “I got caught.”

He curses over the line, sounding frantic. “Fuck, baby. I’m gonna find you—”

The phone is ripped from my hand, and Blondie holds it up to her ear. “Get Alana to track her location. You’ve got thirty minutes.” She hangs up before tossing my device onto my lap and shifting the car into drive. She slams on the gas, sending me back in my seat as we speed through downtown Columbus.

Once I’ve gathered my bearings, I sit up and shoot her a frightened look. “What happens after thirty minutes?”

Blondie stares straight ahead, but I see her knucklestighten on the steering wheel. “Let’s hope it doesn’t get to that point.”

Bile rises in my throat as I numbly shift forward and stare out the window. “I’ll do what you say, but I need your help, too.”

Blondie glances over at me. “With what?”

I swallow the heavy emotions in my throat, saving the crying for later because therehasto be a later. I just got Atlas back. I don’t want to miss another second of us. “They have my friend. Her name is Addison.”

The woman frowns. “What does she look like?”

“Brown curly hair, grey eyes, tan, and four inches taller than me.”

She nods. “Anything recognizable? Like a tattoo that sticks out? Maybe a piercing or something?”

I think. “She has a mole shaped like Idaho on her neck.”

Blondie blinks before a deep sigh leaves her. “The worst part is that I can imagine what it would look like. If they have her, I’ll get her out.”

“Thank you,” I mumble, sinking back in my seat as I watch the bustling city turn into dense forest. We’re headed in the opposite direction of the compound, but with every mile, my heart pounds harder and harder in my chest.