Page 300 of Second Sets Omnibus

“I want her,” she cries again, yelping when he does something to her.

I tense. Every instinct inside my body screams for me to run in there and save her. I need my goddamn baby to be safe.

“She’ll come!” he says in a sharp voice through heavy breaths, causing Lyric to sniffle hysterically again. “She’ll come. Now, quiet.”

“We need to do this slowly…” Asher’s eyes fall on the man with his back to us. His red hoodie clings to his body, and the hood covers his hair.

Asher pulls out his phone and carefully checks his messages, updating Olivia on where we are and that we need help immediately. Also, snapping a picture of him and sending it on. With shaky fingers, Asher connects a call to Olivia and leaves it in his hand, letting Liv hear everything that happens. Hopefully, with her training, she’ll record everything for later. In case thisall goes sideways. But if the swooping in my stomach is any indication of how this will go, it won’t end well.

“This room echoes. You know?” the man in the red hoodie calls out. “I can hear every word you say. It looks like your mommy finally made it,” he sing-songs the last part mockingly. “Let’s get this party started. I’m tired of waiting.”

My heart falls into my ass when he spins around toward us with a black gun nestled in his hand, pointing it toward my baby clutched in his tight, unrelenting grip. Tears work down Lyric’s face as she trembles, but she doesn’t pull away. Whatever fear she has, she knows she needs to stay still.

The moment my eyes collide with his, I die a little on the inside—those eyes. I know them. I recognize that face. It’s someone I saw a week ago at Dead End. Someone I just happened to run into. Maybe it wasn’t such a fucking coincidence that he was there.

Donavon fucking Drake. That is the whole reason the boys left. The videos he kept. The way he stalked me back then. My nightmare has followed me here. But why? Why him? And why the fuck now? I already had one stalker. I don’t need another psycho in my life. Besides, Olivia checked in on him multiple times, assuring me he was gone. He was in Europe. Away from here. But yet, here he stands with a weapon in his hand, smiling maniacally.

“Rivey, so good to see you again,” he coos, tilting his head to the side with a sadistic grin.

My lips pop open, and I shake my head. “Van…” I trail off in horror, shaking my head. “I don’t understand…” His grip tightens on Lyric’s arm when my eyes dart to my baby in the clutches of madness.

“The one and only…” His eyes immediately dart to Asher, who stays in front of me, protectively covering my body with his. “What the fuck is he doing here?” His teeth grind together as hiseyes narrow in on Asher frozen with his hands up. Van wildly waves the gun in his direction. “I told you! You are mine, River West! You both are!” Van shouts erratically, stomping his foot.

I stiffen at his words. “Y-yours?” I stammer.

My heart threatens to punch out of my chest when he throws his head back, laughing like a loon.

“Mine. All mine. You always have been. How do you feel knowing your guy here sold you out? He came to me. Begged ME for those videos…”

“Why did you take videos?” I breathe, stepping around Asher. “Why would you do that? That’s gross.” I shake my head, begging to keep his attention on me so Lyric and Asher can run away.

Now would be a good time for Olivia or Carter, or fuck, I’ll take Jordy, to show their faces with guns blazing and take this asshole down for good.

“Stay back,” Asher hisses through his teeth, trying to grab my elbow.

“No more,” Van hisses. “You’ve touched what’s mine for far too fucking long!” In the blink of an eye, he raises the gun in Asher’s direction, waving it around.

“Whoa!” I shout, stupidly jumping in front of Asher. “Van. What the hell is going on? Explain it to me!” I scream, bringing his attention back to me. “Look at me, Van. Explain what’s happening.” I lower my voice, trying to sound as calm and collected as possible. Something I don’t fucking feel right now. Panic takes me over when he doesn’t lower the weapon, leaving it pointed in Asher’s direction.

His face hardens—a twitch forms in his right eye, highlighting his loss of composure.

“Oh, right. I’ll explain everything to you, Rivey. Just let me touch you. I need to fucking touch you,” he pleads with desperation. “Let me feel you, baby.”

Fat chance.

“Let Lyric go,” I say, motioning toward my baby still in his clutches.

For as long as I live, the haunting expression holding her captive will keep me up at night. Somehow, Lyric has retreated inside herself, no longer blubbering, or trying to pull away. She’s a shadow of nothingness. I need to take charge of this situation before she sinks too far into herself and I’m unable to pull her out. My baby doesn’t deserve to live through the pain of Van’s obsession. I’ve protected her from this for so long.

“No,” Van snarls, baring his teeth. “I let our child go, and you’ll take off again and let these assholes raise her. You are both fucking MINE!” His voice echoes off the walls, filling the room with his rage. It’s so visceral, the tiny hairs on my arm stand on end.

My breath catches in my chest, refusing to refill my lungs. Our? He’s delusional. Concocting this fantasy that Lyric and I are his. His? Really? My mind races out of control. What the fuck do I do here? I’m so out of my goddamn depth. I need to get Lyric away from him. I have to think on my fucking feet to get his hands off of her and onto me.

It’s time to save my baby and Asher. No matter the cost.

I inch forward, avoiding Asher’s desperate glare to keep me within his reach. His head shakes with limited movements, like he’s reading my mind.

“Okay,” I say, holding my hands up, placating the asshole. “Let’s just talk, Van. Okay? Let’s work this out. You can touch me. Just let her go.” I swallow razor blades when his eyes light up, traveling up and down my body with intense interest. Disgust fills every molecule of my body when he zones in on my breasts, licking his lips. I shiver, holding back the vomit threatening to spew from my throat.