Page 119 of Riot

“Hey, bud?” I whisper. “What’s up?”

Turning off Otter, I slide him onto the side table as Halo stirs, rubbing her eyes as she yawns.

“What’s going on?” she whispers.

“I don’t know,” I say. “Somethin’ spooked Cookie, I better go take a look.”

I don’t hear anything, but there are deer, squirrels and the occasional bobcat around here. Let’s hope it’s not the latter.

“Riot? Be careful.”

I smile. “Go back to sleep, it’s probably nothin’, babe.”

I slide my jeans on and my t-shirt, giving Cookie a pat as he still whimpers. I bend down. “It’s okay, bud. Dad’ll go check things out, wait here with your mama.” I kiss him on the head. He tries to follow me but I pick him up and put him on the bed.

“Riot? Take your flashlight.” Halo points to the side table.

I lean over and kiss her forehead. “Got it.” I swipe it off the table and pull my boots on once I’m at the door.

I check outside the window, but the security lights are all off. Probably a damn skunk, knowing my luck. I turn on the flashlight and close the door firmly behind me.

If some asshole is out here, however unlikely it is in this sleepy town, then I’m not leaving anything to chance.

The yard is fenced, hence the reason I booked it so Cookie could be outside. The side gate swings open, and I realize that with the wind picking up tonight, the latch has come loose. This is what Cookie would’ve heard swinging and creaking. Man, he has good ears. I secure the latch, muttering under my breath about being woken from such a good sleep, when I hear a sudden movement behind me.

I turn and the blow comes before I can even react. It hits the side of my head and my flashlight falls from my hand as I stumble. “Fuck!” I yell.

Then I get hit again, this time I fall sideways and break my fall with my arm, but my head is foggy from the blow. The next hit, I don’t see anything at all. Just blackness.

And then I hit the ground.

Halo

I sit upright in bed.Did I just hear Riot?

Cookie whimpers, scratching at the bedroom door. Then he lets out a loud bark.

Shit.

I jump out of bed and pull my sweater on. There was a storm brewing tonight when we went to bed, and we could hear the rain earlier on the roof.

I pat his head on the way by as he shoves his face into my hand and panic rises through me. I open the door and call out, “Riot?”

He doesn’t answer.Double shit.

I slide on my sneakers and turn to Cookie. “Wait here, big guy. Mommy will be back in a second.” He whimpers in response, pawing me with his bandaged leg and I lean down and kiss him.

I use the flashlight on my phone so I can see where I’m going, and I realize the security lights aren’t coming on.

I shut the door behind me and creep out onto the pathway that leads to the side gate. “Riot? Riot, you’re scaring me. Where are—” I stare down at the flashlight on the ground. It’s still lit. Oh, God, is that blood? There’s a trail of it leading away toward the gate. I pick his flashlight up and shine it right in front ofme. The gate is swinging open in the wind and then I see the taillights of a car leaving the driveway like a bat out of hell. I can’t make out the make or model, it’s too dark. I don’t even think. I start to run.

“Riot! Oh, God, no! Riot!” I run to the end of the drive, crying his name over and over, but the taillights disappear.

Holy fucking shit. Did Riot just get kidnapped? I turn back to the house. Stumbling over the keys of my phone to dial him, but I hear it ringing from the inside… He didn’t take his phone with him.Holy shit. Holy fucking shit!

I run inside, bolt the door and stand there motionless for a few moments.

My boyfriend just got kidnapped. There was blood.

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