Page 120 of Riot

I press a hand to my heart as Cookie nudges me, mewling in a tone I’ve never heard before. He’s crying. He’s crying because I’m crying.

I need to call the police. I need to call the club. Holy shit, what do I do?

Breathe, Halo, breathe!

With shaky hands I dial 911, give them my address and briefly tell them what happened. Then I call Nevada. It rings half a dozen times before he answers.

His voice tired from sleep. “Hales?”

“Oh my God, Nevada!” I start to pace. “It’s Riot… He just went out, and then there was a noise and I heard him shout and now he’s gone?—”

“Woah, woah, slow down, babe. Tell me what happened.”

“We went to bed, and Cookie woke us up barking and he went outside to see what it was, and then I heard him shout and I got up. When I found his flashlight on the ground, there was blood, Nevada. Now he’s gone, there was a car… I didn’t get any details and he left his phone.”

“I’m gonna call you right back, okay? I need to make some calls.”

“Okay. I called the police.”

“That’s okay.” I can hear Star in the background asking what’s wrong. Nevada tells her briefly, the phone muffled, then he comes back to me. “Star’s gonna call you right back, honey, got me?”

I’m shaking as I slide down the door, landing on my ass. “Does this have anything to do with Chicago?”

“I don’t know,” he says honestly. “Sit tight.” He hangs up and I stare at the wall, hardly daring to believe it.

Who would kidnap Riot, and what for? I mean, the Parish is so quiet. So harmless. And this was premeditated. They weren't just trying to rob us. They took Riot.

Cookie pushes his way into my space and licks my face. I wrap my arms around him as my phone rings. It’s Star. My hands tremble as I try to steady my breathing. My blood runs cold when I think about what they could be doing with Riot, or why they would snatch him. Is this what shock feels like?

I can’t stop the tears. Blood. They made him bleed. Then another thought hits me; is he still alive? Then again, would they even take him if he wasn’t?

I cry into my dog's neck as he lets me hold him, whimpering softly as I cry for Myles.

I don’t know how, but I’m going to get him back. If it’s the last thing I do, I will fight to the death for him. For what he’s given me, for all the support and love and respect and for what he did, in spite of my family. I will find him.

I slide the screen with my finger as Star sounds down the line, and I cry all over again.

Riot

I wake up, my head feeling like it just got pounded in. Then I remember,it did.

I don’t know where I am, but we’re moving. I can hear the sound of the engine, and the rain pelting down on the roof.

What the fuck happened?

I went out to check the gate… Then I got jumped. My vision is still blurry and I’ve no doubt I have a concussion. I can’t focus and I feel like I’m gonna throw up.

I can hear voices coming from the front, but I can’t hear what they’re saying. As far as I can tell, I’m in the back of a van.

My throat feels hoarse, like I need water. My hands are tied, my feet, too.

Fuck.

My girl. Cookie… Halo will be beside herself. I’ve no fuckin’ clue what’s going on, but this has to have something to do with Chicago. I know Halo’s mom is a pill, but I can’t very well see her hiring someone to kidnap me. Then again, maybe she really is that delusional. It also means somebody has been following us and I had no goddamn idea. I’ve been complacent and that makes me angry. I can also taste blood. My head pounds, and I can feel my ribs hurting. Fuckers probably beat me while I was out because they’re too fuckin’ gutless to do it to my face.

I don’t have my phone, and I’ve no clue how the fuck anyone is going to find me. I’ve gotta find a way out of this, but when the van comes to a stop, I close my eyes again and resume thepretense of still being unconscious. Let’s just hope the goons that took me don’t look too closely.

A few moments later, the van doors open and someone climbs in. He gives me a shove with his boot. “He’s still out,” he grumbles.

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