Page 38 of Tainted Truth

Zane approaches me and holds up his laptop in answer. “You can listen and find out for yourself.”

CHAPTER 15

SPENCER

Iscramble to quietly dive under our king-size bed. Once again, my ass barely makes it under in time. My head is on the side facing the doorway and I peer through the few inches of space.

Anthony makes an appearance and lingers in the doorway.

“Oh, Floooooower.”

A sob threatens to leave me, but I bite my tongue and swallow it down.

His feet carry him to the bathroom. “Clever, Flower. Very clever.”

Shit. I must have left the cabinet open.

I squeeze my eyes closed and cover my mouth again. I let out a silent, shaky breath as he knocks around items in the bathroom.

He hasn’t found me yet. He hasn’t found me yet.

“Hello, Flower.”

My eyes bug open, and I finally let out the scream lodged in my throat as Anthony grips my hands and drags me out from under the bed.

When I wake, I’m alone, and silent sobs wrack my chest. My cheeks are wet, and my throat feels scratchy. I sit up, bringing my knees to my chest, and rock back and forth. The motion doesn’t bring me any sort of peace, but my mind and body are on autopilot.

I wish they were here.

Darkness blankets the world outside.

I can’t believe I slept so long.

A headache threatens to take over, but I ignore it. Releasing the tension from my shoulders, I notice that the blankets are on the floor, my shirt is rumpled, and I no longer have pants on.

Umm. What the hell? Where did my leggings go?

Rio and I spent the day getting lost in each other. It was beautiful and perfect—everything I needed. But I know when we fell asleep in Zane’s bed, I had leggings on.

Maybe I kicked them off in my sleep.

You did use a lot of energy in youractivitiesearlier.

Ugh.

Rio and Zane’s voices float up the stairs, and a fluttery feeling warms my chest. With a pair of sleep shorts on, I head down the stairs when a familiar voice, a voice I haven’t heard in three years, pulls me up short.

Stopping at the bottom step, I spot Zane, Rio, and Asher gathered at the bar in the kitchen, huddled together. Anthony’s voice streams from the laptop in the middle of their circle, and a chill sweeps over my skin.

“I lost a very prized possession. She slipped through my fingers, and I’ve been doing everything in my power to get her to make the right choice and come home. She’s proven to be more stubborn than I originally believed her to be, but the things keeping her here won’t be a problem much longer.”

This can’t be real. My lips tremble, and a light sheen of sweat coats my cold skin.

The implication is clear.

He’s here, and he’s not leaving without me.

A whimper slips free, causing all three heads to turn to me. Zane hits the pause button immediately, grimacing.

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