Page 78 of One Spicy Summer

Recognition flickers.

“Rygaard?”

I squint. “Henry?”

“Yeah, man. Long time.”

“Yeah, look, no offense, but who’s the girl?”

His face falls. “It’s Presley.”

I stumble back a step.

“She’s in bad shape, man. Someone beat her, shot her... before turning the gun on himself.”

“Keifer?”

Henry’s lips press into a tight line. “I can’t say officially... But off the record? Yeah.” I clench my fists until my nails bite into my palms.

“Is she gonna make it?”

Henry hesitates. “Man... I’m sorry. I’m not allowed to say more. Go to the hospital. Wait there.”

Numb, I nod.

I need to see her. I need to see with my own eyes that she’s alive.

Running back to my truck, I dial Rafe.

He answers on the first ring. “What’s up?”

“Presley’s been hurt. She’s on the way to the hospital. Meet me there.”

“What?!” His voice cracks. “What the fuck are you saying right now?”

“Just what you heard. That motherfucker tried to kill her. Meet me at the ER.”

“Fuck! I’m coming.”

I hang up and immediately call Agatha.

“Hello?”

“Presley’s hurt. Hospital. Now.”

“I’m on my way.”

I slam my fist into the steering wheel, screaming out my helpless rage before tearing off toward the hospital, blowing through red lights like a madman.

When I screech into the ER parking lot, I barely throw the truck in park before I'm flying out, running inside.

The chaotic noise of the emergency room barely registers. All I see is the front entrance, the waiting area, and the empty space where Presley should be.

Tires screech across the lot behind me.

Agatha and Rafe come running toward me, panic stamped across their faces.

“Where is she?!” Agatha cries.

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