Page 142 of Mess With Me

“How did you find me?” The words aren’t curious. They’re filled with anger.

Sam puts his hands up, and I see the look in his eyes wasn’t anger.

It was concern. His eyes dart left, right, over my shoulder. Like he’s scanning for danger.

Griffin does the same thing.

“Sasha, you have to come with me,” Sam says, his tone urgent.

My heart twists at the sound of his voice. I haven’t seen him in person in a long time. He’s been too busy for me.

“How did you find me?” I repeat, enunciating my words.

An older couple walks by on the street, openly staring. I smile at them in a slightly unhinged way, willing them to move along. I love that everyone looks out for each other in small towns, but not right now. “We’re all good,” I assure them.

“It doesn’t matter,” Sam says, taking a step toward me.

The couple moves along, hopefully not recognizing my brother.

Frustration that he won’t tell me how he found me threatens to make me lose my composure. But I take a breath. “Fine. Why are you here?”

“There’s trouble back in the city. And I think there’s a chance it’s coming here.”

My heart thuds as his words echo around me. “Creelman?” My voice sounds suddenly weak.

“Sort of.”

“Is hehere?”

“No.”

I let out the breath caught in my throat. “Where is he?”

“Nobody knows. He’s ghosted.”

That information stuns me. It should make me happy. But somehow, a sick, cold feeling of dread washes over me. How can Sam know he’s not here? What if here’s where he’s ghosted to? I look around wildly, as if Creelman’s going to walk out from behind a corner, his eyes filled with bloodlust for me.

“Please, Sasha. I can explain everything. But you need to come with me. It’s for your own safety.”

Panic starts to flutter in my chest.Griffin.He told me he didn’t want me staying at home by myself. But he also said I was safe…

And Sam hasn’t seemed to care for my safety in the past. I will myself to calm down. What if this is another scare tactic? Him trying to pull me into his shit to gethimout of trouble?

“Did you know I got married?” I blurt out.

Sam’s eyes flick down. “I heard.”

“From who?”

“Your mom. I’m glad. If your mom’s not happy about it, that means you probably are.”

So he doesn’t know who Griffin is. That’s a good thing. I think.

“But you need to come with me. I’ve been looking for you for days.”

“You just happened to see me in that restaurant?”

“Yes, thank Christ.”

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