Page 143 of Sunrise

“How much fucking time has passed since she was taken?” He shakes his head like he can’t comprehend what I’m asking. “Pull up the feed and check the time, Alex.”

He whips his cell out, hands shaking from adrenaline, and taps the screen several times. I look around, up and down the street, as if Sophie’s going to miraculously pop out of her hiding place.

“Twenty minutes,” he says. “She was taken twenty minutes ago.”

“Okay. We can work with that. You go that way. I’ll go this way.”

We should have put a location device in her car. And a microchip under her skin.

“We have to call the cops, Knox.”

“There’s no time!” I yell. “She’ll be long gone if we don’t fucking hurry.”

He yells at me for being unrealistic, but I ignore it and hop back on my bike.

I’m going to find our girl or die trying.

Chapter 45

Sophie

I can’t move very well. Not enough to fight or run. Laying in the back seat of my car, tears slide down my nose.

I’m going to die.

Everything was going so well, and now…

“I’ve missed you so much, Madame.”

My entire body cringes inside. I can’t tell where he’s taking me. At first, I tried to keep track of the turns, but at this point, my fear’s fogged my brain, and I’m lost.

“Don’t worry,” he says. “You’ll gain your functions back soon. Then we can play.”

My throat is swollen and itchy. My vision’s wonky. I think my eyes are crossed.

“I’ve been waiting so long to be with you, Madame. You’re always so busy. It’s been a true test of my patience.” His thumb taps the steering wheel.Thump-tha-thump. Thump-tha-thump.“It was nice seeing you at the club, though. Too bad you ended the session so fast.” He takes a right turn, putting on his blinker and presumably sticking to the speed limit.

Thump-tha-thump.

Thump-tha-thump.

“Did you like the butterflies I made you?”

I don’t speak.

“Midnight Run is pretty decent. The food’s good.”

I’m going to be sick.

“You looked lovely the other day, laying in the sun when everyone played basketball.”

I’m going to pass out.

“I wonder how much you ingested.” He looks back at me, face scrunched in apprehension. “Hey.” He pushes my leg. “Don’t die on me, okay? We haven’t had our fun yet.” When I don’t respond, his concern intensifies. “How much did you touch those flowers?”

My heart slogs in my chest.

I somehow flop off the backseat and land on the floor. I think he’s slammed on the brakes. Nothing feels right. I can’t… grab onto a thought…

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