Page 139 of Rear View
“You’re probably in the middle of stuff right now”—a pause, the sound of shuffling—“but I just got a text from Ry. Came in a while ago, but I was in practice. It’s from that burner phone you got her.”
My spine locked up.
“I think it was meant for you. It’s weird, though. Doesn’t make any sense, but figured I’d let you know.”
“Weird how?”
“I just forwarded you the screenshot.”
Pulling the device from my ear, I brought it up.
Sis: Dinner’s in the fridge, Xavier. I’m going to bed early.
My pulse drummed inside my head. The codes. Myma’s codes! A pain shot through my chest and my hand locked tight on that frame, ’cause my damn knees nearly buckled.
Fuck.Fuck.“FUCK!”
Castillo’s head snapped my way while Alec pushed up and closed in.
“What’s going on?” Miles demanded. “What’s it mean?”
“Ryah’s in trouble.” Don’t let it behim.Don’t let it behim!But it was. Every instinct in my gut knew it. She wouldn’t have picked that message otherwise. “He’s got her.”
Miles cursed and cursed again while Castillo stiffened.
My head spun as I tried to get my thoughts straight. I needed to figure things out. Find her. “Where is she?”
“Shit! I don’t know, man.”
“Check her place, yeah. Call the cops. Call Zoya. Tell your parents. Get everyone lookin’.”
“I’m on it,” he said. “What’ll you do?”
“Best you don’t know.” I set my shoulders, worked my jaw hard. “We’ll find her,” I promised. We had to, ’cause I couldn’t handle anything else. And when I did, I was gonna end the prick. “Keep me posted.”
“I will.” The call ended and I dialed Ryah. It rang, and rang, and rang. I hung up then tried the burner phone. Same result.
Where are you, dream girl? Where the fuck are you?
Clicking the Shared Location app she’d added herself to, I waited as it tracked her. Her phone pinged a few blocks off the U of E campus.
Alec edged closer. “X?”
My stare locked with Earl’s. “I need the car.” Could’vetaken my Jeep, but I needed something a hell of a lot faster.
“I can’t do that—”
“Give it to him,” Castillo said.
Earl’s stare tracked between his cousin and me. Whatever he saw must’ve convinced him, ’cause he inclined his head. “Take it.”
Castillo closed in and grabbed my shoulders. “Do what you need to do, Xavier.”
And I would. Didn’t have any other choice, ’cause I wasn’t losing her.
I eyed Alec. “Tell Sean to get ready.” I bolted from the office to the garage. Throwing the car open, I jumped in. Turning it over, the rumble-pop of the engine boomed out.
Alec whipped the passenger side wide and launched into the seat.
