Page 50 of Rescuing Riley
Chapter Nineteen
With shaky fingers,Riley texted Josh as soon as they hung up, although when he’d called her baby doll, she’d melted into a puddle of mush where she sat.
The Coffee Bean Factory was busy with patrons coming and going for their afternoon caffeine fix. Many were absorbed in their phones or talking to their friends. Riley would’ve given anything to talk to Liza again. One moment, she had been there, and the next, she’d been gone.
Riley sat at a table near the window with her phone in front of her, willing Liza to call again. She bit on a manicured nail, ruining the fresh coat of polish she’d gotten before she’d left Boston.
She shifted her attention out the window. The streets were jammed with cars stopped at the red light. Business people—big, small, tall, short, dressed in jackets with scarves around their necks—hurried in all directions. Some waited for the signal to cross the street.
The sun’s rays sprayed down in between the dense cluster of buildings in the financial district.
Where are you, Liza? What in the world is going on?
Tears stung Riley’s eyes as anger gripped her stomach. Liza was alive. Riley should’ve been relieved, but she wasn’t. She was confused and ready to scream at her best friend. Liza had let her friends and family believe she could be hurt. LetRileybelieve that.
Josh pinged Riley with a text.I’m stuck in traffic.
No surprise there.
She sighed at the thought of Josh. A man she hardly knew who had all the qualities of a perfect boyfriend, husband, and soul mate was seeping into her heart little by little. Aside from how attracted she was to him or how much he occupied her mind, Riley was grateful he was helping her. Sure, he was Liza’s family, but he had a major priority in taking care of his dad and running a business.
Riley replied.Liza hasn’t called again.
Are you sure it was her?
Riley didn’t have to think about that question. She knew Liza’s voice, especially the line, “Oh my God.” Liza always punctuated each word in a dramatic fashion. Riley had always teased Liza about how expressive she was. Her response had been, “I’m a valley girl through and through.”
Riley smiled at that. She missed her friend. They were supposed to have had fun the past week. Yet the only good thing that had happened since Riley had landed in the Golden State was meeting Josh.
Riley, are you there?
Yes. I’m sure it was Liza. How long do you think you’ll be?
She couldn’t sit around much longer. If Taylor had spoken to Liza, then she might know where Liza was.
Riley typed a response to Josh.I’m going to find Taylor and make her talk.
No. Wait for me.
Riley would seriously wait for him forever if Liza weren’t in trouble.
Her phone danced on the metal table, displaying the words “No caller ID.”Liza.
Riley snatched up the phone. “Where are you?” Her voice was hard and high.
“Sorry,” Liza said, out of breath. “I thought Moretti’s men had found us.”
“Us?” Riley had suspected Moretti’s men were in town, so that wasn’t a surprise.
“Haley and I are in hiding.”
“Hurry up,” Riley heard a mousy voice say in the background.
“Where are you? Hell, woman, Josh and I have been worried sick. So has Drake and Josh’s dad. What is going on?” Riley’s voice ticked higher and higher on each word.
“I can’t talk. I need your help.”
Riley let out a nervous laugh. “Now? Why not a week ago?”
