Total pages in book: 99
Estimated words: 96065 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 480(@200wpm)___ 384(@250wpm)___ 320(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 96065 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 480(@200wpm)___ 384(@250wpm)___ 320(@300wpm)
My phone buzzes, but this time alerting me that all the possible locations have been added. I press the “triangulate” button and wait for it to make a likely determination of where the phone is at.
I need to keep him talking.
Me: Tell me.
Unknown Number: I don’t have to. You’re hot on the trail.
Buzz.
Two blocks north.
I start jogging in the direction of the address while continuing my conversation with S.
Me: What does that mean?
Unknown Number: I know you’ve discovered something. I’ll be waiting, but not for long. Don’t worry, though. I’ll leave you a parting gift.
This unnerves me. Does he know what I’m doing on my phone? How? That would mean he has access to it.
The only people who realistically have access to my phone who would have the capability to do this would be Dad or Theo. I’m still trying to figure out what their angle would be.
Maybe S is right in front of my face.
Solomon?
Solomon didn’t have access to my phone on the yacht, per se, but it doesn’t mean someone couldn’t have hacked it anyway. Gareth was on that trip as well. I know what a piece of shit he was. It wouldn’t surprise me if he, who was skilled with technology like myself, gave information to Solomon. He’s hated me ever since I insisted on him having a nanny for Kaitlyn. When Romy came along, he fucking lost it. It’s definitely a possibility.
If Solomon has Calista, I’m fucked.
That bastard is sadistic.
Was he at the event? I didn’t see him. Supposedly, Calista was there, but I’m not sure I believe S or Solomon or whoever the hell he is. This could all be an effort to confuse me.
Unfortunately, it’s working.
I’m closer to the location, so I pick up speed despite the raw pain from my blisters on my feet.
The location leads me to a bustling restaurant. My stomach growls upon smelling the greasy food. I scan the building front, peering through the windows before rushing inside.
A waitress holds up a finger to let me know she’ll be with me in a moment while she takes an order. The place is full of people, but there are a few empty tables. One particular dirtied table catches my eye.
Beside a full, still steaming cup of coffee, is an abandoned old phone, probably a burner. The phone is most likely missing its SIM card, though I’ll take it anyway just in case, but it’s the other thing that chills me.
His parting gift.
It’s a doll—one that wears a custom-made dress. Her nails have been painted a hideous blue color.
It’s not just any doll, though.
It’s the same one Calista had that day.
He wasn’t lying. Whoever S is, he either has her or knows where she’s at. I’m so fucking close to finding her.
So close.
Romy
The cloud I’d been floating on begins to dissipate. Slowly, I open my eyes and become aware of what’s around me.
I’m on a soft bed.
Caius’s cologne scent clings to the covers.
My skin is warm. I could go back to sleep.
“How about a bedtime story, hmm?”
I’m in and out of consciousness. Is this a dream? Fingers stroke through my damp hair and the person chuckles.
Theo.
I fight to keep my brain locked in on the sound of his voice. I can’t open my eyes and can barely understand what’s happening, but his voice is the one thing I can cling to.
“Oh,” Theo says. “There’s a baby picture of you left at this part. Did you use it as a bookmark? Is this where you’d like me to continue?”
I want him to get away from me or for Caius to catch him in this horrible act of drugging me. But I don’t hear Caius’s voice. Just Theo’s.
“Wow,” Theo says with a whistle. “This starts out pretty dramatic. The person who wrote this says, ‘I was a captive.’” He playfully tugs at my hair. “Did you write this? Is this your journal?”
I don’t want him reading Vivienne’s journal to me. It’s private and it brings up terrible memories of what that awful woman did to me. The last thing I want is for him to read it to me as some sort of torture.
Why is he doing this to me?
“The man took me after promising to heal my broken mind. At first, I believed him. His methods were genuine. But I was too broken.” He pauses and I can hear a page flipping. “I was a teenager. I trusted him. Ava told me I could. I trusted her because she was the closest thing to a sister I ever had.”
Ava?
My mind spins as I try to grasp why that name seems important, but Theo continues on. I know I need to keep up.
“He raped me. I cried and fought him. But then he told me he loved me. That it always hurt the first time. Eventually, he wore me down into believing what we did was an act of love. Sometimes he even let me out of the cuffs so I could touch his hair.”