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“Thank you, kind sir,” I tease with ainto the seat Cruce is just one of those guys who is easy to like and joke with

He shuts the door and I fishto send a quick text to my mom to let her knoe’re on the way It’s a short five-minute drive from my house to the Four Seasons

I swipe up on , then move to my texts On our way Be there in five

A reply chimes almost immediately, too soon for my mom to have responded It’s from an unknown number and I almost don’t read it, but the first line not only catchesfear

I have your er, and I will kill her if…

Tapping on the e up

I have your er, and I will kill her if you don’t do exactly as I say When you get to the Four Seasons, head through to the north end of the lobby There’s an alcove with phones near a service entrance door Go out that door Turn right Walk through the e for you

A photo of Lynn is the next e to pop up

Oh my God

She’s tied to a chair in a semi-dark room with duct tape over her mouth Her hands are bound behind her back, and she looks terrified

I make a small sound of distress deep in my throat

“You okay?” Cruce asks affably

“Um… yeah,” I reply dismissively as another text comes in below the picture

Tiht now If you don’t come to the spot I’ve described immediately, I will leave and kill Lynn

Jesus, no No, no, no

I glance over at Cruce, noting his right hand propped casually on the wheel Do I tell hi on? There’s no way in hell he’ll letKynan in, and Lynn will die

I don’t dare turn around to search for the car my stalker is in I don’t doubt him for a second

I read through the ain As I study Lynn’s face, I know I cannot let her die

Shakily, I type a quick e back to him Okay

Good girl, he responds