53. Cope

53

COPE

Everything in me had gone numb. Except for my heart. Panic and fear were currently shredding it to dust, pulverizing it because someone had Sutton. They’d taped her mouth, zip-tied her hands, and God knew what else.

I swallowed the panic rising in my throat as I turned to my mom. “Hey, can you get Luca a sandwich while I go help Sutton with something?”

Mom gave me a puzzled look. “Are you sure? I?—”

“I’m sure,” I cut her off.

Something in my expression must’ve said I was desperate because she nodded, wrapping an arm around Luca’s shoulders. “Come on, let’s go get you some food; otherwise, you’re likely to turn into frosting.”

Luca giggled. “The frosting’s the best part, so I’m okay with that.”

Mom chuckled. “Of course, you are.”

“Tell Mom she broke the rules by hiding in the house, so I’m the water gun tag hide-and-seek king!” Luca yelled over his shoulder as he let Mom guide him away .

Every word was like a knife to the gut. It was all I could do to keep it together and start walking. Just like the text had said. But it was the other thing the person had said that had my head on a swivel.

I’m watching.

I didn’t see anything out of place: kids and my teammates playing, parents chatting, caterers moving throughout the party.

My gut twisted. There was no way to know who could be watching. Or if they were using tech to do it. Because if they’d snuck past security, who had a list of attendees, and grabbed Sutton, they were good.

So, I did the only thing I could. I started walking.

It was stupid as hell, but I didn’t really have a choice. I’d do anything to keep Sutton safe. Even trade my life for hers.

But I wasn’t going in without backup, either. I walked toward the house, then turned onto the road that led toward Arden’s place and the barn, just like instructed. I still had no way of knowing who was watching. But at least I knew there was no one around to hear me.

I pressed the button on the side of my phone and held it down. “Text Trace.”

I couldn’t risk a call, not if someone was watching the party and me. If they saw my lips moving and Trace picked up his phone, that could be it. I’d have to hope he saw the text and would do what was necessary. That he would get Sutton out, even if I couldn’t.

A muted robotic voice sounded. “What would you like to say to Trace?”

Wasn’t that the million-dollar question?

I swallowed hard and picked up my pace. “Someone has Sutton. They told me to come to the barn and bring my bank details. They have eyes on me. Proved it. I don’t know if it’s one person or multiple, but I need backup. I need my brother. Trusting you to come quietly and get help here. Get Luca and Mom inside. I’m already on my way to Sutton.”

I hit the button on the side of my phone again, and the device read my message back in that same robotic voice. It had gotten a couple of things wrong, but Trace would get the message .

“Ready to send it?” my phone asked.

“Yes.” Then I picked up my pace, walking as fast as I could without running as I clicked my phone to silent. I couldn’t risk Trace texting back. Or worse, calling.

The barn came into view in the distance, the structure I’d built for my sister so she could have peace. But there wasn’t peace there now. It was anything but.

Images of Sutton filled my mind. They came in flashes, paired opposites of our best and worst moments. The smudge of grease across her cheek that first day we’d met in the parking lot. Her ashen face and blood at her temple after her attack. The fire in those turquoise eyes as I took her against the desk at the cowboy bar. That photo of her beaten face after her attack in Baltimore. The way that face went soft in Luca’s bedroom the first time she whispered the words I needed the most.

I love you.

I couldn’t lose her. She was everything. And not just to me. To Luca, too. I wouldn’t let her be stolen from us both.

Desperation swirled, making me pick up my pace as the sun beat down. Sweat dotted my brow, my muscles battling between pushing and restraint. But as I rounded the bend, I saw it.

A flash of movement. Blond hair. Someone running.

It was just a glimpse of those turquoise eyes, a flicker of hope.

“Run!”

Her single word caught on the air, but it wasn’t enough. Because before she made it two steps out of the barn. Someone grabbed her from behind, and all I could hear then was her scream.