28. Phoenix

28

PHOENIX

A routine has started to develop—Tilly’s routine. So when she doesn’t return by seven, my heart stops. Something’s wrong. I feel it in my bones.

I try to distract myself by diving into the depths of the dark web, seeking information on the recent breadcrumbs left by Veronica. But my mind keeps wandering, my eyes darting to the clock.

And then it happens. My screens flash with an unfamiliar IP address. A live feed. I freeze as I recognize Tilly, bound and helpless, with two men circling her like vultures. Rage consumes me, clouding my vision. I know this has to be Veronica’s doing.

I try to keep my breathing steady as I analyze the video. Every detail matters. Tilly’s eyes are wide, fear swirling in their depths. The men are dressed in black, their faces covered by ski masks.

One of the men makes a sound that makes my blood run cold. They think this is a game, but they have no idea who they’re dealing with or what I’m capable of.

I can’t lose her. Not now. Not after everything.

My fingers fly across the keyboard as I trace the signal from the nano-tracker I implanted under Tilly’s skin. While I expected to need to use it for possible escape attempts, I never expected her to get kidnapped. But thank fuck I put it in her, as I know where to find her.

She’s in a warehouse about fifty miles from the carnival. I should leave now. But there’s a problem. The only way to get there quickly is to borrow one of the guy’s vehicles. And that means asking Ty.

The thought fills me with dread. Tyson is my partner in crime, but he’s also unpredictable and volatile. Explaining my situation with Tilly and admitting that I need his help to save her feels like stepping into a minefield, but I have no choice.

Grabbing my jacket and keys, I head out. The night air is crisp as I walk to Tyson’s trailer. My heart hammers in my chest. I’m taking a risk, but I can’t lose Tilly. Not now. Not ever.

I knock sharply on his door, my palms sweating. After a moment, he answers, brow furrowing as I never come knocking on his door.

“Phoenix? What’s going on?”

I hesitate, choosing my words carefully. “I need your help.”

His eyebrows shoot up. “What? With what?”

“There’s someone I care about. They’ve been taken. I need to borrow your car to get to them. ”

Tyson’s eyes narrow. “What the hell, Phoenix? Why are you just standing there? Spit it out. Who is it?”

I take a step forward, my voice low and urgent. Tyson believes I just met Tilly here. He has no idea about the kidnapping or faking her death. “It’s Tilly, Ty. She’s been kidnapped. I need to go now.”

His expression darkens, and he steps aside, motioning for me to enter. “Tell me everything. We’ll get her back.”

I take a deep breath, steadying myself for the truth that will come tumbling out.

“Tilly... she’s not just someone I care about,” I begin, my voice hoarse. “I kidnapped her from Oakridge after seeing her that first night at the carnival.”

His eyes widen, but he remains silent, allowing me to continue.

“I couldn’t help myself,” I confess, the words spilling out in a rush. “She consumed my every thought, my every desire. I had to have her, to make her mine. So I took her, faked her death, and brought her here, to the carnival, to keep her safe.”

I pause, gauging Tyson’s reaction. His expression is unreadable, but a glint in his eye tells me he’s listening.

“But now, someone from my past has caught on. Someone I used to know, someone who knows me better than anyone. My foster mom, Veronica. She’s the one who took her.”

Tyson’s eyes flash with anger, the same rage I’ve seen when someone threatens our operation. His hands clench into fists, and in that moment, I see a protective glint in his eye. A decade older than me, Tyson is like a mix of father figure and older brother. He knows about my past and the abuse I suffered at Veronica’s hands before I ran away and found the carnival.

“That fucking bitch!” He growls, taking a menacing step forward. “She hurt you as a kid, and now she dares to come after you again? We’ll hunt her down, Phoenix. We’ll fucking gut her for what she’s done.”

I nod, a wave of shame washing over me. “I can’t let her get away with this. She’s the reason I ran away and ended up here. She ruined my life then, and I won’t let her ruin it now.”

The rage builds inside me, a familiar monster awakening. I think of Tilly, so innocent and full of life, now in the hands of that monster. A tremor of unease travels through me as I recall the twisted way Veronica broke me down.

“I’ll make her pay,” I say. “But first, we need to focus on Tilly. She’s my priority. I won’t let Veronica hurt her.”

Ty’s expression softens. “Alright, we’ll get Tilly back, and then we’ll deal with that psycho bitch. I promise you that. Veronica is going down, but we need to move carefully.”

I nod, grateful for Tyson’s support. We head out, our resolve strong. The night is cold, but my blood runs hot with determination. We’ll find Tilly, rescue her from Veronica’s grasp, and then... then we’ll make that woman regret the day she fucking met me.

Tyson slides into the driver’s seat of his Mustang while I hop into the passenger seat, my mind racing. We speed off through the night, our mission clear—our destination on the tracker fifty miles away.

The stakes have never been higher, but I refuse to let Tilly slip through my fingers, not after everything I’ve done to make her mine.