Roman

Julianna still wasn't here. I paced the small room at Waverley Cathedral, grabbing my hair. It was almost nine p.m. She still hadn't arrived back. She was supposed to be here hours ago. I tried calling her several times, my fingers stabbing the keys on my new burner phone, but her cell phone had been turned off. I was about to go insane. My heart tore itself to pieces with helpless worry. Something had gone wrong. Terribly wrong. What was the bet my father had something to do with this.

I couldn't wait here any longer.

Outside Julianna's apartment, I sat in the black sedan I'd stolen. It was supposed to have been our getaway car, the back packed with a few clothes, enough food and bottled water for our drive out of here.

Her apartment was dark. Too dark. Not a soul stirred inside. Still, I had to be sure. I slipped out of the car and locked it behind me. In the side alley, I took a run up and leapt for the bottom rung of the fire escape. I caught it, pulling myself up, before making my way up the rickety ladders to her apartment. I peered through her bedroom window into the gloom – she wasn't home. No one was.

I slid around the building, jumping from ledge to ledge until I got to the single window at the end of the corridor on Julianna's floor. I found the window unlocked, thank God. I pushed it open and slid inside. It was getting late but I didn't care. I knocked on Nora's door, my fist reverberating through the wood. My anxiousness caused me to hammer on it too hard.

I heard a call from inside, "Hang on a damn second."

Hurry up, Nora. There were no seconds to lose.

Nora opened her door, her robe tied around her waist. Her features went from surprise into a frown. "Roman, what are you doing here?"

"Did you see Julianna?"

"Yes, but she left a few hours ago. To meet you."

Shit. The blood drained from my limbs. Cold fear took root in my gut. "She never made it."

Shit shit shit.

Somewhere between here and Waverley Cathedral, Julianna had disappeared.