Chapter 25

CHAPTER 25

Willow

Samantha walks into the kitchen as I'm ending my call with Durango.

"They found him? He's okay?"

"Yes." I take a deep breath, but it doesn't help.

She runs up and hugs me. "That's great news."

"It is. But I'm still so wound up. He was kidnapped but managed to escape. He didn't say by whom, but it has to be Tyler."

"Once you see him for yourself, you'll feel better."

She's right. I need to see him. He'll come home as soon as he can.

"I didn't want to tell you this, but since I need to leave, I have to," Samantha says.

Leave? Is she crazy? "You can't leave! Tyler might be looking for you, too."

"I got a call, and it's not good news," Samantha says. "Someone broke into the apartment. The police are there and want me to check it out and see if anything is missing."

That's when I notice her purse over her shoulder. "Wait, you can't seriously be considering going?"

She frowns. "Well, yes."

"How did anyone know your apartment was broken into? Who called the cops? This could be a trap."

Her hands go to my shoulders. "No, it's not. My neighbor saw my door wide open, and she knew we left town for a few days. She called the police. She's the one who gave them my number as well."

"If someone broke in, it's likely Tyler."

She nods. "And that's why you're staying here. I'll go talk with the police, and then I'll be back after that."

While I don't like it, Samantha is stubborn, and once she makes up her mind, she is going to do it.

"Fine, but can you call me when you get there and before you leave?"

She smiles. "Yes, Mom."

"What's going on?" Reed asks.

Unlike Axel and CT, he went home last night but was here again this morning. And has stayed while the other guys went off to save Durango.

"Someone broke into my apartment. The police have some questions for me. I'll be back as soon as I can."

"Wait," Reed says. "This could be a trap."

I do like Reed. "That's what I said," I say.

"I'll be careful," Samantha says as she walks to the door.

"If this is a trap, it's likely Tyler will follow you back here to get to Willow," Reed says.

"I'll make sure no one is following me."

Reed shakes his head. "I don't like that. When you return, don't come here. Go to this address." He grabs a piece of paper and a pen. "It's my office. I'll get you from there to here. And if you are returning after five, call me at this number." He hands her the paper with all the information on it.

"I will. And you," she turns to me, "take care of yourself."

Once she's gone, Reed takes up his position at the kitchen table. I grab my laptop and go to the living room to try to get some work done.

Three hours later, I'm deep in concentration when Reed clears his throat. I glance up.

"Samantha is at the office. I had hoped the guys would be back by now." He wants to check on them.

"I'll be fine. When you leave, I'll lock the door behind you."

He nods. "It's a short walk. I just want to make sure no one is following us, so it might take a little longer than it usually does for Durango."

I simply smile and nod.

After he leaves, I close my laptop, no longer able to concentrate. I check my phone and discover I missed several texts from Samantha.

Samantha: Made it to the apartment.

Samantha: Back in Brooklyn.

Samantha: Reed's here. We are walking back now.

She didn't mention the condition of the apartment. Of course, she didn't. She was only keeping me apprised of where she was.

I wish Durango was doing the same right now. He didn't tell me where he was going. He could be chasing those guys down. Or in the hospital. No, I can't go there. He sounded good. He's fine.

Nearly an hour later, there's a knock at the door. It's Reed and Samantha. I unlock the door and swing it open.

Samantha walks in first. "Ugh, the apartment is a wreck. I'm sure it was Tyler. Every drawer has been pulled out and emptied. The cops say it looks like someone was searching for something."

Reed follows her in. I glance out the window but don't see anything out of the ordinary.

"Don't worry, no one followed us," Reed says.

Samantha shows me her phone. "I took photos. Look at this mess."

She's right. Every drawer has been pulled out and emptied. A photo of the kitchen shows cereal dumped out onto the floor. Another shot shows a plant turned over and the dirt pile on the tile. But something in that photo catches my eye.

"Wait, go back to the plant," I say.

She does.

"Can you zoom in there?" I point to the kitchen table.

She zooms in, and I stare at the photo.

"If this was Tyler—or someone he hired—and they were looking for the files, why did they not touch that?"

"Let me see," Reed asks.

She hands him the phone. We all stare at the photo. The kitchen table also doubles as a workspace for Samantha sometimes, and she keeps a desk organizer with cubbies that hold pens, binder clips, and other odds and ends, including several blank USB sticks that are sitting in plain view and appear not to have been moved.

"Those USB sticks haven't been touched," I tell Reed.

"Huh, you're right. That's odd. What was he looking for?" Samantha asks.

I swallow as it all comes together. "Tyler isn't looking for the files. He's looking for me. And trying to scare me by ransacking the apartment. He must have followed you back here."

"I agree that was probably his plan, but we were careful coming back," Reed says.

Samantha moves to go to the window, but I stop her. "If that's true, why hasn't anyone burst in here yet?" she asks.

"Because he might have seen you with Reed. And he has no way of knowing who else might be inside. Stay away from the windows."

"Both of you stay in the kitchen," Reed instructs. "But I assure you, we were careful."

"Durango's not back yet?" Samantha asks quietly.

I shake my head.

"I haven't heard from him, either," Reed says.

I pull my phone from my pocket and call Axel.

"Hey, Willow, we're still at the hospital. They decided Durango needed fluids. He's been stitched up, and now we are just waiting for them to say we can go."

"Hospital? Stitched up? He was hurt?" I ask.

"Uh," Axel says. "A little, but he's fine now. How are you doing?"

I want to ask more about Durango, but I suspect I won't get all the facts. Instead, I tell him about the break-in at Samantha's apartment and that she went there and back. Then I explain that the kitchen table photo wasn't right.

"So, you think it was a ploy so he could follow her back to where you are?"

Reed steps up and takes the phone from my hand. He turns on the speakerphone. "I had Samantha go to the office. I brought her back here. We were careful." He hands the phone back.

"I'll be right back," Axel says to someone in the background. Footsteps echo in a hallway through the phone. "Okay, I'm alone now. Willow, did Durango show you how to pull up the security camera feeds?"

"Security cameras?" I ask.

Axel sighs. "Damn, Durango was probably trying to protect you by not telling you about them. But obviously, you need to know. He sent me a link and the password. I'll send them to you and Reed now."

"He's getting a second bag," someone says in the distance.

"Okay, I'm going to check on Willow. I'll be back after that," Axel says to someone. "Hey, that was CT. Okay, did you get the link?"

I impatiently watch my phone until the message comes through. "I did. Thank you."

"Check those out. Reed, do you need me to head over?"

"Yes, that would be great."

"Any idea how much longer Durango will be there?" I ask.

I click on the link. There are two cameras in the front and two in the back. Although how anyone would get to the back, I don't know. The houses here are all touching, sharing walls, with no way in between.

"He's getting a second IV bag. It will be a while. CT is with him now. I'll let them know and head right over." He ends the call.

One of the front cameras is aimed across the street. It shows a man hunched over with his back to the camera. He's wearing a stocking cap, which is odd since it's summer.

"That's got to be him," Samantha says, pointing at it. "It's too hot for a hat like that."

"Agreed," I say. "If he would turn just a little so I could see his face."

But it's like he senses I'm watching, and he keeps his back to the house. The second front camera is aimed at the stairs to the door and doesn't provide any additional angles on the man.

Reed goes near but not up to the front window. "I see him."

I check one of the cameras in the back, and it's aimed at the back door. The other back camera takes in the entire backyard, which isn't much, but between the two cameras, you get the full visual of the yard. If anyone sneaks in that way, they will be seen.

I click to load the front camera again. But as the image loads, the man is gone.

"He went inside that house. He's not our guy," Reed says.

Samantha and I go to the front window. "You're sure?" she asks.

"Yes, I watched him walk into the house."

We all stare out the window, uneasy that Tyler could be out there. After staring at each camera for a few minutes, I finally give up and pocket my phone.

"Someone's in the backyard," Reed says, staring at his phone. He runs to the back door and double-checks the locks. "Go to the front door," he says, herding us in that direction.

The back door flies open with the sound of crunched wood. I turn and lock eyes with Tyler. My stomach coils, and I think I'm going to be sick. Reed rushes toward the kitchen.

"Go out the front. Axel will be there shortly!" Reed yells.

Samantha grabs my wrist and leads me out the front door. We rush into the street.

A car coming toward us honks, and we both run to the sidewalk. The car slows, and the window is down. Axel is driving. "What's going on?"

"Tyler came in the back door. Reed is in there and told us to come out front."

"Shit. Get in."

"Willow!" Tyler yells from inside.

We get into the back, and Axel drives to the next block and parks.

"Get down on the floor. Stay low. I'm going to help Reed." He gets out of the car, and then the doors lock.

A few minutes later, the doors unlock. Axel jumps into the driver's seat, and Reed gets into the passenger seat. I sit up and look out the back window. We speed around a corner.

"Where's Tyler?" I ask.

"He got away," Reed says. "The asshole pulled a gun on me when he got inside. Before I could disarm him, he ran back outside. I chased him, but he got into a car waiting for him that drove off."

I'm shaking, so I wrap my arms around myself—Tyler is still out there. "He's still free," I say.

"Yeah, that's unfortunate," Reed says. "But our priority is to keep you safe."

I stare out the window as my tears fall. Now that he knows I'm here, I need to leave. And as long as he's free, I'll never be safe.

Dammit, no! I will not leave the life I want because of this asshole. There has to be a way to fix this.

"Wait! If he goes back to the house, he'll get the files," I say.

Samantha pulls the USB stick from her pocket. "No, he won't."

I hug her, thankful that we still have them. Although, they haven't helped us yet.

"There's the car," Reed says. He snaps a photo of the back.

"We should drop them off at my apartment. I don't think it's a good idea to pursue Tyler with them here," Axel says.

"Agreed," Reed says.

It's a short drive to his apartment, and Axel leads us inside. It's what I'd expect for a college bachelor, not a man in his thirties. There is very little furniture and nothing hanging on the walls.

"Did you move in recently?" Samantha asks.

He shrugs. "About five years ago."

Her eyes widen, and I cough to stifle my laugh.

"I'm not home much, so I never bothered to decorate." He claps his hands together. "Okay, help yourself to any food you find." He scratches the back of his head. "There really isn't much, but I'll get something after we deal with this asshole."

"We'll be fine," I assure him. "But what about Durango?"

He types on his phone. "I'm filling in CT about what happened. He'll get a car to take Durango home."

"Home? No, not if Tyler is there," I say.

"I meant here. I'll make sure they come here." He finishes typing. "Okay, stay inside."

He and Reed go out the door without another word.

I walk to the kitchen and sit at one of two bar stools near the counter. Then I check my phone. I have a missed message from Durango.

Durango: Are you all right? CT told me Axel took you to his apartment because Tyler found you.

The last message was only a minute ago. It's nice having someone care about me.

Willow: I'm fine. Yes, we are in Axel's apartment. Can you come here when you get released?

Durango: That's the plan.