“Get down on your knees.” He grasped the top of my head and shoved me down.
My knees slammed into the floor, pain tearing through them. He pressed the cold metal of the gun into the side of my head.
I closed my eyes as a whimper escaped me. “Please don’t,” I pleaded, visions of the people I loved flashing through my mind. My parents. Kason. Gino. Shay. Thayer.
He pressed the gun harder against my head. “I know where you live, Giselle. Think about following me, and I’ll have no problem killing your entire family. And, then I’ll come for you.” I felt the pressure of the gun leave my head. His retreating footsteps echoed through the room. The back door slammed shut. Then silence.
My eyes snapped open.
I was alone in the dark room.
A giant sob tore out of me as I used every bit of strength to pull free from the belt around my wrists. But it was no use. The knots were too tight. The air in the room was too thick. The banging in my head was too loud.
Lightheadedness washed over me, and darkness pulled me under.
7
THAYER
I rushed down the hospital hallway, my heartbeat banging against my chest. I hadn’t been in a hospital since I lost my mother. The sterile smell and the dim lights sent me spiraling back. “Where is she?” I asked into my phone.
“Room 620,” Kason said on the other end.
I ended the call and found the room halfway down the hall. Kason stood over Giselle’s bed while his parents sat in the two bedside chairs. It was an awful sight. They all looked up when they heard me enter the room. My eyes, however, were on Giselle, and hers were on mine as I stepped up to her bed.
When I realized she was in one piece and breathing, I exhaled. “You good?”
She nodded, but I could tell she was lying by the tears glazing her eyes.
“You gave us a scare,” I admitted.
Her lips parted as if she wanted to respond, but then they pinched together.
I glanced around the hospital room, not really sure what to say now that I was there. “Do you need anything?”
She shook her head.
I buried my hands in my pockets, hating that she wasn’t speaking. I was used to the mouthy, vivacious girl. I couldn’t imagine how scared she must’ve been after what she’d been through.
I left Masie at my house as soon as Kason called me. She must’ve thought I was crazy, ducking out on her so fast. I wasn’t even sure if what I mumbled as an excuse had been coherent. But I needed to see for myself that Giselle was all right. “Okay then,” I said. “I should let you rest.” I turned to leave.
“Wait,” Giselle said softly.
I stopped, wondering if I’d imagined it.
“Thanks for checking on me.” Her voice sounded small and defeated.
“Of course,” I said, turning to look at her. “You’ve done the same for me since I was a punk ass kid.”
“You’re still a punk ass kid,” she said softly.
Her family laughed.
My lips pulled into a small smile as I looked into the eyes of the girl who meant more to me than almost anyone else on this planet. And, despite the last year being strained between us because my pride was hurt, there were so many things I wanted to say. We’d both been stupid and immature. Her being alive and in one piece was what really mattered.
“Jesus Christ, Giselle,” Gino said, rushing into the room and brushing past me to get to her bedside.
I watched as he bent over her, hugging her rougher than he should have given what she’d been through. I didn’t need to see any more. I turned and walked out of the room.