Twenty minutes. Come alone, or she dies.
Heart pounding, I hit Mason’s contact.
He answers on the first ring. “Lily.”
“He says he has her.” The words crack apart coming out of me. “He said Mandy is alive and he has her. He sent me a picture. Mason, could she possibly be alive?”
“Where are you?” he asks sharply.
“County Road 12.” I stare at the photo still open on my screen, struck by how much we look alike. I didn’t remember that. “I just left the Whitehorse place.”
“Send me the texts.”
I forward everything with trembling fingers. “He wants me at the warehouse on the east side of town in twenty minutes.”
“It’s a trap.”
I nod even though he can’t see me. “I know.”
“Lily—”
“I know.” My voice breaks this time. “But what if she’s really there? I have to see.”
A harsh breath crackles through the speakers.
“Lily girl, listen to me carefully.” His voice goes tactical, cold and impersonal, laying out facts. “Turner doesn’t suddenly grow a conscience and hand over hostages. He’s baiting you because he’s guessing what your sister means to you.”
I squeeze my eyes shut. He’s right—I know he’s right—but that picture is burned into my brain now. Mandy’s haunted eyes, her face. Proof that she exists somewhere other than my nightmares.
My phone buzzes again.
Unknown Number
Fifteen minutes, Lily. Tick tock.
“I can’t ignore this,” I whisper. “If she’s alive and I don’t go?—”
“Lily—”
“You’d do the same thing for Jake or Luke.”
Silence.
Because we both know he would.
“Lily.” His voice drops, low and urgent. “Wait for me. We’ll walk into this together.”
“He said to come alone.” I put the truck in gear.
“Fucking hell, Lily.”
“The tracker’s still active, right?” I grip the steering wheel harder. “I need to believe you’ll come for me before this all goes bad.”
His answer comes instantly. “I’ll always come for you.”
I close my eyes a second. “I love you.”
“Lily—”