“Where the fuck is she?” I demand. “Who are you?”
Whoever it is on the other end of the line, they ignore my questions.
“Meet me alone,” the voice says, giving me a location about twenty miles north of campus in the foothills. “Meet me there and you’ll get Max back.”
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With that, there’s a soft click and the phone goes silent. I hit the button to call Max’s phone again, but this time, it only rings once before going to voicemail. It’s off. A noise that’s almost a sob rises in my throat, but I shove it down with a fierce swallow that hurts like hell, looking up at the guys.
“Someone has her. Someone has Max.”
Their faces look about as shocked as I feel.
“What the fuck?” Elias breathes.
My voice rises a little, growing stronger and harsher as reality sets in. “They fucking took her. They took her, and they want me to meet them at the foothills. Alone.”
Fury blurs my thoughts, my mind racing a mile a minute. I try to calm myself with a few steadying breaths, to get my head on straight so I can think properly, but I’m short circuiting on a fucked up mix of fear and anger.
Was it Cliff?
Aaron?
Is Aaron pissed about being used? Did he do something to her in retaliation? Or has he been working with Cliff this whole time?
“I’m going to beat the shit out of whoever it is,” I bite out. “I’m gonna fucking kill them.” My stomach is one giant knot as I push up off the couch. I’ve got to find her. Now. “I’ve never had a best friend before, a ride or die, and I won’t let anyone fucking hurt her.”
“Soph.” Declan’s voice seems to come from far away. “We need to—”
I don’t hear the rest of his words. I’m barely listening. My vision is blurry, but I blink away the panic.
“I’m going,” I say, heading for the door. “I’m not wasting another second, I’m not gonna let some fucking monster—”
“Fuck no.” Gray steps in front of the doorway, his broad body blocking mine.
“What?”
“You’re not going alone.” His voice is hard, an edge to it that I’ve never heard before.
“But they said I have to come alone—”
“And I said you’re not. I’m not letting you,” he repeats. “We’re not letting you.”
Elias and Declan step up beside him, the three of them forming a wall in front of me.
“It’s a trap, Blue,” Elias says quietly. “Can’t you see that? They want you, and they’re using her to lure you in.”
That should scare me, but it doesn’t. All I can think about right now is Max and getting her back before they do anything to her.
My phone buzzes in my pocket, and I glance at the text. The contact says MAX, and I desperately wish the words that follow were something like just kidding, I’m safe, I’m back at my dorm.
But when I read it, I know it’s not from her. It’s from her kidnapper.
This is real.
Wordlessly, I lift my phone and show the guys. The text is short and to the point. A set of coordinates and a time, followed by a simple warning. Don’t be late.
Gray shoves his hands into his pockets. “We have two hours. The drive will take at least thirty. We need to come up with a plan.” He turns to me. “We’re going with you whether you like it or not. This isn’t up for discussion, Sparrow. We’ll stay out of sight, but you need backup.”