Someone launched at Chloe, knocking her to the ground, her weapon sliding uselessly out of reach.
Savannah dropped her cane, leaning back against the wall to keep her balance, but whoever had knocked down her friend had disappeared back into the dark house.
Something was wrong with Chloe. She was attempting tostand, but her movements were sluggish and awkward. Like she had lost the ability to use her limbs. She knew that uncoordinated look. Chloe had been drugged.
Keeping her gun trained on the doorway to the room where their assailant was hiding, she pulled out her phone to call for help.
Only, she never made the call.
Someone shoved her violently from behind, and she lost her footing and fell.
The sudden sharp pain in her hip momentarily stole her ability to function.
Before she could reclaim it, something slammed into her bad hip, tossing her violently toward unconsciousness as pain exploded inside her, stealing her breath.
As she choked and wheezed and tried not to pass out, a voice spoke above her. “I’d take you with us, but you’re already broken. I don’t like broken things. Takes all the fun out of it. Your friend, on the other hand, she’s coming with me.”
The presence beside her left and Savannah forced herself to move.
She had to do something.
This man was going to take Chloe if she didn't.
She had dropped her weapon when she fell, and now she tried to blink the tears from her eyes enough to be able to see.
There it was.
Just a few feet away.
Somehow, she managed to roll to the gun, fighting to remain conscious as wave after wave of nauseating pain billowed her.
Her hands curled around the cool metal.
She lifted the weapon.
Tried to aim.
But the second blow to her hip caused her world to spiral into nothingness.
*****
10:44 A.M.
Something felt wrong.
This probably wasn't the smartest thing he had ever done, but he was following Chloe. With Marcus King back on the streets, he was worried about her safety.
Fin was worried about her, period.
He had messed things up.
Big time.
He never should’ve taken his fear and guilt out on Chloe. He should never have allowed the anger he felt at the unfairness of losing his son out on the one person who was hurting as badly as he was.
But he was done with that.
He was done with being angry and feeling guilty.