But the name on the screen catches me by surprise.
Creighton:I need your help with something.
He recently got back to school, and even though he looks fine on the outside, everyone can tell he hasn’t been the same since his permanent rift with Anni.
It’s so rare for him to text, let alone ask for help.
Cecily:If I can do it, sure.
Creighton:Help me meet with Annika in the States.
My fingers pause.
Cecily:Are you sure that’s a good idea? Her father, brother, and all their guards might kill you on sight.
Creighton:I need to talk to her, Cecily. Please.
This is the first time I’ve seen Creighton say please. He’s so silent and somewhat cold that it feels like he’s unable to show affection.
I mull over his request in my head. If it were any other time, I’d never entertain something so risky, both for his and my sake, but something’s changed.
I don’t want to be a coward or a liar. If I can make amends this way, then so be it. Besides, I really miss Annika.
So I type with confidence I haven’t felt in some time.
Cecily:I’m in.
* * *
Creigh lied to me.
He didn’t only want to talk to Annika. He meant to kidnap her all along.
And I helped him, though unknowingly.
I got her on a private plane and left so they could talk. I thought I needed to wait outside the plane for maybe half an hour—an hour max—before Creigh and I took that plane back home.
I thought wrong.
He totally stranded me in New York and left. Well, he did purchase me a ticket to go back to the island.
How very thoughtful.
For the past two days since he disappeared off the face of the earth, I’ve been on edge. Literally and figuratively.
Creigh told his friends and family that he’s going on a holiday, which is why everyone is cool about his absence. They think he needs time off after everything.
I’m the only one who knows the truth about his pseudo-criminal activities. That I helped him with.
Annika’s family must be searching all over the place for her whereabouts.
I contemplated telling them who she’s with instead of keeping them in the dark, but that would mean exposing myself and possibly getting myself killed by her dad or something.
So I needed to find a way to let them know without getting involved.
My solution was to type out a letter, put it in an envelope, and tell Glyn to slip it underneath Jeremy’s door. Because she thought it was a love letter, my friend was super excited, and promised to be discreet.
Annika is with Creighton. They’re safe.