LUKE
For a second, I had no idea why I was looking at a picture of the man that almost… almost… I couldn’t even think about it.
Bryan’s face–the man who’d wrecked lives and torn Jess’s world apart–was smiling. Why the hell was he smiling? I should have made sure he couldn’t smile or move his face for the rest of his miserable fucking life.
“I don’t understand, man. Where did you get that, and why the fuck am I looking at his face?”
Francesca sidled up, eyebrows raised in curiosity. “Who are we looking at?”
I ignored her. I couldn’t deal with Francesca right now, with my eyes still locked on Bryan’s face. “How did Laura even get this?”
Josh let out a slow breath, rubbing a hand across his jaw. “That guy Jess has been seeing–Eric?” He paused, “Well, Laura asked for a picture of him and a location because Jess was headed to his cabin or something for the weekend. He doesn’t have social media and apparently hates having his picture taken. This is the fucking picture Jess ent Laura. I wasn’t sure, but now I am,” My mind was reeling. What was he saying? Was Jess with him? Right now?
“Josh…” I gripped the railing, my knuckles whitening. Francesca stepped between us. “Can someone please tell me what is
PART 4–CHAPTER 172
going on?” she wined, and Josh just stepped past her.
“Now we fucking know why he didn’t want his picture taken! Because he’s been lying to her all along. This is just perfect for him. Jess lost all her memories, so instead of running the fuck away when she saw him, she didn’t know.”
I felt my jaw tighten to the point of pain. “She can’t remember him? Surely something in her should be screaming to get the fuck away from him.” I said more to myself than anything else.
–
“Not to be an asshole, man, but if Jess didn’t remember she loved you, which not overreacting – but you were her entire world – and if she can’t remember that, then I doubt she’d remember this asshole and what he did,” Josh said, but his words were hazy like he was just background noise. Bryan was with Jess. Fuck.
“What the hell is he doing out of jail?” I seethed, and Josh shrugged, helplessness in his eyes. “Man’s got friends in high- places, plus a bank account that could buy him a country. He- was rich before he played football, remember. Family money.”
Francesca stepped between us, looking frustrated. “Earth to Luke! I am standing right here, and you guys are talking about things I have no clue about! Can you please just fill me in?” Francesca stomped her foot, and Josh frowned at her.
“What the fuck are we still doing here!” I finally said, and Francesca pouted, ready to throw a tantrum.
“Now’s not the time,” I said, barely looking at her, but she swung her head in front of me like a giraffe. Well, that’s too bad, because I need to talk to you! Like now,” she said, folding her arms. I stared between Josh and Francesca. This wasn’t even a
21.99%
08:51
PART 4–CHAPTER 172
choice. I needed to help Jess.
I paced back and forth, the image of Bryan’s smug face still burning in my mind. Jess. She was with him. Right now. The thought was unbearable.
Josh finally broke the silence, his voice steady but low. “As long as Bryan doesn’t suspect that Jess knows something, she’ll be fine.”
I stopped pacing and turned to him, my fists clenched. “And what if she does know something? What if-“I swallowed hard, my throat tight. “What if something sets him off?”
Josh ran a hand through his hair, his expression hard. “I talked to the police. They’re already on their way, but they have to search through all the cabins. They don’t know exactly where she is yet.”
“Luke, listen to me,” Josh said firmly, stepping in front of me.. “Right now, Bryan thinks she doesn’t remember him. He’s keeping up his act. She’s safe as long as nothing tips him off.”
My fists tightened at my sides, the anger surging through me like a tidal wave. “But what if… what if he touches her, man?!” The words tore out of me before I could stop them. The thought of Bryan laying a hand on Jess–my Jess–made me want to tear the whole world apart.
Josh’s face softened for a split second, but he kept his calm. “The police will find her before anything happens.” He said it like he believed it, but I could see the tension in his shoulders, the same fear gnawing at him that was eating me alive.
“I can’t just sit here, man,” I muttered, turning away as my
PART 4–CHAPTER 172
stomach churned with helpless rage. “I don’t care what the police say. We need to find her. I need to find her.”
25 Wouchers
Josh grabbed my arm, forcing me to face him. “I get it, okay? But we don’t even know where she is. Think about it.”
His grip was tight, and for a moment, I wanted to push him away, to fight anyone who told me to wait while Jess was in danger. But he was right. As much as I hated it, we couldn’t rush in and risk making things worse.
I turned away from him, breathing hard, my fists shaking with the effort of holding myself back. I didn’t want to think about what could happen if we were too late. Didn’t want to imagine what Bryan could do to her if things went wrong.
But the images kept coming, no matter how hard I tried to block them out. Jess, alone with him, vulnerable. I couldn’t stand it. I couldn’t stand not knowing if she was okay, not being there to protect her.
I slammed my fist into the wall, the impact sending a shock of pain up my arm, but it wasn’t enough. It wasn’t enough to stop the anger, the fear, the desperation building inside me.
Josh stepped closer, puling me back from the wall.
“I can’t… I can’t lose her, man,” I said quietly, my voice breaking. The raw fear in my chest was too much.
“You won’t,” Josh said, his voice more certain than I felt. “We won’t let that happen.”
