Beau clears his throat. "I think you should take a seat.""Okay, fine." I walk into the room and sit on a couch close to the bed. My patience is running thin, but it’s probably for the best if we don’t have this conversation in the hallway."Where do I start?" Beau swallows and rubs a palm across his face."I don't know, maybe from the beginning?" I suggest, sarcastically."Yes, you’re right; from the beginning would be best. But first, will you promise me something?" Beau bends down to my level and tries to take my hand, but I yank it away. He sighs and turns to face Nana. She nods, encouraging him to continue.He looks back at me, but I speak before he has a chance. "I don't think you can ask me to promise you anything after everything you have done to me and what you just said a few seconds ago.""I know, you’re right. But promise me you won't leave until you’ve listened to everything I have to say."I

The van comes to a halt after a few minutes on the road. One of the men comes over to the back and opens the door. He lifts and carries me into an abandoned building, placing me on the ground once we get inside and enter a room. They don't bother untying me and just leave me on the floor. One sits on a couch that’s been placed against the wall while the other walks over to a cooler and pulls out two beers. He walks back to the other one and hands him a bottle. I watch them take a few sips before the one sitting removes something from his pocket, placing it on the small table in front of him. I can't see exactly what it is from here, but I watch him roll some paper and sniff the substance off the table. It's white, so I’m guessing it's cocaine. The other one joins him, both alternating between drinking and snorting for the next few minutes. I ignore them and look around, trying to find something to help free myself. Fear builds in me as I’m unable to find anything. I turn bac

Once I arrive at the abandoned building, I rush inside. My heart racing harder with every step. I’m praying it’s not too late. I can't imagine my life without Delilah. The guilt of causing her death would ruin me. I pray I won't have to face such an existence. I kick open the first door I come across. The man in the room jumps up from the couch as the door falls off its hinges."What the fuck!" He shouts, the joint he’d been smoking tumbling to the ground. The whole place reeks of weed, I could smell it even before I walked in.I don't care to give him a second glance, instead scanning the whole room for Delilah. I don't have to search long. The blood trail coming from the room's right side is enough to tell me where she is.The man who’d been sitting on the couch walks toward me. "Who the fuck are you?" he growls, but I don't answer and push him out of the way.Dropping to the floor, I take Delilah’s head in my lap once I ge

"Dad," I whine as he holds a spoonful of soup close to my mouth. He is determined to continue feeding me even though it's been a month since the kidnapping, and I am almost fully healed.Dad had arrived the morning after I broke Beau's heart. It was a surprise since I hadn’t had a chance to contact him yet, but I knew Beau must have. I saw my dad shed tears for the first time in my life that day. My injuries coupled with the news about the loss of his grandchild hit him hard. But he didn't try to speak to me about it when I avoided discussing the details. I’m grateful for that. I know I need to speak to someone about it. And once I’m ready, I will, but I’m not ready yet."I know you’re doing better,” Dad says. “But I still want to feed you. The doctor says you need rest, which means no straining yourself.""How could I strain myself by eating? Please let me feed myself." I put my hand forward to collect the spoon, but he

I wake up to the sound of someone calling my name. The first thing I see as I open my eyes is a dark brown ceiling. Someone touches my arm, and I turn."Thank God, you woke up. I was worried sick." Tamara gets up from the chair she’d been sitting in and pulls me into her arms."Tamara?" I don't return her embrace, confused about where we are and what happened. "What’s going on?" I ask as she pulls away from me."You don't remember?" Tamara's eyes widen.Closing my eyes, I try to force my brain to recall what happened. Tears flow down my cheeks as I remember. It wasn't just a horrible nightmare. It's true. I open my eyes and face Tamara, just as Harvey walks in."Harvey, please tell me Jenny was lying," I plead, begging him to tell me the words I wish to hear."Lilah…" His eyes are filled with sadness. "Please say it." More tears stream down my face. Tamara grabs my hand and gives it a small squeeze.