Chapter 20

Bridgette

Damn, I am so hungry I could eat my left arm. Morgan must’ve went to freaking kill the chicken and pluck it for my sandwich.  I try her cell phone, but it goes straight to voicemail.  I’ve already sent her a few text messages and no response. It isn’t like her to just bail on me. I suppose Cole could’ve stolen her attention.

I give up on my bestie and decide to take matters into my own hands. I can’t wait any longer. I’m famished. As I am opening the door to leave, Rhyner is standing on the other side with his fist raised about to knock.

“Hey you, whatcha doing here?”

“Is Morgan here?”

“Well hello to you too. Um, no she isn’t.”

“Where is she, it’s important?”

“I don’t know. Where’s Cole? My guess is wherever your boy is, that’s where she is. She was supposed to bring me some food an hour ago.”

Rhyner runs a shaky hand through his hair. “Shit,” he mutters, worrying his bottom lip.

“What’s wrong?” My mind drifts back to what he told me earlier. “Is Morgan in danger?”

“Where was she getting your food from?”

“Billy’s Diner.”

“Stay here, lock the door. Don’t open for anyone,” he stresses.

“Okay, Rhy you’re scaring me. If Morg is in trouble, I’m coming with you.”

“No! You can’t. It will be better if you stay put where I know you’re safe. Please.”

“Fine.”

“I’ll be back, soon.” He kisses my forehead, but I want to stomp my feet and demand he take me with him. However, I concede, closing the door after I see him step on the elevator.

My inner child slams the door, and I regret not asking him to bring me food. Guess I will suck it up and order a pizza. My thighs will hate me but my stomach will thank me.

Getting on my computer, I go through the steps to build my pizza. Double cheese and mushrooms. Yummy. I shouldn’t be thinking of food right now, but I have to stay positive and believe that Morgan is fine. I have to hold onto hope that she will show up any minute now, giggling about Cole stealing her away.

I’ve earned pizza points for a free brownie. I’ll give it to Morgan because she loves them.

I kick back on my bed and try to study, but I can’t concentrate. Any minute now she will show. I keep watching the door, waiting for the knob to turn. When that doesn’t happen, I stare at my phone willing it to ring.

That doesn’t happen either. Finally, there is a knock at my door. Probably my food. And now that I think about it, I’m not that hungry after all.

Not thinking, I throw the door open. It isn’t pizza. It’s some goth chick.

“Can I help you?”

She wets her dark tinted lips. “Bridgette, is it?”

“Yeah?”

“Come with me if you want to see your friend alive again.”

“What?”

“Morgan is in danger, but you have to come with me.” She grabs my wrist and tugs on it, hard.

“Who the hell are you?”

“I’m a friend.” She smiles, flashing her perfect teeth at me, but there is something dark and uninviting about her eyes. I don’t mean her makeup either. This chick gives off an evil vibe, but what if she is telling the truth? I have to go with her for Morgan, don’t I?

“Okay, let me get my shoes on.” I swallow as she pushes into the room.

“Hurry up!” She snaps at me as I bend down to tie my laces.

My eyes dart to my phone on my nightstand. I need to distract her so I can get a call through to Rhyner. Where the hell is he? Shouldn’t he have come back by now?

I pop up, turning my back to her. “Just grabbing my keys,” I explain, grabbing them with a jingle and attempting to swipe my phone.

Another knock sounds at my door. Please be Rhy, please be Rhyner. I don’t trust this chick.

“Expecting company? We really need to go.”

“Must be my pizza.” I shrug, making for the door.

Damn, it is only the pizza guy.

“Thanks,” I tell the older man, taking the pizza and sitting it on my desk.

“I just need you to sign here.” He hands me a pen and the receipt for the order.

“Sure.” I smile at him and bend down using my hair as a curtain while I write a message for the delivery driver.

My hand is shaking as I try to remember the number Morgan’s old man told me to text if we ever needed him. My adrenaline spikes and I recite the number mentally as I write it down quickly. Text help to 555-4456

I hand the bill back quickly, hoping like hell the dude sees me mouth the words, read the receipt.

He eyes me curiously and gives me an odd smile.

“Do we have time for me to eat?” I ask, stalling.

“Bring it with you. We need to move, now. Someone may already be on the way here for you. Your friend has been taken, we have to hurry,” she urges, moving me out the door.

I see the delivery guy in the elevator as the doors are closing; relief washes over me as I see his eyes scanning the ticket.

“The stairs will be just as fast,” she orders and I comply.

 

 

Rhyner

At the diner, I question the waitress behind the counter if she remembers seeing a girl who resembles Morgan.

“Yeah, was here a few hours ago or so. I can’t recall the time but she had a milkshake and a to go order.  Pretty thing. She your girlfriend or something?”

“Yeah, we were supposed to meet and I’m running late.” I shrug with a weak smile. “Thanks for your help.”

I step outside wondering what in the hell happened to her. A car passes by and I look down seeing something white float up with the air. Part of a bag. I look around and see a spilled milkshake and a flattened bag of food. Fuck.

I try Cole’s cell and there is no answer.

Not that I should expect any. The Black Rebels took him and I don’t know why. Shit is so fucked. At least Bridgette is safe at the dorm. No one has any reason to go after her.

I do the only thing I know to do, I call Porter for guidance.

“You got trouble?”

“The girl, Rebel Black’s daughter, she’s missing, and I have reason to believe she’s been taken.”

“Goddamnit. You think the Devils Rejects?”

“Don’t know...who else would have a reason to?”

“Get your ass back here. I’ll call it in.” He ends the call.

There is nothing I can do for Morgan just yet. Part of me wants to go to Harper’s and scope shit out, but I don’t know. Porter told me to come to him. “Fuck!” I scream as I head back to Bridgette.

As I approach her building, I see something that sets off warning bells. Harper’s fucking car is outside of the dorm where the girl’s live.

I pull my phone back out. Shit.

“Porter, we got another problem. That bitch, Harper is at the dorm where Morgan lives. I had a hunch and followed it. Gonna stay on her I’ll call in when I can.”

“Give me your coordinates.”

“You won’t make it in time. I don’t think she will stay long.”

“Goddamnit. Rhy, you need backup. If she’s around there are bound to be others.”

“I have a feeling. She’s working on her own. Marek is out of town.”

“I don’t like this.”

“I’ll be fine.” I end the call as I see Bridgette carrying a pizza box with Harper walking behind her.

There is only one reason Harper would grab Bridgette—she’s onto me and Cole. Fuck, Porter is gonna kill me. He told me not to get involved with anyone. I hadn’t planned on it and don’t know if anything will come of me and Bridgette when this is over, but I will be damned if I watch another girl I care about become collateral damage.