Cam was sitting in darkness.

Again.

She had no idea how much time had passed since Sarge’s visit. She’d tried to stay awake—thought she had—but it felt like there were minutes she couldn’t account for. Her mind felt as dark as the room, numbness settling over her like a thick blanket.

She knew what her fate would be. Necco’s, too.

Sarge had told her.

They needed to be taken care of. They needed to disappear.

And there was only one way he was going to do it.

Kill them.

Her eyes welled with tears.

Not because her life was hanging in the balance, but because her thoughts immediately went to Alex and what his fate might be. Without her and Necco, there was no one who would back his story, no one to come to his defense. He was bound to meet the same fate awaiting her.

She felt like a failure, on so many levels. She’d failed Alex, obviously, but she’d failed Necco, too. She was the one who had gotten him involved, and now he was facing certain death, just as she was.

But she’d failed others, too.

Her grandmother. She couldn’t believe that she’d just seen her that morning. It felt like it was a lifetime ago when she stopped in for a quick good morning. Guilt ate at her as she remembered how her grandma had asked her to stay. She wouldn’t understand why Cam wasn’t visiting anymore. She’d become another Marta, someone her grandma would always wait for to come back.

Her brother. She’d used him, pure and simple. She hadn’t told him anything more than what was required to get what she wanted. What she needed. She’d never have the chance to tell him the truth about Alex. Or to tell him how much she loved him, how proud she was of him for the work he was doing at the clinic upstate.

Nate. A tear slipped down her cheek, and she felt its wet trail as it traveled to her jawline. She knew he’d blame himself for what happened to her. It was his nature. She should have worked with him instead of striking out on her own. Not just because she might be sitting in a very different position, but because she knew her choice would haunt him for the rest of his life. He would obsess over what he could have done differently, never buying the idea that none of this was his fault.

But always, she came back to Alex. A fresh set of tears filled her eyes. She wanted more time with him, dammit. Time to catch up, to make up for all of the years they’d lost. She had no illusions about what might be in store for them—she hadn’t allowed herself to think much beyond getting through each day—but now? Sitting in a dark room, bound and gagged, her death imminent, she wondered. And she wanted. She desperately wanted.

The sound of wood scraping against the floor startled her.

Was this it? Had the sergeant decided to do it in the dark of night? Maybe that was his way of being merciful. Do it quickly, unexpectedly. But Cam knew better. There was nothing merciful about that sadistic man. He would relish every second as he watched her die. It was the one thing she felt certain of.

A hand reached from behind her and she stifled a scream. Or rather, the rag stuffed in her mouth muffled it.

“Shhh,” a voice said.

A face appeared, within inches of hers.

Her eyes widened in shock.

Necco.

He ripped the rag out of her mouth, using his other hand to hold a finger to his lips.

“How did you get free?” she whispered.

Necco’s white smile was like a flash of light in the darkness. “YouTube.”

Delirious laughter bubbled up inside of her, but she managed to swallow it down.

Necco bent down, making quick work of untying her wrists. The ropes dropped to the floor and Cam pulled her arms forward. Her wrists were raw, her muscles tight, but it felt good to be free.

“Get up,” he said.

She felt woozy but managed to get to her feet just as Necco sat back down in his chair. If he felt anything like she did—sapped, depleted due to the continuous surge of adrenaline rushing through her—she could fully understand why he’d be inclined to sit.

But they didn’t have time.

“Come on,” she whispered. She stole a glance at the door. There was no one there.

Yet.

Necco shook his head.

She frowned. “We have to get out of here. Now.”

He shook his head again. “Tie me up.”

She stared at him in disbelief. “What?”

“Tie me back up,” he repeated.

“No.” She glared at him. “Get up. Come on. I don’t care if you’re tired. We need to get moving.”

“I’m not coming.”

“What? Of course you’re coming.”

“No.” His voice was firm.

Cam couldn’t understand what was happening. Didn’t he know that staying there would mean certain death?

“Alex would want you to come,” she pleaded. “He cares about you. Come on.”

Necco’s expression changed. “He won’t care about me after he finds out what I did.”

She stilled. But then she shook her head. It didn’t matter what Necco did. Not at that moment. Right then, the only thing that mattered was that they got out.

Alive.

“Yes, he will,” she insisted. “I promise.”

Necco drew in a ragged breath. “That cop stopped me. I…I told him you were in town. That I talked to you. I told him what you were asking me about.”

Cam’s heart beat wildly.

“I’m sorry,” he whispered brokenly. “I fucked up. I’m so sorry.”

“It doesn’t matter,” she said. “What matters is right now.”

He handed her the rope and the rag.

She wouldn’t take it.

“Please,” he said.

She shook her head. She’d be damned if something happened to him on her watch, regardless of what he’d done.

Voices drifted in their direction and Cam whipped toward the door.

“Sarge,” Necco breathed. He stuffed the rag in his mouth. “Tie me up now.”

She looked from the door to Necco and then back again. “Shit.”

“Do it,” he urged.

Cam had to make a decision.

If she got out now, she could come back. Find something to use as a weapon, find a phone to call for backup—anything would be better than both of them sitting there waiting for Sarge to come in and kill them. Besides, if she disappeared, that might throw him off. There was a good chance he would refocus his attention on finding her instead of taking care of Necco.

It was a gamble, but it was the only choice she had.

Quickly, she knotted the rope around Necco’s wrists. She did it loosely, wanting to give him every advantage she could.

“I’ll be back,” she whispered. “Do not give up.”

Weakly, he nodded. His eyes were wide with fear, his bravado from minutes before taking a brutal hit from reality. She was reminded in that moment that he was just a kid. A scared little kid.

She choked back tears. “Stay alive, dammit,” she ordered. “I’ll be back. I promise.”