Bree

Maybe I’d dropped it outside?

After a quick search, I tiptoed my way out of the room, careful not to wake Liam. I went to the kitchen and the living room next, looking under tables and chairs.

I didn’t hear my bracelet fall. I didn’t feel it slip off, either.

I definitely had it yesterday morning, but I couldn’t remember if I still had it last night after I closed Sprinkles and Stardust.

I traced my steps back.

I rang the restaurant we went to last night, but no one said anything about finding a bracelet.

The only sensible place left was the bakery. The shop wasn’t going to open until later, so I could give it a quick check before we opened. It was also time I picked up my car from the repair shop.

My bracelet was probably in the bakery, and I was just needlessly stressing myself. I didn’t want to disturb Liam by waking him up, so I left quietly. This wasn’t going to take long, anyway.

* * *

The street was uncharacteristically quiet when I got out of the car and jogged towards the bakery. I opened the shop, leaving the sign as CLOSED for anyone who happened to pass by.

I set a small box of the red velvet cupcakes down on a table. I’d drop them over for Rona after I found my bracelet.

I heard the door squeak open, followed by the shuffling of footsteps.

“It’s closed,” I called out.

But I didn’t get a response back or hear anyone move. The hair on the back of my neck stood. Before I turned to look at the visitor, I felt the cold metal of a gun barrel on my back.

“Bree Carmichael,” the man’s voice said evenly. Before I got to ask how he knew, he pressed the barrel harder against me. “Surprised? Yeah, I know you. You’re going to listen to me, and you’re going to do what I tell you…”

* * *

Liam

My phone woke me up.

The screen glowed with Rona’s name.

“Hey, Liam. Are you with Bree?”

Disoriented, I rubbed my eyes. I sat up slowly.

“Yeah. She’s…” I looked beside me. No Bree. “Wait, hang on. Bree?”

No answer. I didn’t hear any sounds from the bathroom, but it couldn’t hurt to check. I stood up, stretching my neck. I pushed the bathroom door open. It was empty. “Bree, baby?”

I pushed the door open on the room beside hers. The kitchen opened up to the living room, and both showed no signs that Bree was there.

“She called to tell me she was going to drop by with some cupcakes after checking something in Stardust. But she hasn’t made it yet, and she’s not answering my calls.”

“How long ago was that?” I asked sharply.

She sighed. “She was meant to be here around an hour ago. I waited since I thought maybe something held her up. It could probably be nothing, but Stardust opens soon.”

I’d stepped on something rough, and looked down. Her charm bracelet. I picked it up, closing my fingers around it. She wouldn’t go anywhere without it.

“I’ll call her and check, yeah? Will let you know if she answers.”

“Okay,” she replied, a little uncertain.

“Come on, Bree,” I muttered, pacing along her kitchen after I dialed her number. “Answer your phone…”

Maybe she just left it somewhere, and she didn’t hear.

I tried twice more.

She wasn’t picking up.

Fuck.

Why would she leave? Was I too rough earlier? Did I hurt her? Why didn’t she say anything?

I checked the room again, but there was no note. All these questions, but no Bree.

Someone was calling.

More calls. Christ.

My screen flashed and showed me that it was Pete, my friend and hacker extraordinaire.

Somehow, somewhere along the way, someone decided I was the guy people went to when they needed something fixed, or when they needed a favor. Or when they needed a ride somewhere. Turned out, it led me to getting closer to Bree.

I didn’t mind most of the time, but right now I needed to find her.

“Pete, this isn’t—”

“Liam.” The voice stopped, unsure. “Man, I’m sorry.”

Bree immediately came to mind. “Explain,” I said, my voice tight.

“I’m sorry for calling at seven am,” he said as if reciting the line. “I won’t be a dick and next time I’ll wait until ‘normal’ hours.”

Yeah, I could just imagine him holding out a notepad and reading what he wrote. I bit back a laugh. “Did she make you say that?”

“No. But I concede she had a point. Called you this morning,” he admitted sheepishly. “She basically told me you were sleeping and to call back when you woke up. Didn’t look it, but feisty woman, that Bree. She’s a keeper.”

A quick glance told me I had three more messages, all varying versions of an apology.

“Yeah, she is.”

I just needed to find her.

Rona said she was going to drop by after she went to the bakery. It looked like I was going to have to take a trip to Sprinkles and Stardust.