by Jordan Ford
Marshall gives me another confused frown, shaking his head like he doesn’t believe me.
I grip his shirt, fisting it in desperation. “Marshall, I swear I’m not lying. I need your help! We have to find her!”
“Kid…” He keeps shaking his head, trying to loosen my grasp on his shirt.
“No, don’t shake your head. Please! I swear I will do anything you want me to do after this. I’ll even go to freaking military school, but not until we find her. Not until I know she’s safe. Please! Marshall, please!” My voice cracks, and I have no idea what my face is doing, but it makes Marshall go still.
His angry glare fades away, replaced with a look of genuine concern. Silently eyeing me up, he licks his lips and softly says, “Okay. Tell me everything and I’ll help you.”
Relief punches out of me in a sharp breath and I crumple back against the car, rushing out the story as fast as I can. I tell him about how Lettie and I have been emailing for months and how we finally decided to meet. “And then she tells me her name and I email back saying that I want to tell her who I am face-to-face. Like some idiot!”
“Slow down. Just stay calm.”
I blow out a breath and my voice starts to shake like an earthquake is ripping through me. “And then Reed snuck into her room and read the emails. He’s pretending to be me right now. I got Lettie on the phone, and she was telling me that she was on a boat somewhere, and then the line went dead. It went dead.” My voice cracks.
“Okay.” Marshall closes his eyes. “So, who is this Reed guy?”
“He goes to school with Lettie and Savannah. He—” I let out a sharp gasp. “His cousin. His cousin was at their place playing with Louis. Maybe he’s still there. He might know something. He can tell us what the boat’s called. What it looks like! Let’s go.”
I move to jump back into Denee’s car, but Marshall puts his hand on my chest to stop me. “Leave it here. We’ll come back and get it later. Right now I don’t want you out of my sight.”
Clenching my jaw, I slam Denee’s car door shut and run around to Marshall’s pickup. We drive to the Green’s house in silence, my mind consumed with Lettie and her safety. Just thinking about what Reed might be trying to pull with her is churning my guts.
As soon as Marshall stops, I jump out and run to the door. Pounding it with my fist, I don’t let up until Savannah pulls it open with a perplexed frown.
“Uh, one knock is fine. I heard you the first time.” She crosses her arms and then smiles when she notices Marshall walking up behind me. But then her smile fades. “What’s the matter?”
“Is Reed’s cousin still here?” I grit out.
“Yeah. He’s playing upstairs with Lou. What’s going on?”
“I think Lettie’s in trouble,” I murmur as I brush past Savannah and head for the stairs.
“What? What are you talking about?” She chases me up and I stop to silently ask her where Louis’s room is. She points right and I head down the hallway. “Wait. Jace. What do you mean Lettie’s in trouble?”
“Reed’s not who he says he is.” I knock once on Louis’s door, then push it open.
Both boys look up from the floor. A sea of Legos surrounds them, and both are looking at me like I’m a crazy person for interrupting their epic Star Wars battle.
I cross my arms and glare down at Louis’s friend. I remember meeting Drew on the beach when Reed came and interrupted Lettie and me. I’m annoyed that I didn’t get a read on the guy then. Damn, I should have seen it, or at least had a gut feeling, but he was so freaking smooth.
“I need you to tell me about your cousin,” I bark, pointing at Drew.
The kid looks nervous, glancing at Louis before seeking out Savannah. She smiles at him and crouches down to his level. “It’s okay, Drew. We just need to ask you a couple of questions. You’re not in trouble or anything.”
“Okay,” he whispers, then looks at Marshall and me towering over him. “What do you want to know?”
“He’s taken Lettie out on a date. On a—”
“A date?” Drew interrupts me, then throws an accusing look at Savannah. “You didn’t tell me that. You just said he left, and I could stay.”
“I…” Savannah’s head jolts back. “I didn’t think you’d want to know he was on a date. I—”
“He’s not supposed to do that.” Drew’s eyebrows dip into a V.
Savannah flinches, her eyes rounding. “Why not?”
“Well…” Drew shoots Louis a nervous look and presses his lips together.
“Dr-ew.” I pull out his name, warning him to start talking, and fast.
His face bunches with reluctance. “I’m not supposed to say. I just heard Mom and Dad talking about it, and they don’t want anyone to tell.”
“Tell what?” Savannah’s voice is deep and firm, so different from the one she was using only minutes ago.
Drew swallows and looks down at the Lego figure in his hands.
“I swear to God, Drew. If you don’t start talking…” I point at him again, no doubt sounding super threatening, but I don’t care. I’m even more worried about Lettie than I was before.
He glances up and looks on the verge of tears. “He got in trouble in Florida. That’s why his mom sent him to live with us.”
“What kind of trouble?” Marshall asks.
“There was this girl, and he really liked her. And I think they went out for a while. I don’t know, but he started following her around. A lot. Like even when she didn’t want him to. And then one day he tried to take her…away.” Drew swallows. “I mean, he didn’t actually. Like, they stopped him, but then she put a staining order on him.”
“A staining order?” Savannah frowns.
“Yeah, a re-staining order?”
“A restraining order,” I whisper, scrubbing a hand down my face and feeling sick.
Drew bobs his head up and down. “That’s why he’s not allowed to go on dates while he’s living with us. He’s not supposed to be alone with girls.”
Marshall’s hand lands on my shoulder, giving it a light squeeze. “We’ll find her. It’s gonna be okay. Did she tell you anything over the phone?”
I look at him. “Just that she was on a boat. His uncle’s boat.”
“Oh, Dad’s boat!” Drew sits up a little higher. “She’s called Daisy.”
“Where’s it moored?”
“Um…” Louis scratches the side of his nose. “Dad docks it at the Bay Marina, but we’re not allowed to go on it without him. No one’s ever allowed the keys.”
“Reed must have stolen them,” I mutter.
Savannah covers her mouth, muffling her whimper, then looks up at me in anguish. “I told her to go. I told her Reed was a nice guy and that she should go with him. What have I done?”
Marshall leans down with a reassuring hand. “It’s okay. You stay here and call your dad, then get Drew to call his parents too. Jace and I are gonna head to the marina and see what we can find out.” He looks to Mr. Information with his cute little face and terrible news. “So, it’s Daisy?”
“Yep.” He nods. “A white catamaran.”
“Good job, kid.” Marshall ruffles Drew’s hair, then tips his head at me. “Let’s hustle.”
No arguments here.
I race out of the house after him, jumping into his truck and checking my phone again. I call Lettie, but her phone is still switched off.
“Shit!” I thump it on my thigh while Marshall speeds out of Clifton Terrace.
“Call the sheriff’s department for me.” Marshall hands me his phone. “Let’s get them searching for the vessel.”
I nod and follow Marshall’s instructions, putting it on speakerphone so he can do the talking while he drives.
I’m not usually one to feel afraid, but I’m scared now.
I’m freaking scared.
The thought of Lettie getting hurt, even touched, by some creeper has my head spinning. I can’t let anything bad happen to her. All I can think abo
ut is protecting her, keeping her safe. I have to save her from this Reed guy. I’ll do whatever it takes.
46
Get Away
LETTIE
The burger on my plate looks delicious, and completely untouchable.
How am I supposed to eat when I’m stuck here in the middle of nowhere with a lying psycho?
It almost feels like I’ve been kidnapped, which is kind of weird because I got onto this stupid boat with zero protest, but that’s when I thought Reed was Bass.
Why? Why did I buy into that lie so easily?
I have to get out of here. I’m done. I want Jace.
“Um…” I try to keep my voice calm and even. “Maybe we should head back soon. I don’t think my dad wants me out too late.”
The sun has basically set, and all I can think about is the fact that it’s going to be completely dark soon and I’m going to be stuck on this boat with a liar.
“I’m not quite ready yet.” Reed takes another bite from his burger. A blob of mustard squirts out the back, running down his fingers. He licks it off, then glances at my plate. “Why aren’t you eating?”
“I’m…not hungry?”
He frowns. “I bought you that burger. You asked me to get it for you. You need to eat it!” His snap is sharp enough that I nearly grab the food and automatically take a bite.
His smooth, easygoing veneer is starting to show stress lines.
How far do I push it?
Running my finger over the top of my burger bun, I try to keep my voice calm and sweet. “Reed, please. I want to go home. I-I never even asked my dad if I could go out with you tonight. I don’t want to get in trouble.”
He sets his burger down, resting his arm on the table and reaching for my hand. I tuck it out of reach, but his look scares me enough that I force a smile to soften my retreat.
“You said yes. You said you wanted to be with me.” His voice is steely, the hard look in his eyes making me shrink in on myself.
“I’m sorry.” I wince. “But I need to get back,” I repeat, wishing my voice was firmer. Wishing I was strong and brave like all the people around me seem to be.
Wiping his mouth with a paper napkin, he dumps it on his plate and huffs. “You’re all the same. You play nice. You smile and act all sweet, but then you go and turn, just like that!” He snaps his fingers and I flinch. “Pretty little liars,” he seethes.
“Liars?” I frown. “You’re accusing me of lying?”
Can anyone say hypocrite?
I nearly voice my thought but swallow it down when he narrows his eyes at me.
“She said she liked me too. She looked me right in the eye and made me feel like the king of the frickin’ world. So, I go along with it, right? What’s so complicated about that? What’s so crazy about wanting to be with the person you love!”
His voice is getting loud and thunderous. I grip my hands under the table, totally unsure about how to play this.
How big is his anger going to grow?
Is he going to hurt me?
What do I do?
“You don’t love me,” I whisper. “You love her. So why are you doing this? Why don’t you just take me back?”
He launches out of his seat and punches the air. “Because you could be her!” Spinning around, he pins me with an anguished look. “You’re my second chance. We could sail away right now and never look back. I made the mistake of trying to drive her out of town, and they found us too easily. But you and me, we could disappear tonight.” His expression rises with hope while my gut plummets to the soles of my feet.
I don’t know what the hell he’s talking about, but it’s enough to make my head spin. Did he try to kidnap his ex-girlfriend?
“I…” I shake my head, fear stealing my voice.
Bending down on one knee, he snatches my hand like he’s ready to propose or something. “Please, Lettie. This could be so perfect.”
“But you lied to me.” I yank my hand out of his grasp. “You told me you were Bass.”
He scowls and lamely mutters, “I am.”
I shake my head and narrow my eyes at him. “Oh yeah? Then what do the numbers in my email address mean?”
“Huh?” He scratches the side of his head and stands, turning his back to me.
“The numbers in my email address. Do you remember? I told you what they mean.”
“Of course. Yeah, um…it’s a code, right?” He glances over his shoulder, confirming what I already know.
Bass—Jace—would never forget something so important to me.
Reed didn’t read far enough back through our emails.
I’m still repulsed by the fact that he snuck into my room and totally invaded my privacy. I have to call him out. He’s not freaking stealing me away from all the people I love because I look like his ex-girlfriend!
“You’re not Bass.” I get out of my chair and cross my arms.
He spins, his irritation slipping behind a smooth smile. Like he’s just remembered the role he’s supposed to be playing. The role I fell for when I first met him. The one I can see straight through now. “I think maybe the ocean breeze is getting to your head.” He steps toward me, his face and voice so kind as he reaches out his hand. “Why don’t you lie down and—”
I slap his hand away. “How could you trick me like that?”
Anger flashes across his expression, followed by a tight smile. “I couldn’t have competition. I needed you to just see me, so I eliminated the only thing coming between us. I told you what you needed to hear so that you’d finally see me without all of those bullshit emails getting in the way.”
“When did you even see them?” I cross my arms and grip my biceps.
“Today,” he mutters. “The boys were playing, so I snuck into your room. I just… I was trying to find something to win you over. I could tell something was getting in the way, holding you back from me. When I saw your open computer, I took my chance to do a little research.” He lips twitch with a smirk. “And I struck gold. I would have read more if I hadn’t heard you and your sister walking up to the house.”
“You creep,” I seethe. “Take me back to the marina. I want to get off this boat. I want to get away from you!”
“Lettie, I’m not doing that.” He steps into my space, and I’m instantly aware of how much stronger he is than me—how tall and broad he is, how powerful his fingers and hands are compared to my skinny ones.
He grabs my arms, his voice pitching with a touch of desperation. “We’re good for each other. I just want you to see that. Don’t be like her. Give me a chance and you’ll understand. You’ll see that I’m worth it.”
“No!” I screech, pushing him with as much force as I can. “You lied to me! I want off this boat!”
He barely sways under my pathetic muscle power, and I wish so badly that Jace was here. He’d deck Reed in a second. Closing my eyes, I picture his strength around me, beside me.
“Lettie.” Reed kind of whines my name, his hand trailing down my bare arm and grasping my elbow. “I just want to be with you, take you away from the people that make you sad.”
“Let me go.” I try to struggle free, but he just holds on a little tighter.
“No.” His voice goes icy hard, his nostril flaring slightly. “Not this time. They can’t stop me this time! I’m not letting go of my girl. I’m never letting go of my girl!”
“I’m not your girl,” I whimper. “I was never your girl.”
“Yes. We’re meant to be. The moment I saw you, I knew. You look just like her and I knew… You’re my second chance. She was just the practice run for you. We’re meant to be together, and I’m going to take you away and make you happy. You’ll see.”
“Reed, I don’t want that.”
“Shhhh,” he whispers, covering my mouth with his hand.
I scream against his grip, but he just squeezes until my teeth start cutting into my cheek.
His arm locks around my waist, pinching me tight against his
chest.
I have to get off this boat.
I have to get away.
Help me! Help!
My internal cries spark my imagination, and I’m suddenly reminded of a scene in a book where some drunken jerk at a party tries to get it on with this girl and she bites his lip to get rid of him. Well, Reed’s not kissing me—thank God—but maybe the same principle will apply.
I relive the scene and try to copy it, forcing my body to relax, to kind of melt against him.
“Good girl.” Reed starts to relax, and as soon as the pressure around my mouth eases, I clamp my teeth into the soft flesh just below his fingers and bite down as hard as I can. He screams, lurching away from me and fisting his fingers around the pain.
“You bit me!” he screeches, his voice high with rage and indignation.
I ignore him, scrambling to lift the seat and haul out a life jacket. This jerkweed isn’t taking me anywhere. I’m not his, and he can’t make me happy.
I have to get off this boat. I can’t spend another second near this psycho.
“What the hell are you doing?” he snaps, unfurling his fingers to check out the damage while I wrestle the jacket on and try to do up the straps.
My fingers are trembling, making the task a million times harder. And then I go and pinch a little of my skin as I get the final clip secured. I wince in pain but have no time to worry about it, as Reed takes a step toward me and I do the only thing I can think of.
It’s reckless and no doubt stupid, but I can’t have Reed touching me again.
If he’s not going to take me back, then I’m just gonna have to jump off this boat and freaking swim.
Closing my eyes, I launch myself over the edge, letting out a little scream and then gasping when I hit the water. It’s freaking cold, and my senses reel in shock as the salty water envelops me.
“Lettie!” Reed screams from the side. “Are you insane! Get back on here.”
“No!” I manage to shout. “I’m never going anywhere near you again.”
I kick my legs, forcing my cold limbs into action.
I’m not a very good swimmer. Thank God I have a life jacket on.
