Page 138 of Denial
Stay awake.
“I’m here.”
Sutton’s coming.
“I’m sorry.”
My lashes flutter against my cheeks, my breath rapid and shallow.
Outside the box, there’s a crash.
A familiar voice rises above the commotion, harsh and furious. “Fairview Valley Police. Drop the weapon.”
My heart jolts before tripping over itself. Sutton’s here. Sutton found us.
Voices shout. A single pop of a bullet. More in rapid succession.
Three, four, five.
I lose count. I try to call out, but my voice produces no sound. The saliva in my mouth has long since dried. The skin of my lips sticks together and cracks as I move them.
“Alice!” My name wrapped in Sutton’s deep voice has never sounded so good.
The hum of voices calling for me starts to drown out the sobs.
Picking up my fist, I weakly hit the side of the metal box. A small thud rings out. I pull it into my chest, throwing more force behind it, slamming it against the side.
Again.
Again.
And again.
“Quiet,” Sutton demands from nearby.
My fist keeps beating like a steady drum, even as my energy wanes.
“Over here!” he calls to the men I know he brought with him.
I keep hitting the side with my fist.
“That’s it, Alice. I can hear you, baby.”
The lock rattles on the metal storage unit.
“I need bolt cutters!”
The hinges groan, and light filters through my closed eyelids. Sutton’s familiar masculine scent floods into the enclosed space.
“Alice.” His voice is filled with both relief and agony.
“Sunny,” I croak. “Save Nellie.”
“Nellie’s safe. You did good, Firecracker.”
Relief floods my veins, followed by the weight of peaceful surrender.
“I need a blanket,” Sutton shouts, as he tucks me against his chest, hand sliding into my hair to hold me steady.
