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“Stay where you are and I’ll be there in two minutes, okay?”
“Okay,” she croaks into the speaker. “I’m sit-sitting on the steps.”
I don’t bother to ask her what the fuck she means or what steps she’s sitting on. I run through the apartment, ignoring Lincoln as I pass him through the living room. My phone is still against my ear.
“Stay on the phone with me until I get there.”
There’s another loud bang that echoes through the phone. “Mhm,” Ainsley mumbles, completely high out of her mind.
Lincoln is hot on my heels, following me out into the parking lot to Ainsley’s car that I still have. “What the fuck is going on, man?”
“It’s Ainsley.”
His eyes widen as I climb into the car and put the window down for him. “You need backup?”
I shake my head as I start the engine. “I just need to get her.”
Lincoln nods, taking a step backward as I put the car in reverse. “Call me if you need anything.”
I nod as I back the car away and turn it around in the parking lot. I can hear Ainsley’s shallow breathing as I step on the gas, whipping the car out onto the street. Ignoring every possible traffic law, I speed down the streets with only her on my mind. Nothing else fucking matters right now, except getting to her and making sure that she’s safe.
This is all my fault. I never should have told her the truth.
Coral Street is packed and the sidewalks are filled with people, whether they are wandering aimlessly or with some purpose. None of their purposes are good. This is the worst place that she could possibly be and I have no idea why the fuck she’s here. And alone at that.
I can’t find an open spot on the side of the street, so I double park by the corner, leaving the engine running. Everyone does it here, so it’s not unusual, but with an expensive car like that, it’s fucking risky as hell.
My heart pounds erratically against my ribs as I frantically climb out of the car and run toward the sidewalk. My eyes scan the street, looking at the different sets of steps that lead up to run-down buildings. It doesn’t take long before I see Ainsley’s bright blonde hair. She’s sitting on the front steps of the corner store that is on the corner of Coral and Green, just like she said.
I break into a sprint, racing toward her crumpled form on the steps. She’s sitting down, hunched over, leaning against the bottom pole of the handrail. “Ainsley,” I call out her name as I drop down onto my knees in front of her. Grabbing her small, frail biceps, I give her a small shake. Her head rolls to the side and slowly she lifts it up to look at me.
My heart breaks into a million fucking pieces as she stares back at me with bloodshot eyes, her pupils completely consumed by her soft brown irises. “Killian,” she says slowly as a smile touches her lips. “You came.”
“I told you that I would, baby,” I choke out, the emotion thick in my voice. My throat bobs and I blink back the tears. “Let’s get you in the car, okay?”
Ainsley nods slowly, her hand reaching out for the handrail, but she misses and her arm falls back to her side in a rush. Watching her struggle crushes my soul. I move beside her, wrapping one arm around her back as I slip the other underneath her knees. She’s light—too light—as I lift her into my arms and carry her away.
“I wasn’t strong enough,” she mumbles as her head falls against my chest. “I thought I was until Jude.”
My heart pounds in my chest. “What did Jude do?”
“He was right.”
My brow furrows, but I don’t question her any further. I don’t know if she is fully coherent enough to know what she’s talking about. None of that even matters at this point. It doesn’t matter how she got into this position, all that matters is getting her out of it. I pull open the car door and gently sit her down before pulling the seat belt over her body.
In a rush, I shut the door and walk around the front of the car before climbing back into my seat. Ignoring my seat belt, I put the car in drive and press my foot down on the gas. The car picks up speed as I race down the streets in the direction of Ainsley’s house. Every so often, I glance over, checking to make sure that her chest is still rising and falling.
After a few minutes of silence, Ainsley lifts her head, catching me when I glance over at her. I give her a small reassuring smile, but instead of feeling comforted, she gives me a confused look, still in a daze from the heroin.
“Where are we going?” Ainsley asks as she slowly repositions herself in her seat, peering out the window. “Why are we leaving the city? I thought you were taking me back with you.”
I ignore her, putting more pressure on the gas pedal as I blow through an intersection as the light changes to red. It was the last light from our stretch in the city. Now it’s just getting down some back roads in the suburbs to their gated community.
“Killian.” There’s a sense of panic in her hoarse voice. “Where are you taking me?”
I glance over at her. “I’m taking you home, baby.”
“No, no, no,” she mutters, shaking her head as she pushes her hair back from her face. “I can’t go back there.”
