Page 96 of Burn With Me

“De…rek?” I whispered through the tight hold and his brow knitted together in what seemed like confusion before the darkness clouded my vision.

* * *

Asher

“Vi, you’re going to be so happy you didn’t come,” I called out as I neared the cabin.

I couldn’t stop laughing at Sabrina’s face as she pulled in her line expecting a fish and had a massive snake on the end. Of all things that she could’ve caught it had to be a snake. She hated them with a passion. Her scream was so loud as it burst from the water as if it was pissed about being caught on a fishing hook. We all jumped as it landed on the back of the boat and thrashed around. It took a net and some very quick hands to get it cut loose and back into the water.

“You’ll never guess what happened.”

Pulling open the screen door to the cabin, I stopped and looked around at the empty space.

“Vi?” I’d already been to the main house, and she wasn’t there.

The bathroom door was open, and I was worried that she’d slipped or something. I ran over, but it was empty. What the hell? My eyes scanned the room, her small luggage bag was still there, but something shiny caught my eye. I crouched to pick it up. My fingers gripped the pendant I’d given her for Christmas, and panic had me shooting to my feet and running out the door, looking for any sign to give me a clue.

“Vi?” I yelled like that would be helpful even though I knew it wouldn’t. I just had this bad feeling.

“Asher, what’s wrong?” My mom came running out of the main cabin, closely followed by everyone else.

“She’s gone. Someone has taken her,” I said, and everyone just stared at me like I wasn’t speaking the same language. “Did you not hear me?”

I whipped out my phone and dialed 911. “I’m calling the police.”

“Honey, don’t you think you’re overreacting? She could be out for a walk,” my mom offered.

“Her necklace was on the floor.”

“That doesn’t mean that she was abducted.”

I held up my finger to hold off whatever she was going to say next as the operator came on the line. I didn’t mean to be rude or dismiss her logic, but I just knew it wasn’t the case. I had no proof, but the churning my gut was telling me. It was the same feeling I got whenever the house would get quiet after dad had one of his rounds with mom. You’d think that all was safe, but it was only the calm before the storm. Then he’d burst into the room. I had that same sick feeling now and had to take a deep breath to calm the fear that was slowly bleeding into anger. If someone hurt her….

“Nine-one-one, what’s your emergency?”

“Yes, I need to report an abduction. This is Captain West from the Miami fire station 126.”

“Okay, Mr. West. Who is missing?”

“My girlfriend, Violet Clarke,” I said. Why hadn’t I told Vi that she was my girlfriend? She probably would’ve liked that.

“And when was the last time you saw Ms. Clarke?”

“About two hours ago, maybe two and a half,” I said as I tried to do the math in my head.

“I’m sorry, Mr. West, but the individual has to be missing for twenty-four hours before they’re considered missing.”

My mouth fell open. “That’s ridiculous. I’m telling you someone took her. I found her necklace on the ground in our cabin.”

“Was there any other sign of a struggle or forced entry?”

“Well, no, but that doesn’t mean anything. Her clothes are here, and she doesn’t have a vehicle. I’m telling you that something is wrong. I’m a firefighter, for christ’s sake. I know when someone is overreacting. I’m not overreacting,” I yelled.

“Please calm down, Mr. West.”

I bit my fist and walked away from the five pairs of eyes watching me.

“I’m sorry, but this is very distressing,” I said, trying to stay calm.