Out of Mind (25 page)

Finn nodded, his mouth pressed tight and his eyes achingly hollow. “I know. Go ahead. A deal is a deal.”

I didn’t know what he meant by that, but I tried to push it aside so I could focus on what needed to be done. As I walked over to Riley, I bent down and picked up the note Finn had written for me as I walked. I could feel Finn’s eyes on me. “Riley, I’m—”

“I know. I can see it. There’s nothing to say. No explanations or apologies needed. I knew I was the underdog in this match.” He shrugged. “I guess I just hoped you had a thing for the underdog. Or that I’d have a sweeping win, Rocky style.”

I held his hands, squeezing them. “I’m so sorry. I think I could love you eventually. It would be so much easier. So much…just more everything.”

He offered me a small smile. “A wise man once said that the heart wants what the heart wants.”

“That wise man was you.”

“Was it?” He cocked his head. “I should write that down. It’s good advice.”

I laughed a little bit. “It is.”

“I guess I’m taking my hat back, huh? It’s a good thing I look so hot in a hat.”

“Yes,” I whispered. “I believe love like this, as disastrous as it can be, only happens to a person once in a lifetime. You deserve to find someone who feels that way about you.”

Riley cupped my cheek. “If you were mine, I’d never let you go. You deserve a guy who will stand by you, no matter what.”

“Thank you.” I smiled and dropped back down to my normal height. “Your girl is out there. You’ll find her soon. I know it.”

He smiled sadly. “We’ll see about that.”

“Want to say hi to Finn?” I looked over my shoulder. “He really does…like…you.” I spun in a circle, searching the crowd. “Wait. Where did he go?”

Riley frowned. “He was just there, watching us.”

“Finn?” I called out, rising on tiptoe. I spun in a circle. “Something’s wrong. I know it.”

Riley scratched his head. “What could possibly be wrong? We’re in a crowded mall.”

“You don’t understand.” I grabbed his hand. “I know him, and he wouldn’t leave me alone. He’d never leave me unguarded like this.”

“Calm down. You’re with me. Maybe that’s why he left.” Riley started leading me to the exit. “Let’s get to my car and we’ll call him. Maybe he’s already on his bike, waiting to follow us back to the college. Okay?”

I looked over my shoulder. “No. I
know
something’s wrong.”

“Then we’ll find him.” He squeezed my hand. “Try calling him.”

We started for the exit, me fumbling for my phone in my pocket, but someone stepped in our path. He wore a hoodie that covered his face, and he reeked of smoke. I couldn’t see his face, but his dirty hand held what looked like an equally filthy blade. “We have your boyfriend, and he’s unconscious. You want him to live? You’ll both come with us, Ms. Wallington.”

My heart stopped. “What did you do with him?”

“It doesn’t matter if you don’t get walking,” the guy said, showing the blade in his hand even more fully to us, “’cause he’ll be dead.”

Riley stiffened. “We’re in a crowded mall. You can’t abduct us here.”

Another guy came behind us, pressing a knife against my lower back. “Do what he says, princess.”

I tried to look over my shoulder. The guy in front of us snarled. “Don’t turn around. Don’t fight. Just
walk
.”

“No,” I said, surprised at how steady my voice sounded.

“Carrie,” Riley said, his voice cracking. “Do what they say. He has a knife to your back.”

The guy in front of us slashed out at Riley. Riley hissed and jerked back, his hand to his arm. Blood soaked the white shirt, and he glared at the criminal with fury in his eyes. “You
asshole
. I’ll kill—”

“Okay, we’re going!” I said, my heart racing. “Riley. Look at me.”

Riley whirled my way, still looking as if he was ready to fight both these men all on his own. He’d lose. Two to one. “We can take them.”

“We have her boyfriend,” the guy behind me hissed. “How will you save him, too?”

The guy in front of us smirked. “You’ll never find him.”

“We’re coming.” I swallowed hard. “Who put you up to this?”

“A friend of a friend. We were only supposed to scare you, and make this one look like a fool,” he said, tipping his head to Riley. “But then we realized you’re both worth more money than the other kid offered us. Now, out to the parking lot, real easy like, and no one gets hurt.”

Riley’s hand tightened on mine. The blood had spread over his forearm, soaking the whole lower half of his sleeve. “Let’s go. Do what they say.”

I walked with him, my eyes straight ahead the whole time. “Are you okay?”

“I’m fine.” Riley’s hand tightened on mine. The guy behind me pressed the knife deeper against my back. “Pissed, but fine.”

I nodded. I was terrified, so much so that my legs shook. But we’d be okay. These guys would ransom us off, and this nightmare would be over. Finn would be okay, too. Things could go back to normal. Oh, who was I kidding? This was my freaking life. Two kidnapping attempts in one lifetime meant my life would never be normal.

We reached a shady van with dark windows. Of course. This kidnapper didn’t have an original bone in his body. For some reason, I wanted to laugh at this whole scenario. Maybe it was paranoia, maybe it was me going crazy.

All I knew was that this seemed extremely funny.

The guy in front of us opened the back door of the blue van and said, “Get in. Quickly.”

Before Riley could move, the guy behind us hit the ground twitching. I whirled, my eyes wide as the dude struggled to breathe, his face turning blue. Riley leapt on him, twisting his arms behind his back, forcing the guy onto his knees. Finn leapt around us, attacking the other kidnapper before he could even react. He hit the ground, too, and Finn knelt behind him, choking the dude out and breathing heavily, his eyes narrowed as he searched the rest of the parking lot.

His hard muscles flexed as he gripped the guy tight. I watched as the kidnapper lost all color to his face and finally passed out. Finn hadn’t even broken a freaking sweat. “I already took out the driver. Were they with anyone else?”

“I-I don’t know,” I said quickly, looking around. “I thought they h-had you.”

“No, they had Hernandez. I already saved him, though. I saw him get taken. I almost missed it, but when I looked away from you two…I saw Hernandez.” He let go of the guy, and his lifeless body slumped to the ground. “Then he was gone, so I followed him.”

I let out a sigh of relief. Finn was okay. So were we. It was over. But this whole thing felt fake, as if it were a dream.

Finn stood up and came around us, punching the other guy in the face. He slumped over, too, knocked out cold, and Riley let go of his arms, his face pinched tight in anger. “Thanks, man.”

“It’s nothing,” Finn said, reaching into the van and pulling out some rope. I’d known he was lethal, but seeing him in action again was both frightening and yet…somewhat
hot
. Knowing he could save me from anyone or anything made me all warm and gooey inside. “I was here. Carrie? Are you okay?”

I nodded. “Y-Yes.”

He’d never let me down again, and I knew it.

His gaze scanned over me. He opened the van and pulled out rope, tying the kidnappers’ feet and hands together effortlessly. It wasn’t until he opened the van that I saw another guy in there, also hogtied. He was awake now. “Did they hurt you?”

“N-No. They cut Riley, though.” I looked at Riley. I was still holding his hand, but he seemed to need it, so I didn’t let go. He looked shaken up. “We’re okay. I thought they had
you
.”

He snorted. “But they didn’t. They’d never have gotten me. I’m surprised they got Hernandez. He must have been distracted by something.”

Marie came running up, out of breath. “Is everything okay? I was on the phone with Hernandez, fighting with him over whether he was able to find you, and then he was gone. It sounded like…” Her eyes went wide. “Why are there two unconscious dudes on the ground?”

“We were almost kidnapped, and they knocked out Hernandez.” When Marie paled, I quickly added, “We’re all fine, though. It was over before it started because of Finn.”

Marie looked horrified. “Oh my God. Are you okay?”

“Yes. I am, I swear.”

Looking in the van, she nodded distractedly. “Where is he? Where’s Hernandez?”

“I left him in Islands after I found him unconscious. He’s probably awake by now.” Finn looked up from his position on the ground. “You can go check on him, if you’d like.”

Marie took off without a backward glance.

“Thank you, Finn,” Riley said again, stepping forward. He still didn’t drop my hand. “You saved us.”

Finn finished tying up the first suspect, stood up, and went to the second. “It’s nothing, man.” He looked at me before quickly glancing away. “Absolutely nothing.”

I let go of Riley when my phone rang. “It’s my dad. How does he know already?”

“Hernandez called him, I bet.” Finn looked at me and nodded. “Answer it. Tell him what happened. I’m going to stand guard till the cops get here in case there are more of these assholes out here.”

I picked up the phone, and instantly my dad started. “Who is this? Give me back my baby girl or I’ll—”

“It’s me. I’m okay. I’m safe. We’re all safe,” I said, not bothering with small talk. The world started spinning, as if I’d forgotten to breathe or something. “Finn was here with Riley and me, and he saved us.”

Dad was silent for a second. “Who did this to you?”

“I have no idea, but Finn tied up the suspects, so I’m assuming the cops can find out.” I took a shaky breath, trying not to break down now that it was all said and done. Funny, I didn’t feel scared before, but now? I was literally falling apart. As a matter of fact, I just might faint. Funny. I’d never done that before. “Finn was here, so he took care of it. And we’re okay. We’re all okay. O-Okay.”

Finn tied the man’s arms together, his gaze locked on me the whole time. “Riley, hug her or
I
will. She’s going in to shock and needs comfort. Comfort her.”

Riley hesitated. “Dude, we’re not—”

“I don’t give a shit,” Finn growled. “Just fucking do it already, man.”

“Okay,” Riley said, pulling me into his arms and kissing my temple. “It’s okay. We’re here. We’re fine.”

I just stared straight ahead, not sure what to say or do. It was like I was broken. I held the phone to my ear still, and Dad kept talking, asking a million questions, but I couldn’t make a sound.

Finn reached out for my cheek, but then pulled back. After a low curse, he said, “It’s okay. You’ll be all right.” Finn took the phone from my hand. “Sir, she’s in shock right now and can’t talk, but she’s okay. There were three suspects that I took care of. I’m keeping an eye out for others, but there’s no sign of any.” Sirens sounded in the distance. “The cops are almost here. I called them after I got the first guy, as I searched for Carrie.” He was quiet. “Yes, sir. He was with her.” Another pause. “No, sir. He’s fine. So is she.” He blinked. “I’m fine too, sir. So is Hernandez.” He nodded. “I’ll let her know to expect you.” He hung up and put my phone in his pocket. “Your dad is on his way.”

I nodded. Or at least I think I did. I tried to say something, anything, but nothing came out. My mouth just opened and closed. Finn stepped forward, his eyes on me, but then he stopped. His fist unfurled, curled again, and he turned away. “She’s still freaking out. You need to calm her the fuck down, Riley. Come
on
.”

“Shh, you’re okay.” Riley hugged me closer. Police cars rolled into the parking lot, screeching to a halt by us. I barely noticed them. “What happens now?”

“Police will want statements and all that, but once they’re done, you go home and let them do their jobs.” Finn tugged on his hair, still watching me. “She’s not fucking okay, damn it. Fix it!”

Riley let go of me, making an angry sound. “Maybe
you
should try to fix her. You’re the one she loves! She probably just needs you.”

“She doesn’t—” Finn shook his head and growled. “Fuck it. Come here, Ginger.”

He yanked me into his arms. He hugged me so tight I could barely breathe…and yet suddenly, I
could
. I clung to him, releasing a sob. “I-I was…so scared, Finn.”

“Shh.” He kissed my head, his arms going even tighter around me. “I’m here. I won’t let anything happen to you.
Ever
.”

I nodded, burying my face in his chest. “Don’t leave me again. Swear it.”

“I swear. I’ll never leave you again,” he whispered brokenly. His heart thundered against my cheek, and I hugged him as hard as I could. He didn’t seem to mind. If anything, it made him kiss me even harder the next time. “Even when you’re with someone else, I’ll take care of you. I love you so damn much.”

I shook my head. Didn’t he realize what I was saying? I was his, and always would be. “There’s no—”

A cop cleared his throat. “We need to speak with her, please?”

Finn tightened his arms around me. “If she’s ready.”

“I’m r-ready.” I let go of Finn reluctantly, but entwined his fingers with mine. “Stay with me?”

He gave me a sad smile. “Always. But what about Riley?”

I looked at Riley. He was talking to an officer and walking toward a paramedic. “He looks okay, right? They’ll fix his arm in the ambulance.”

Finn nodded, looking confused. “Yeah, but…”

“He’ll be brought to the station, too,” the officer said, motioning toward his own car. “Let’s get her somewhere safe and then they can reunite in the station.”

I nodded and took a deep breath. “All right. Let’s go.”

“Just you, ma’am,” the officer said, eyeing Finn. “He can follow in another car.”

“He stays with me, or I don’t go.” I hugged his arm close to mine, gripping his biceps with my free hand. “He’s with me.”

Finn flexed his jaw. “I go with her if she wants me to.”

The officer sighed. “Who are you?”

“Her bodyguard,” Finn said, before I could open my mouth to answer. He cocked his head toward the van. “I’m the one who tied them up.”

“Oh. Good.” He opened the back door. “We need to talk to you, too.”

Finn slid into the backseat, not letting go of me. “I’m all yours,” he said softly.