Page 153 of Obsessed by My Ex's Mafia Uncle

That one gets me and a real laugh slips out this time.

“There’s my mommy.” She beams immediately, pleased with herself.

My stomach folds but I force myself to stay here.

We are safe now.

My phone lights up again.

Again.

Again.

I finally glance at it briefly at a red light.

It’s the same unknown number with over six new messages.

My stomach jams instantly, my heart flipping over.

I turn the phone face down, take the next turn, and keep driving.

Blue is still talking, but about clouds now. Or sheep. Or sheep-shaped clouds that apparently have favorite sandwiches.

I’m only catching every third sentence, nodding at the right places while my mind keeps drifting back to the phone vibrating beside me.

The sound drills into my skull now.

Buzz. Buzz. Buzz.

Like a countdown.

I grip the wheel, my knuckles turning white.

Outside, the road has thinned into emptiness, fewer cars passing now, fewer buildings, and fewer signs of life.

“…and then the sheep said a vegetable sandwich is a better choice because it’s without fish…”

Buzz.

My hand moves, snatching the phone up, one hand on the wheel while the other clicks open the messages.

: Distance won’t save you.

Cold rushes through me at the last message, so fast my fingers go numb.

“Mommy?” Blue’s voice dips, so low I can barely hear it.

Another message comes in.

: Goodbye Christine.

Everything inside me stops, my pulse slamming hard against my throat.

“Mommy?” Blue calls out again. “Are you okay?”

“Yes, baby. I’m…”

I don’t get to finish the lie before a brutal force explodes into the back of the van so hard my entire body jerks forward against the seatbelt.