Page 71 of Back To Our Beginning

Ahh, God.

I felt like someone had just stuck me with a burning, metal spike in the side of my belly.

If I could have, I would have screamed.

I realized that there was still that piece of glass embedded in my side, right above my jeans. I felt blood oozing out of the cut. My rolling around probably made it worse.

My breath was coming in short bursts. I needed to get myself under control.

I still needed to find out where Grizz would come from. There had to be another door, some place. I curled up as best I could, so that I could start moving like a worm on my other side. Maybe if I got close to the workbench, I could lean up against it and see the whole garage.

I started moving. Pushing myself forward with my sneakers, then pushing forward with my butt and shoulder on my uninjured side.

It felt like I’d been going forever.

I looked over to see how close I was to the workbench, and I wanted to cry. It looked just as far away as when I started.

I started again, but then my sneaker lost its grip, and my butt slid through something wet.

Ah God, it was blood.

My blood.

The room started to spin again.

I slumped over onto my stomach, jarring the piece of glass.

The scorching pain was unbearable.

When I felt myself slipping away, I gratefully grabbed at unconsciousness.

Chapter Nineteen

“Beau, get over to Simon’s house right now.”

“Roan? What’s going on?” I said into my phone.

“Just get here now.”

He hung up.

I had a really bad feeling. Kai’s phone was ringing and as soon as he answered it, his eyes got hard. He stood up from his half-eaten meal we’d been having at the Down Home Diner. He shoved his phone in his pocket and pulled out his wallet. He threw down more than enough money to cover our meals and tips.

“Let’s go. You’re riding with me,” he commanded.

I followed him toward the front of the diner.

“Boys, you take care of yourselves. I’ll say a prayer.” Little Grandma said from her perch beside the hostess stand.

I looked over my shoulder at her as we were exiting. Kai grabbed my shirt and pulled me out the door. As soon as we were on the sidewalk, he started running toward his truck.

This is bad. Really bad.

I had a premonition.

As soon as we were in Kai’s truck, I took out my cell phone.

“Call Maddie,” I said, giving the voice command to my phone.