“That was two hours ago. Did he happen to say where he was going?”
“No, he didn’t. Oh, wait. Maybe. He said something about clearing his head with a walk on the beach before he had to go deal with his other parent. Was that lady his mom? Now that I think about it, they did share a resemblance.”
As she continues talking about their blonde hair and blue eyes, I whisper, “He left two hours ago.”
“How would he have gotten there?” Cooper asks.
“Darlene, did you notice if Brooklyn had his motorcycle helmet with him?”
“Yeah, he did. He even mentioned how good it was to ride it again.”
“Okay, thanks for all your help.”
“You’re welcome. Don’t be a stranger.”
I hang up and go back to my call with B’s dad. “You probably heard part of that. He left a couple hours ago. Is his bike home?”
“His Jeep is in the garage but his bike is gone. Sounds like things didn’t go well with his mother. Not that it’s a big surprise. I tried to warn him. He’s probably riding around, blowing off some steam.”
My mind immediately flashes to Vincent’s words. I’ll take away everything you love.
“Remember the hostile takeover Brooklyn wanted to help me with?”
“Yeah?”
“It was announced yesterday. I fired Vincent from his own company. He threatened everyone I love and even had our dog kidnapped. I’m really worried about Brooklyn. Please call me the second he gets home.”
“If you ruined everything we’ve worked so hard for, he’ll never forgive you,” his dad says coldly.
“Mr. Wright, his surfing career should be the least of your worries right now. You should be more concerned about his life.”
“Are we being a little dramatic?” he asks.
My phone buzzes with a notification. I’m trying to control my temper, so I peek at it and see B’s name.
“B just instant messaged me. He’s okay.”
“What did he say?”
I toggle over to my Skype notification.
Brooklyn: Skype me now.
That’s weird.
“Um, he wants to video chat with me. Are you sure he’s not up in his room?”
“Uh, I don’t think so, but maybe I didn’t hear him come home. I’ll go check.”
I run to the bedroom, sit at the desk, and power up my laptop, thankful that Aiden thought to bring it from the loft.
I bring up the program, see B’s smiling face next to the word Online, and click to call him.
I’m just so thankful he’s okay. He probably snuck in because he didn’t want to deal with his dad. He’s probably going to tell me he’s sorry for hanging up on me and how awkward it was with his mom.
As the screen shows him answering, I smile.
But then my heart stops beating when Vincent’s face shows on the screen instead.
He gives me a chilling smile. One that makes my whole body shiver.
“We have the dog. We have Matt,” he says. “As soon as we have you, we’ll commence filming.”
Matt? Lacey’s boyfriend in the movie?
Did he cast Brooklyn as Matt?
No. He’s probably just trying to freak me out. Probably stole his computer since I destroyed my phone and he needed another way to get in touch with me.
But how did he get Brooklyn’s computer?
I imagine the scene at Buddy’s.
B’s distracted and talking to his mom.
Someone grabs his backpack.
Although, I don’t know why he’d take it to dinner.
No, wait. I do. He’d want to show his mom videos of him surfing.
I look Vincent straight in the eye. “Who did you cast as Matt?”
A smirk plays on his face. The first show of emotion I’ve seen. “Your boyfriend, Brooklyn, of course.”
“I don’t believe you.”
Vincent narrows his eyes at me. The emotional mask returning.
From the corner of my eye, I see Aiden and Cooper come into the bedroom.
I pretend to adjust my laptop screen, but instead I hold my hand out past it, gesturing at them not to come any closer.
My eyes are glued to the screen, Vincent and I locked in an online staring match.
Finally, he blinks and says, “You want to see who I cast? Is that it?”
“Yes, Vincent. I need to know who my co-star is before I’ll sign on to the project.”
“Very well.”
There are blurs across the screen as Vincent moves the laptop away from his face.
I can’t make out anything until the movement stops.
Then there is a single image.
Brooklyn. Lying on a mattress motionless.
I quickly take a screenshot.
“Believe me now?” I hear Vincent ask.
“I want to talk to him.”
“As you can see, he can’t talk right now. He’s asleep.”
“Asleep or dead?” It’s hard to tell. I can’t see him breathing.
There are more blurs then Vincent’s face. “Come home,” he says then ends the call.
Tears stream down my face as I stare at the blank computer screen.
I shake my head.
I expected Vincent to kidnap me at some point.
I was prepared for it.
I didn’t expect this.
What am I going to do?
Cooper clears his throat.