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Chapter Twenty Four

I can hear my blood pulsing in my ears, and I shut my eyes tightly again. I hear AJ and Ryan talking in the background, but can't make out the words over the sound of my own heartbeat. My head is killing me and I feel like my world is spinning. The anxiety and anger is overtaking me, making me feel like I'm going to pass out again. I feel a hand on my shoulder, and force my eyes open. "Car? Car are you ok?" AJ says, concern in his words. I stare at him and have no idea what to say. No! I am not fucking ok Atlas! I focus on my breathing and I hear Ryan speak up. "Hey, I'm gonna head out. I'm glad you're ok Carter. Maybe we can all do something when this is all over." AJ turns away from me, and says goodbye to Ryan with another bro hug and thanks him for coming by. Ryan leaves the room and my panic level lowers, but my anger flares.

"How the FUCK can you hug him and act like everything is fine? Like he didn't just spend the last few days with me locked away?? Pretending like he was helping you find me, when HE knew exactly where I was!" I'm screaming but I don't give fuck. I feel like I'm in the fucking twilight zone. I'm seething and hyperventilating again. I don't think I have ever been so mad in my life. I must have scared But because he hops off the bed and goes and curls up in the corner. Shit. Poor Blue. "Carter. Listen to me. It was NOT Ryan. You have to trust me." He says, and I can tell he is trying to calm me.

I turn away from him and cross my arms. I feel the pinch from the IV and straighten my arm back out. Ow. Fuck. I take a deep breath in and out slowly. "You need to leave." I say, venom in my words. "Car," he touches my shoulder again. I jerk my shoulder from his grasp. "Now." I say sternly. I hear him let out a long deep breath. "Fuck Carter, I know for a fact it wasn't him." He pauses for a moment before continuing. "Shit. This isn't my shit to tell Carter! I feel like I'm betraying his trust if I tell you. It's his story to tell, not mine." A part of me softens for a moment, I respect his loyalty to his friends. But then I remember the license. He said his place was "occupied" too. It HAS to be Ryan. Any softness I felt quickly fades. I turn towards AJ. "Tell me. Now. Or get out." I say, leaving no room for argument.

AJ paces for a moment before settling down in the chair next to me. He takes a deep breath and then begins. "Carter, Ryan would never kidnap anyone. Especially a woman. He was raised by a single mother, and helped take care of his little sister." I watch him closely, and see pain creep into his face. "When Ryan was 13, he was playing hide and seek with Lily outside. It was her turn to hide. He was up in their treehouse counting..." I watch as the sadness takes over his face and seeps into his voice, "Carter." He sighs before continuing. "Carter, he never found her." My eyes go wide with shock. "W—what?" I say shakily. AJ's eyes meet mine, the pain behind them evident. "She was taken Carter. They never found her. He's been looking ever since. That's why he became a cop." But if that's true... what the hell is happening? I can tell AJ is telling the truth. He would never make this up, and I can tell by his face, and tone, that it's true.

I reach my hand up and place it on AJ's cheek. A single tear rolls down his face, but he quickly wipes it away. He clears his throat, "Anyway Carter, that's how I know it can't be him. And like I said, he was with me most of the time while you were missing. And when he wasn't physically with me, we were on the phone or FaceTime. It was so important to him that we found you. He was crucial to finding you actually. He traced the land line to that fucking house. I know how it looks Gorgeous, but it wasn't him. I don't know what to think, but we will figure this out. I promise. But you have to trust me." I nod my head franticly, "I do. I do At, I'm sorry. I had no idea. It just," he cut me off, "I know Car. I can't blame you for thinking it was him." He stands and kisses my forehead again. If it wasn't Ryan, who was it? Panic rises in my body again.