Absolution | +18

Chapter 51

Val

The city blurred past me as I rushed down the sidewalk, my mind racing as fast as my feet. I couldn't waste any more time. Lia needed me. The address—547 Ridgecrest Drive—played over and over in my head like a mantra, pushing me forward. I had to get there. But there was one problem: it was a two-hour drive, and I didn't have a car.

Desperation gnawed at me as I pulled out my phone and called for a cab. When one finally pulled up, I jumped inside, my breath coming in quick bursts as I rattled off the address. The cab driver, an older man with a permanent scowl etched into his face, punched it into his GPS.

He frowned. "That's way too far. I'm not driving all the way out there."

"Please," I begged, leaning forward. "It's an emergency. I'll pay whatever you want."

He didn't even glance back at me. "I said no. Get out."

His tone was sharp, dismissive. My heart sank, frustration and panic boiling beneath my skin as I fumbled to open the door. I scrambled out of the cab, the driver already muttering something rude under his breath as he sped off, leaving me standing alone on the curb, helpless.

I could call an Uber, but who knows how long that would take—and I couldn't afford to waste a second. My hands shook as I tried to think of another plan. How was I going to get there in time?

That's when the idea hit me. It was reckless—completely insane, really—but I didn't care. I would steal one of my father's men's cars. They were always parked outside his house. And if I could just snag one of their keys, I'd be on my way to Ridgecrest.

I didn't even hesitate. My feet moved before my mind could talk me out of it, rushing back toward my father's house. I hadn't gone far. The men would still be there, lingering, keeping watch like they always did. They never paid me much attention. I was just Val, the daughter they were told to ignore unless spoken to.

I approached the side street near my father's brownstone, keeping low and quiet as I crept closer. There they were—two of them, leaning against the wall, chatting idly. A few cars were parked nearby, one of them close enough that I could see the keys dangling from the ignition.

Perfect.

I slipped around the back, using the cover of the shadows to my advantage. My pulse raced in my ears, every step careful and deliberate as I edged toward the car. I kept my eyes on the men, praying they didn't notice me.

Once I was close enough, I reached out slowly, my fingers barely brushing the door handle. I pulled it open just enough to slide inside, quiet as a whisper. I could feel my heart pounding so hard I thought it might give me away, but I couldn't stop now.

The keys were already there, hanging right in front of me. I grabbed them and started the car. The engine roared to life, the sound far louder than I wanted it to be.

I froze for a second, but the men didn't move. They hadn't heard. I was in the clear.

Without another thought, I hit the gas, pulling out of the driveway as fast as I could without drawing attention. I didn't look back.

I was on my way to 547 Ridgecrest Drive.

The noises of the city became a distant hum, barely registering over the storm raging in my head. My thoughts spun wildly, colliding into each other like waves crashing against the shore. Lia, the girls, Silas, my father—everything was a blur, a cacophony of fear, guilt, and unanswered questions swirling around me.

Lia was out there, in danger, and I had no idea what I would find when I reached her. The memory of Emily's face flashed before my eyes, the helplessness I had felt as I failed to save her. I couldn't let that happen again. I couldn't fail Lia too. She had protected me when we were young, risked everything for me, and now it was my turn to do the same. But what if I was already too late?