Tangled Hearts.

~Chapter 77~

~Colby~

~June 3rd~

I paced back and forth in the dimly lit living room of the trap house, the old floorboards creaking with each step. My boots slapped against the floor, each sound louder than the last, as if the entire house could feel my anxiety. I could barely focus—my mind kept running through a dozen plans a second, each one more desperate than the last. 

The gang sat around, their eyes flicking to me occasionally, but no one said anything. It wasn't the first time I'd been in this kind of situation, but it didn't make it any easier. Every second that ticked by felt like an eternity. Raelyn was out there somewhere, hurt and alone, and I couldn't just stand here waiting. 

"Colby, for the love of God, sit down before you put a hole in the floor," Sam said, his voice sharp, though I could hear the faint worry in his tone. 

I didn't even glance at him. "Not gonna happen," I growled. "We need to get Raelyn back. Now." 

"Right, because walking a hole through the wood's gonna help us do that," Corey added dryly from the corner of the room, his arms crossed as he leaned back against the wall. "We're all a little on edge, but pacing isn't gonna fix anything." 

I shot him a glare, my fists clenched at my sides. "If you've got a better idea, Corey, I'm all ears." 

Corey rolled his eyes, but it didn't stop the tension in the room. "You're not alone in this, Colby. We've got your back. You don't have to do everything yourself." 

I ignored him, my eyes darting to Jake and Sam, who were talking in low murmurs. It had been two days since Raelyn was taken, two days too long. Every minute she was in my dad's clutches, I could feel her slipping further away. And I couldn't stand it. 

"Any updates from Liam?" Sam asked, his eyes flicking to me as I checked my phone once again. 

I shook my head, frustration seeping into my voice. "Nothing. He's still pretending to work with my dad to find Raelyn. But that's all I know." 

Corey raised an eyebrow. "You trust him, Colby? He's working with your father. That doesn't exactly scream 'reliable.'" 

I rolled my eyes, unable to stop the sarcasm in my voice. "It's the only leverage we've got. If we don't use him, we have nothing. I don't like it either, but we don't have a choice." 

Sam cut in before I could say more. "Corey's right, though. What if he's playing us? Luring us into a trap?" 

I didn't flinch, didn't even hesitate. "Then we walk right into it," I said flatly. "But nothing is stopping me from getting Raelyn back. Nothing." 

Jake, who'd been leaning casually against the chair with his arms crossed, spoke up then, his voice cool and collected. "Liam helped her last time. I don't see why he'd turn on us now." 

Corey snorted. "Yeah, well, people change. But that's not the point. Why would Liam risk everything just to help Raelyn? What's in it for him?" 

I slammed my fist against the wall, making everyone jump slightly. "Enough!" I barked. "We're wasting time. This isn't about Liam or what he's doing. This is about getting Raelyn out of there before she's lost forever. So focus." 

Corey and Sam exchanged glances, but they didn't argue. 

"Have you told Liam the plan?" Corey asked, his tone more serious now. 

I nodded, pulling my phone out again to check for any new messages, but there was nothing. "I told him. We're going tomorrow night, whether he's ready or not. He's supposed to have everything in place by then."