Kira’s POV
This was getting scary now. Really scary.
Where the hell was she? Was she okay? What if sothing had happened to her? What if she was hurt sowhere and couldn’t call for help?
I couldn’t do this alone. I needed backup. Soone who knew Olivia almost as well as I did. Soone who would move heaven and earth to find her.
Kennedy.
I was supposed to go out with him today anyway - we’d planned a casual evening date - but this was more important.
I quickly dialed his number, and he picked up on the first ring.
"Hey, beautiful," his voice ca through, warm and slightly teasing. "Couldn’t wait to see , huh? I knew you were missing ."
Any other ti, I would have laughed. Would have flirted back, played along with his ga.
But not now.
"Kennedy," I said, my voice serious enough that I heard his harsh intake of breath. "Olivia’s missing. I can’t reach her."
"What?" All traces of playfulness vanished from his voice. "What do you an missing?"
"I an she’s gone and she’s not answering her phone and I don’t know where she is." The words tumbled out in a rush. "I need your help."
"I’m coming over right now," Kennedy said imdiately, and I could hear him already moving, probably grabbing his keys. "Where are you?"
"I’m currently at..." I cut myself off, thinking fast. "Let’s et sowhere. I’m leaving the house anyway."
I definitely didn’t want Kennedy coming here. He didn’t know about the new house - didn’t know Maxwell had bought it, didn’t know Olivia had moved. And explaining all of that right now would take ti we didn’t have and raise questions I wasn’t ready to answer.
"Okay," Kennedy said, all business now. "Where?"
We quickly agreed on a coffee shop that was roughly halfway between us, and I ended the call.
I grabbed my bag and the car keys to the sleek rcedes outside, then paused.
The car. Kennedy would definitely notice the car. Would ask questions about the car.
"Fuck," I muttered, dropping the keys back on the counter.
Instead, I ran out of the house and practically threw myself into the first cab I saw, giving the driver the address and probably offering to pay double if he could get there fast.
The entire ride, I kept trying Olivia’s phone. Over and over and over.
Nothing.
By the ti I got to the coffee shop, I was wound so tight I felt like I might snap.
Kennedy was already there, leaning against his rental car - because of course Mr. Sexy Lecturer had rented a car while he was in town - and the mont he saw , his face shifted from concerned to alard.
"What’s going on?" he asked as I climbed out of the cab. "What happened?"
I took a deep breath, trying to figure out how to explain this without going into all the ssy details about Maxwell and strangers and the absolute clusterfuck that Olivia’s life had beco.
"I don’t know," I admitted. "Maxwell just showed up and told Olivia went missing."
"Maxwell?" Kennedy’s eyes narrowed. "Why would he... wait, went missing? What does that even an? Wasn’t she supposed to start work today?"
"She did," I said quickly. "But apparently sothing happened and now she’s nowhere to be found."
Kennedy was already pulling out his phone. "Do you know where she might be? Does she have any places she goes when she’s upset?"
"I don’t know," I said, feeling useless and terrified in equal asure. "This has never happened before. She’s never just... disappeared like this."
Kennedy started dialing, bringing the phone to his ear.
We both stood there in tense silence, waiting.
One ring. Two rings. Three rings.
I watched Kennedy’s jaw clench tighter with each passing second, watched the worry lines deepen around his eyes.
Four rings. Five rings.
"Co on, Liv," Kennedy muttered under his breath. "Pick up. Pick up."
Six rings. Seven rings.
And then...
"Hello?"
Kennedy’s entire body sagged with relief. "Olivia! Thank God. What’s going on? Where are you?"
I couldn’t hear her response, but I watched Kennedy’s face shift through a dozen different expressions - relief, confusion, concern, frustration.
"Are you okay?" he asked. "Kira said you were missing and... what? No, she’s right here with . We’ve been trying to reach you."
More muffled responses from Olivia’s end.
"Okay," Kennedy said slowly. "Okay, just... stay where you are. We’re coming to you right now."
He ended the call and imdiately started toward his car. "She’s at the hospital."
"WHAT?" My heart dropped into my stomach as I rembered Maxwell’s words about her being hurt. "Is she hurt? What happened?"
"She says she’s fine," Kennedy said, already unlocking the car. "But we’re going. Now."
I didn’t need to be told twice.
*******
The drive to the hospital felt like it took hours even though Kennedy was definitely breaking several traffic laws to get there faster.
My mind kept conjuring up worst-case scenarios. Olivia in a car accident. Olivia attacked. Olivia hurt because of whatever had happened with Maxwell. What had Maxwell said it was again? Yes, she’d fallen onto broken glasses. God, I hoped and prayed that was all it was, and nothing more serious.
By the ti Kennedy screeched into the hospital parking lot, I was already unbuckling my seatbelt.
We ran inside, got the room number from the front desk, and I practically sprinted down the hallway.
And there she was.
Sitting on a hospital bed, looking perfectly fine except for a bandage covering her thighs. She quickly pulled up the hospital blanket to cover her legs when she saw .
"OLIVIA!" I crashed into her, wrapping my arms around her so tight she probably couldn’t breathe. "Oh my God, are you okay? What happened? I was so worried..."
"I’m fine, I’m fine," Olivia said, patting my back awkwardly. "Kira, you’re squeezing to death."
I pulled back but kept my hands on her shoulders, scanning her from head to toe for injuries. "Are you sure? Are you sure everything is fine? Are you injured anywhere else?
She shook her head.
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