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Rose and Lily were back at home, safe and sound, with their parents in their family room. Rose had called Fiona, Spencer’s mom, and she had rushed to the hospital. Then she called her own parents, who had already been on their way there after Fiona relayed the news about Spencer. Rose had only told them the minimal details, but to say her parents were shocked and overjoyed to reunite with their missing daughter after a year would be an understatement. The Blackwood family had shared a tearful, bittersweet reunion.
Fiona remained at the hospital waiting for news about Spencer. The doctors hadn’t provided an update, and no one knew if Spencer would make it yet.
The guilt threatened to overwhelm Rose because it was her fault Spencer was in this mess. It was her fault he had worked for The Midnight Flower and double-crossed him. Her fault he had tried saving her and taken the bullet meant for her. Her fault if he died . . .
“Rose? Rose, are you okay?” her sister asked, shaking her shoulder.
Rose drifted back to the present—to her awful reality, where she and Lily had the terrible task of telling their parents what happened. They had agreed—no more lies, but that didn’t make it any easier.
Lily relayed her horrific tale of the past year, skimming over her day-to-day life and romantic relationship with Mr. Mortensen. Lily might not be ready to talk about all of it, but she would need to share the details with someone eventually. It couldn’t be healthy to keep it all bottled up inside. Maybe a therapist would be better qualified to help her. Lily would have a lot of emotions to sort through.
Either way, Lily was brave as she told her family the story. Rose looked at her fondly, so relieved her little sister was home at last. She still couldn’t believe she had been so close to their house this entire time, and no one had known. Why had no one suspected Mr. Mortensen? Had he done such a stellar job of hiding his relationship with Lily? Rose didn’t see how it was possible. Surely, someone had known . . . But if Rose and her parents didn’t know, then who else was there?
Her mom sobbed throughout Lily’s story, while her dad’s face darkened more than she thought physically possible.
At the end, Lily said, “Then Spencer jumped in front of us, and the bullet hit him right in the chest. Holly helped us leave. Rose took the car keys to James’s Subaru”—Rose and her parents all cringed at Lily’s casual use of Mr. Mortensen’s first name—“and she drove us to the hospital.” Lily’s eyes shined with tears. “I didn’t have time to tell you earlier, but thank you, Rose. Thank you for staying there to make sure I got out. I don’t know what would have happened if you had left me there with him and his . . . gang, or whatever they are.” Lily shivered delicately.
Her mom moved closer to Lily. “Do you need a sweater? Or I can adjust the thermostat? Is it too cold in here?” She peered earnestly at Lily. “I think we have some hot cocoa in the pantry too.” She moved toward the kitchen, but Lily stopped her with a hug.
“Mom, I’m fine, I swear. Just a little freaked out still,” Lily said.
“I wouldn’t blame you if you were absolutely terrified after what you’ve been through,” her dad said. “This will be a change for you, but you have the rest of the summer to get used to being home again and living a normal life. I’ll call some of my connections on Monday and hire a lawyer. The police told me that Mr. Mortensen escaped. He must have fled the scene after you two left.”
Rose shook her head. “There’s no way he survived. Lily shot him twice. He must be dead.”
“Ha, that’s my girl!” her dad said. “If he ever shows his face in this town again, I’ll shoot him myself. The sick freak.”
“Please, stop!” Lily screamed, sounding hysterical.
Lily shoved her mom’s arms away and sprinted up the stairs, presumably to her bedroom. A door slammed, and soon, loud pop music came from her speakers.
Rose’s parents both turned to look at her, stunned.
“This will be difficult for all of us, but for Lily, especially. But we have to ask you, Rose . . . Did you ever suspect Mr. Mortensen of doing this?” her mom asked, clenching her dad’s hand as she sat next to him on the loveseat.
***
Freshman year – November
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Rose giggled, and a blush spread across her cheeks. “Thanks, Mr. Mortensen.” She took the dark red rose from him and sniffed it, inhaling the scent deeply until it filled up her nostrils.
“You’re welcome, my perfect flower.” He smiled at her and brushed his hand against her cheek, leaning in closer and closer.
She gasped at his touch on her skin. It felt like her cheek was on fire, and she was melting under his fingers. No one had ever made her feel this way. Not even Holly. He was the reason Rose had broken up with her.
Mr. Mortensen’s hand drifted down her neck to her collarbone, tracing lines down her chest. She felt the fire building within her and thought she would explode with the feeling as he moved in impossibly close, crushing his lips against hers in a moment of passion. No one had ever kissed her like this. She kissed him back, becoming lightheaded with the heated kissing.
The bell rang in the hallway, signaling the end of the lunch period. The moment between them shattered, and Rose came back to reality with a sickening sensation in her stomach. What was she doing? She was in Mr. Mortensen’s classroom—her English teacher, for Pete’s sake!—and they were making out. Why had she let him touch her and kiss her? Yeah, he was hot, but wasn’t it wrong? She was his student, and she had just turned fourteen and a half. Wasn’t that creepy?
Rose tried to tell herself it was okay and to lose herself in the moment again, but she couldn’t this time. All she could think about were the consequences. She couldn’t let this go on any longer. What if he started wanting more from her?
When he broke away, Rose gasped. “Mr. Mortensen,” she muttered softly.
“Yes, Rose?” he said, his voice sounding deep and sexy.
“I—I need to get to class,” she said, squirming out of his tight embrace.
Mr. Mortensen chuckled lightly and kissed her again, smacking her butt as she turned to grab her backpack. “Okay, don’t be late for your next class. See you tomorrow,” he said, his eyes glimmering with lust.
***
Present day
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Should she be honest with her parents and tell them what had really happened? How Mr. Mortensen had gone after her first, and when she refused him after some flirting and one stupid kiss, he had gone for Lily? Rose regretted the kiss and how he had tricked her into thinking she was special, that she was the exception to the rule. Now she could plainly see he must have done the same to other young girls until he found one who would give in to him. With a shudder, she realized it was just as likely that she could have been kidnapped and held hostage as her sister was.
Rose pretended to inspect the ground, sliding her socked foot across the floor, stalling to answer. “Yeah, I knew he was interested in other female students at school, but I didn’t know he would take it this far. If I had known, I would have spoken up sooner. If I had thought he kidnapped Lily, I swear I would have told you. I never suspected he was involved in this.”
“Okay, we believe you, sweetie. Thank you for telling us. We’ll get this whole Midnight Flower mess sorted out,” her dad promised, squeezing her arm. “If what you said is true and Mr. Mortensen is dead, then the worst is behind us. There’s nothing to worry about. You and Lily are both safe. Finally, my two girls are back home.”