Can’t Win Me Back by Ginger Sue

Preston laid out two demands in his ransom call—no guns and Landon had to come alone.

"Jasper, Lyse, and Cyrus," Landon said. "You guys handle the situation here. I'll go meet Preston."

Without a second thought, Landon turned and headed for the door.

"Landon!" Jasper cried out, his heart hammering in his chest. He lunged forward and grabbed Landon's arm. "This is Preston's trap! He might kill you; you cannot go alone!"

"I know he wants to kill me," Landon said with a humorless smile that quickly twisted into a grimace. It was a sight that tugged at the others' hearts.

"Landon, we'll go with you!" Alyssa declared with determination in her gaze. "We can stay hidden and wait for an opening. That way, we can save Lauren and Angelina for sure!"

Landon shook his head. "Lyse, thank you, but I can't take that risk. If giving up my life means Lauren and Angelina can come back safely, then that's a price I'm willing to pay."

with tears,

said, approaching him with a determined glint in his eyes. He opened his hand, revealing a tiny camera. "Take this. It'll allow you to stay in contact with the police. I'll handle

slightly as he took the camera. "Thank you," he

must all come back safe and alive." Cyrus took a deep breath, his small smile offering a warmth that felt like

Then, he smiled and patted

sliver of the moon cast a faint, silvery glow across the starless night sky, deepening the

screeched against the asphalt as the sports car drifted steadily into the parking

commercial building that belonged to one of Harper

kicked him out of Harper

No matter the cost, he was determined to bring Lauren back to

no one in the hall. Just then, Preston's message came through. It read, "Come to the fifth floor, the swimming pool. You can choose to climb the