My CEO 120

120 She's Out There (Winona)

What's going on? They've taken Steve off again and I don't know if he's said enough yet. But the officers said nothing, just that it was over.

I'm being led out of the police interview room. My mind is racing, a whirlwind of thoughts and emotions. Do they have enough on him? Did I do enough? Every second with him in there was torture.

His smug face, the way he taunted me-it's all burned into my mind. But did we get what we needed? My head is aching, the uncertainty gnawing at me. Whatever is happening now must be important. Maybe the Judge decided something else, and the trial is going ahead sooner than Abby's operation in three weeks.

Gordon is waiting in the hallway. His presence a comfort.

"What's happening?" I ask, my voice more panicked than I intended. The anxiety bubbling inside me is threatening to overflow.

Gordon walks beside me, his expression grave. "Winona, I need to tell you something," he says, his voice low and cautious, as if preparing me for another blow,

"What now?" I ask, my voice shaking with nerves. That time in there with Steve taunting me like that took its toll. Why can't he just be gone? I don't know how much more I can take. It feels like I'm constantly being pushed to my limits.

"Ashlyn hasn't been taken in for questioning. She slipped away before they could get to her," he explains, his eyes scanning the area as if expecting her to jump out at any moment.

my chest. "What do you mean she slipped away? How could they let her escape?" Panic rises, making it hard to breathe. "She'll come for me, Gordon. I know she will. She's not going

is racing, adrenaline coursing through

end. My mind flashes to all the worst-case scenarios, each one more terrifying than the last. There is literally no happy ending

of police officers. Jayden's eyes meet mine, and worry

arms around me, to

solve my problems, just make them worse. I look away from

trusting me is still fresh, the

find her, Winona. I won't

120 She's Out

+25 BONUS

late for that now, don't you think?" I snap, unable to keep the bitterness from my

mean it. Winona, I won't let you down again." His voice is firm,

him. But I can't right now. "I should never have trusted any of this," I whisper, more

My whole life is

to stop it. Every 'right' decision I've ever made has crashed down

I thought, at

shining light is Abby. The one ray of sunshine in all of this. And Anne. And Lisa. I sigh. I guess I do have a lot to be thankful for, still. Maybe I need

Abby is going through lately. I must remain focused on her and her health outcomes. I must continue to provide

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