A Contract of Hearts

CHAPTER6

The Final Notice

"Miss Cole, please step back."

The door bangs into the wall, and the noise resonates throughout the store like something breaking for good.

I don't move.

First, two guys go inside. Dark uniforms. Hard faces. They don't act like customers while they glance around. They act like they own the area.

A third man goes in behind them, holding a tiny file and advancing slowly. "This is private property," I say in a tight voice. "Not anymore," he adds.

Zara gasps behind me.

I go forward to stop them. "You can't just walk in here."

He says in a calm voice, "We didn't break in." "We did the entry."

My mouth grows stiff. "That's not—" "Changing the wording doesn't change the result."

He opens the file and reads the page. "Amara Cole."

I don't say anything. "This property is at this address."" Confirmed default." "Allowed immediate seizure."

Every syllable hurts. "No," I say.

He glances up. Yes.

My hands become fists. "This is my mom's store."

"It was."

Something sharp is twisting in my chest. "Don't say that." "It's true."

I shake my head and reply, "No." "You can't come in here and change my life."

One of the males shifts and watches me closely.

I don't care. "You are wrong," I replied again. "There has to be time."" A caution. "Something." "This is the warning."

He pulls out a piece of paper and gives it to me.

LAST WARNING.

Signed and stamped.

For real. "You had time," he replies. "I didn't have enough."

"We don't have to deal with that."

No, of course not.

Zara walks behind me.

I turn around.

She is now up.

Too close.

"Go back," I urge softly. "I don't want to," "Please."

She stops for a second and then leaves.

But not too far.

I turn again.

The males are already getting ready to go.

One goes to the shelf.

"One more for the counter." "No," I answer as I walk forward. "You aren't touching anything."

"Everything here is under seizure," says the man with the file.

"Books are not allowed."

"We can take what we want."

"And what is on the list?"

He moves his hands a little bit.

The man next to the shelves opens a book.

"Furniture, records, electronics, and other things—" "Stop."

He doesn't. "—personal belongings within premises—" "Stop!" I yell.

There is no sound.

My chest rises swiftly.

I tell them, "You're not taking our stuff," but I'm quieter now.

The man with the paperwork looks at me and says, "You're making this harder than it has to be."

"It's already here."

For a moment, he looks at Zara. "Do you want her to see this?"

My heart stops for a second.

There is no doubt about what the message is.

Don't get into a fight.

Or it gets worse.

I step back.

One time only.

That's all they want.

They move again.

Books change.

Open the drawers.

There are stacks of papers.

That doesn't matter.

This place is no longer there.

My hands are shaking as I stand there.

Then, from the rear room, there is a loud bang.

Everyone stops what they're doing.

"What was that?" one man says.

My heart skips a beat.

Zara.

I turn fast.

"Stay here," says the man with the paperwork.

I don't pay attention.

I walk by them.

Down the hall. "Zara?"

No answer.

I shove my way into the rear room.

There is nothing.

The window is slightly open.

Taking down the curtain.

My chest drops. "No..."

I hurried to the window and gazed outside.

Blackness.

No movement.

"I told her to go," I responded softly. "She's not here."

I turn around.

The man with the paperwork is standing in front of the door.

Looking. "You let her go?" I want to know.

He twists his head and says, "Kids don't just leave for no reason."

My chest hurts. "What did you do?" "Nothing."

"I don't believe you."

"You don't have to."

My hands are shaking.

"Where is she?"

He gets closer.

"Maybe you should talk to the people you owe."

The words struck home. "They took her," I say.

He doesn't say no.

That's it.

I pushed him and went back inside the store.

I yell, "Zara!"

No answer.

Just the sound of stuff being taken away.

I grab my phone.

Give her a call.

It produces noise.

One time.

Twice.

It ceases then.

My screen goes black.

It's gone.

The counter makes a faint noise.

I turn.

There is a phone over there.

Not me.

Ringing.

I get closer.

Get it.

The phone stops ringing.

Be quiet.

After that, a voice arrived.

Chilly. "Amara, you don't have much time."

I can't get air.

I know that voice.

Even if I don't see him, I know his name: "Alexander Vaughn."

"Bring the girl or lose her forever," they said.