Princess Wrapped in Leather

Chapter 9

Sam

Three weeks after graduation, I'm lying on my bed scrolling through f*******: when the first message pops up.

Hey Sam, have you heard from Tina? She's not answering anyone.

It's from Jessica Martinez, one of Tina's friends. I stare at the message for a second, my thumb hovering over the keyboard. Why would Jessica think I'd know where Tina is? We're not exactly friends.

I type back: No, haven't heard from her. Why?

Before I can even set my phone down, another message comes through. This one's from Brandon Cole.

Sam, do you know if Tina's okay? No one's seen her since graduation.

My stomach tightens.

Since graduation.

I sit up, my heart starting to beat faster. I open my messages and see three more notifications. All asking about Tina. All saying the

same thing—no one's seen her, no one's heard from her, she's not responding to texts or calls.

I scroll through the messages, my hands starting to shake.

Has anyone talked to Tina?

I'm getting worried. It's been three weeks.

Her parents won't say anything. They just keep saying she's fine but won't let anyone see her.

This isn't like her. She always posts on i********:. Her account's been dead silent.

I open i********: and search for Tina's profile. Jessica's right—her last post is from graduation day. A selfie in her cap and gown, smiling at the camera. The caption reads: Finally free! Party time!

Three weeks ago.

Nothing since.

My chest feels tight. I close i********: and stare at my phone, my mind racing.

Tina was at the graduation party. At the shop. I remember seeing her there—she showed up with a group of people I didn't recognize.

I didn't think much of it at the time. Half the senior class was there.

But now...

Now I know what my dad and his crew actually do.

I know what happens to girls who go missing.

I know what "party" can mean in the wrong hands.

My hands are shaking as I scroll back through the messages. Everyone's asking the same questions. No one has answers.

And Tina's parents won't let anyone see her.

That's not right. That's not normal.

I swing my legs off the bed and grab my keys. I need to tell my dad. Now.

I find him in his office at the shop, going over invoices. He looks up when I walk in, his expression shifting from focused to concerned the second he sees my face.

"What's wrong?"

I close the door behind me and sit down across from him. "Tina's missing."

He sets down his pen. "What?"

"Tina. From my class. The girl who—" I stop myself. The girl who called me biker trash doesn't matter right now. "No one's seen her since graduation. Since the party here. I've been getting messages all afternoon from people asking if I've heard from her."

My dad's face goes hard. "How long?"

"Three weeks. Her parents won't let anyone see her. They keep saying she's fine, but she's not posting online, not answering texts,

nothing."

He's already pulling out his phone. "She was at the party?"

"Yeah. I saw her. She came with a group of people I didn't know."

He curses under his breath and starts typing. "I'm calling Bobbie. We need to move on this now."

I watch as he makes the call, his voice clipped and efficient. "Bobbie, we've got a situation. Tina —seventeen, graduated with Sam. Missing since graduation day. Parents are stonewalling. I need you to pull the crew together and contact Martinez at the PD. We need to know if there's been a report filed."

He listens for a moment, then nods. "Yeah. Tonight. I'll be there in twenty."

He hangs up and looks at me. "Go home, Sam."

"What? No. I want to help."

"Absolutely not."

"Dad, I know her. I can—"

"Sam." His voice is firm, the tone that means the conversation is over. "This is not up for discussion. You are not getting involved in this."

"But I—"

"No." He stands up, his jaw set. "This is exactly the kind of situation that gets people hurt. If Tina was taken—and that's what this

sounds like—then whoever has her is dangerous. You are not going anywhere near this."

My hands curl into fists. "I'm not a kid anymore. You told me what you do. You can't just shut me out now."

"I can, and I will." He walks around the desk and puts his hands on my shoulders, his eyes serious. "Sam, listen to me. This is not about whether you're capable or smart or brave. This is about keeping you safe. The people we deal with—they don't care who you are or how old you are. If they think you're a threat, they will hurt you. I will not put you in that position."

"So I'm just supposed to sit at home while you look for her?"

"Yes."

"That's not fair."

"I don't care if it's fair." His voice softens slightly. "I care that you're safe. That's all that matters to me."

I pull away from him, frustration burning in my chest. "She's missing, Dad. She could be—" I can't even finish the sentence. The images that flash through my mind are too horrible.

"I know." His voice is quiet now, heavy. "And we're going to find her. But you need to trust me to do this. You need to stay out of it."

I stare at him, my jaw tight, my hands shaking.

He's right. I know he's right.

But I also know I can't just sit at home and do nothing.

"Fine," I say finally, my voice flat.

He studies my face for a long moment, like he's trying to decide if I'm telling the truth. Then he nods. "Go home. I'll call you when we know something."

I turn and walk out of the office without another word.

But as I get in my car and start the engine, I know one thing for sure:

I'm not going home.

I'm not sitting on the sidelines while Tina is out there somewhere, scared and alone.

My dad taught me to protect people. He taught me that women should always feel safe, that children should always be protected.

Tina might have been cruel to me. She might have called me names and made my life harder.

But she's still a person.

And she needs help.

So I'm going to help her.

Even if my dad doesn't want me to.