Chapter 71: Mandy's Call

Before Mandy could answer Nyrissa's question, Ryan and Quentin were out of bed and standing next to her.

"What's going on?" Ryan asked as Quentin reached for the phone.

Nyrissa smacked Quentin's hand and tried to move away, unable to hear Mandy's much too quiet voice on the other line. But Ryan stopped her retreat with a hand on her shoulder.

"Ri- Rissa?" Mandy sobbed into the phone.

"Yes, hon, I'm here. What happened? What's going on?"

"They...they took her..." Mandy continued.

Nyrissa's heart began to pound in her throat, choking her words.

"Who?" Nyrissa croaked out.

In her gut, she already knew the answer to the

question. But her mind refused to believe it. There was no way it was Natalie. No way in hell was her sister missing...kidnapped...gone. She was at Mandy's, sleeping on the couch, safe and sound. Mandy was just mistaken and overreacting.

"Natalie," Mandy sobbed before breaking down into wails of despair.