ELISA

Patrick's words echoed in my mind. The whole time, I thought this was all my fault, that I was the wrong one. But the truth was far more sinister than I could have ever imagined. It wasn't about a drunken one-night stand. It was about a calculated attack on my best friend. The more I thought about it, the more I was able to recall snippets of that night.

I remember Penelope telling me about her new friend, Ben, who was working with her. She said he was a "bit strange" and "too persistent," but she brushed it off as him just being new to the city. I also recalled her ordering a martini and leaving it on the table to answer a call. I was a lightweight, and I never drank alcohol, but that night, for some reason, the martini looked so inviting. So I drank it.

I was at my desk, but I wasn't doing any work. I was too busy staring at the phone, waiting for a text or a call from Patrick. He promised to keep me updated, but it had been hours, and I hadn't heard anything. I decided to send him a text, asking if he was okay.

Me: Ricky, are you okay? Any news?

My phone vibrated almost immediately.

Ricky: I'm fine. She's fine. We have to be careful. Meet me at The Sweet Books after work. I'll explain everything.

I let out a sigh of relief. They were both okay. But this was far from over. I needed to know what was going on. I had a feeling this was going to be a long night, but I had to be strong, for Penelope's sake.

Flashback

Elisa: "Penny, I swear to God, if you don't stop talking about your brother, I'm going to rip my ears out."

I rolled my eyes playfully as my best friend, Penelope, continued to gush about her brother, Patrick. We were in our last year of high school, sitting on the bleachers, watching the football team practice. Penelope had been my best friend since we were kids, and her family, especially Patrick, had been a huge part of my life.

Penelope: "He's just so cute! And he's getting so big! He's almost as tall as you, El!"

I smiled, a small blush creeping up my cheeks. I had to admit, Patrick was a good-looking kid. He was a year younger than us, but he was already taller than most of his peers. He had a goofy grin that always made me laugh, and his dark, raven hair was always a mess. He would often tag along with us, and I would always treat him like my own little brother.

Elisa: "He's like our little brother, Penny. But he's growing up too fast."

Little did I know, that "little brother" would one day be the reason I was in a situation like this.