Page 51 of Fractured Souls

As I am walking back to head upstairs, I see a small spot on the wall that doesn't look right. I walk over to it and push on it, but it doesn't budge. I stick my fingers in the crack between the wall and where it's not flush and pull as hard as I can; it opens with a creak, fuck. Hopefully that wasn't heard upstairs.

I have to pull really hard to get it fully open. Once I get it open enough for me to go in, I step through. It's pitch-black in here, so I pull out my phone and turn on the flashlight.

What. The.Fuck. There is a ratty old mattress leaning on its side against the wall with an old, stained pillow on the ground next to it. There is most definitely dried blood on the mattress and pillow. There's a chain that has a cuff on one end of it thrown in the other corner. I feel my anger rising, I have a feeling I know why this is in here. Pieces start to come together in my mind.Holy fuck.

Before I can do anything else, my phone starts buzzing. Thank god I remembered to turn the ringer off. Gray is calling me. Fuck, they know I left. This should be fun. I don't answer since it's not a good idea. A few seconds later, I get a text.

Caveman Cade

Get out! We are outside. Lights are coming on upstairs from the right side of the house. Get the fuck out!

Gray

We are partway up the driveway, off the left side in the trees. Hurry up! Get out of there. Meet us. We have Noah’s truck.

Well shit. I leave the small room, making sure to close the door behind me. Before I can go to head up the stairs, I hear voices, “Yeah, I think it came from downstairs. I’ll go check.” It sounds like Richard talking.

A few seconds later, the door opens, and he is coming down the stairs.

I quickly dart into the bathroom, standing behind the door. Hopefully he doesn't come in here or shit’s going to get a little hairy. I send a text back so the guys don’t freak out, which how the fuck are they even here? Or even knew I was?Questions for later, Ryker, focus.

Hiding. I’ll be out as soon as I can.

Richard walks around the space in a circle. He stops by the bathroom door. I hold my breath but prepare myself to knock his ass out before he sees me and get out of here. He steps into the bathroom, and I know I'm going to have to make my move quickly so he never sees my face and I can get out. He turns so he's facing the shower, giving me his back, so I jump, getting my arm wrapped around his neck and using my other arm to hold it tight. He starts thrashing trying to buck me off and pull at my arms. I try to keep him as still as possible, waiting for him to pass out but with minimal noise.

I hear Tammy call out to him, fuck.Come on, you old bastard, pass out already.He finally stops fighting, so I hold a little longer until I know he's out, then slowly lower him to the ground. He most definitely isn't that strong, but the bastard does have some sharp nails. He sliced my arm up pretty good.

Damn.Okay, now to get out of here unseen.

I leave the bathroom and slowly make my way up the stairs. I don't hear anything, so I sneak out to the hall and make my way towards the closest window to jump out of. I have a feeling Gray and Cade aren't the only ones who know about my little adventure.Oops?

* * *

Grayson

I am going to strangle him.

I prefer things calm. I leave all the violence, raging, and hate for Cade and Ry.

But right now? I could strangle Ryker Anderson. That boy is trying to kill me. He’s always been a little crazy and on edge. I know we have to watch him in case he is going to lose his shit on someone, but he is taking all this stuff with Harley to a new level.

I like the girl; she’s nice, and she's really pretty. But I don't know how I could ever truly be with someone when my heart belongs so fully and undeniably to someone who would never look at me as anything more than family.

But Ryker has it in his head that she is what we need. That this girl, who showed up out of nowhere, has probably been through just as much, if not more shit then we have, and who seems to be a ghost, is what we all need.

We've kept him calm and at bay for weeks. But both Cade and I knew it wouldn't last. Which is why we are currently tucked back into some trees watching the Wilson house while Ry is inside. He doesn't even know we are here yet. When a light comes on and we see movement, I am ready to run in there, but Cade puts his hand on my shoulder and shakes his head.

I try to call Ry, but he doesn't answer. Cade sends him a text. Then he texts me.

Cayden

You dumbass. How is he supposed to answer a phone call right now?

Oh, oops. I didn't even think about that. This is what happens when I worry about Ryker. He invades my mind, and I don’t think straight. We sit in the trees, waiting impatiently. My phone buzzes a few times with texts from Noah checking in, but I ignore them for now, knowing things are going to be bad when we get home.

A few minutes later, Ry comes running from the back of the house just as we hear a scream. We stand and wave Ry towards us. Once he's close, we all take off running down the side of the driveway, making sure to stay in the trees. We get back to Noah’s truck and bolt.

I take a couple of calming breaths before looking into the back seat from where I sit in the passenger seat to Ry. He at least has it in him to look a little remorseful.

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