Page 80 of Redeemed

Just keep going. Almost there.

By the time I’m sprinting up Colton’s driveway, my hair is sticking to the back of my neck, and my sundress is drenched in sweat. I ring the doorbell while trying the handle, but it’s locked.

“Colton?” I pound on the door. “Colton!”

A loud noise comes from behind the house—a slamming door, I think? Maybe he’s in the backyard.

Heaving in air, I stumble around the house. My legs feel like they’re about to give up, but I force myself to keep going.

Not safe. Not yet.

The massive backyard seems empty, but then I see movement inside the pool house. Despite every muscle in my body burning, I manage to run faster, not stopping until I burst through the door. Three boys—myboys—whip around to face me.

Oh, thank goodness.

As I fall to the floor, I catch a glimpse of what they’re quickly trying to cover up. It’s a black briefcase shoved underneath the floorboards in a closet.

“Haven?” Xander rushes toward me as Colton shoves the last floorboard into place. “Are you all right?”

I try to speak as he drops to his knees, but I can’t. My head is light and fuzzy, and it feels like someone poured acid directly into my lungs.

“Get her some water,” Xander calls over his shoulder before pulling me so I’m sitting upright. “It’s easier to get more air in like this. No, no, don’t slouch forward. Gotta give your lungs room to expand.”

“Is she hurt?” Lucas asks, his voice drowning out the sound of the kitchenette sink running.

“Don’t think so.” Xander gives me a more thorough look-over, pushing my dress up my thighs. “She looks fine to me.”

Colton appears in front of me, and then Lucas, who’s holding a glass of water. All three of them look so concerned, and guilt hits me square in the chest. In the two months I’ve known them, they’ve been so nice to me, and I’m too much of an emotional mess to repay them.

“I—I’m sorry.”

“What? Sorry?” Lucas’s frown deepens. “What’re you talking about?”

“You three…” But I’m cut off by the need to get in more air.

“We’ve gotta calm her down,” Colton says.

“I’ve got it.” Lucas crawls behind me, and the next thing I know, he has me cocooned in his large body. His arms come around me, and he gently rocks me back and forth. “You’re all right, Haven.”

All I can do is shake my head. He’s wrong. Isaiah ishere.He’s going to find me.

With a hand on my thigh, Xander says, “I know you’re scared, but I promise you’re gonna be okay.”

“No!” I gasp out. “I—I have to hide.”

“Why?” Colton asks.

“He’ll…”

No, no, no. Can’t say that.

“Had—had to get away,” I manage to force out. “Athelia went home for the weekend, and Xander wasn’t at his dorm, and—and—” I break down into tears, which doesn’t help my breathing situation. It feels like I’m going to pass out.

“Haven, hey.” Xander grasps my shoulders and leans down so he’s at eye level with me. “You’re safe. We’re not gonna let anyone hurt you, but you have to tell us what happened.”

Frantically, I shake my head. “Can’t. Can’t go… can’t go back.”

“Why is she always saying that?” Lucas asks quietly. “What does it mean?”

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