Page 58 of Tortured Whispers
My mind went to war with opposing thoughts until my chest started to ache. My focus shifted to Brooklyn as it always did. I wanted to talk to her. I wanted to explain to her that we needed to make some serious decisions and that meant evaluating our feelings.
I knew it would make her uncomfortable but nothing worth having ever lived inside of a comfort zone. Like she could hear me thinking about her, she sent me a text.
Brook: I hate arguing with you.
I stared at it, almost unable to believe my eyes. As pissed as she was when she stormed out, I didn’t think I would hear from her. Especially not while she was at the party. I wondered if she was okay. Was she hiding somewhere feeling uncomfortable or trapped?
Me: Yeah, it’s no walk in the park for me either, Kiddo.
Brook: Stop. I hate when you call me Kiddo.
Me: I know. But it makes you smile.
Brook: We can’t do this, Cease. Me and you. We can’t be a thing…
Me: We need to talk. Can I call you?
Brook: Sure. It’s a little loud though.
I tapped her name in my phone and pressed it to my ear. My heart sped up thinking about hearing her voice. “Hey, Cease…”
“What’s up, Brook? Can you come home so we can sit down face to face and talk about things?” I asked rubbing the back of my neck.
“I’m kinda busy…I’ll leave latew.” Her words slurred together and it sent up dozens of red flags.
“Brooklyn, have you been drinking?” I asked in a low growl and through clenched teeth. I heard her push out an annoyed breath on the other end.
“This is why I sent you a text, Cease. I don’t wanna be policed. I can dwink if I want to.” She slurred harder and my fucking blood boiled. She was somewhere with people I didn’t know…with people she didn’t even fucking know, and she was drunk.
“Hey, sexy. Come sit your pretty ass on my lap,” a deep voice chuckled on the other end.
“No thanks. I’m twying to talk on the phone,” Brook slurred.
“You’re twying? Oh shit. I bet that cute little lisp would sound amazing while I fucked you. Even better, I could shut you up with my cock.”
Veins bulged, pressing against my skin as I stood to my feet. “Brook, where the fuck is Ashley’s house?” I barked. She wouldn’t answer me because she was too busy fussing with the motherfucker talking to her like he didn’t value his front teeth. I’d gladly knock them out for him.
“Brooklyn!” I thundered, grabbing my keys. “Give me the address now.”
“I’m fine’ He’s just being...” Her phone ended the call.
Fuck that shit.
I wasn’t waiting for her to give me the address. I’d look up her location on the tracking app we both had on our phones. She could see me wherever I was and I could see her. Looked like she was in a neighborhood not too far from where we lived.
Finding Ashley’s house wasn’t hard. The cars lining the street and the drunken teenagers hanging out on the lawn were dead giveaways. My eyes honed in on Brook’s car like a goddamn magnifying glass.
A boy only a hair taller than her, in dark jeans and a white t-shirt, had her pinned against her car. He was smiling down at her while she was clearly pushing against his chest. There were a dozen other kids out there and nobody stepped in to tell that asshole to back the fuck up.
Well, he had a rude motherfucking awakening coming.
**
Brooklyn…
When I saw a massive six foot seven frame prowling toward my car from the side, I knew immediately. My mind knew, my body knew, my heart knew. They all sang together at once.
Caesar.
