Page 50 of Saving Tracey
TRACEY
I was sitting on the couch watching Trevor show Lucas how to play Call of Duty. I could tell the two were going to be inseparable, and I knew Lucas needed someone to trust.
Nothing helped you get better than to have someone strong holding your hand through it all, and Trevor was the best person to give Lucas the strength he needed to get strong.
Trevor leaned his head back on my legs, looking up at me. "Want to have a go, baby?"
I shook my head, standing up. "No; thank you, though.” I glanced down at the phone in my hands, which had been blowing up with texts from Kaleb, Miss Brinson, and Krista. I needed to get home, and I wanted to walk to clear my head before I got there. I had a lot to think about before I stepped into the family meeting that I knew would happen.
Trevor stood up as soon as he noticed the worried look cross over my face as my phone flashed with another text from Kaleb. "What's wrong?" he asked me, grabbing my free hand and pulling me up so my body was flush with his, causing my skin to heat up.
I shook my head at him in answer. "I just need to go home—"
He interrupted me, concern crossing his features, pain and panic flashing in his eyes. "Do you regret last night?"
My eyes widened in shock at his words, and I immediately shook my head no. "Of course not!" I exclaimed a little too loudly, making Lucas jump in fright at my words. I sighed and ran my hand through my hair, drawing in a shaky breath. "Everyone is just worried about me, and I need to get home to assure them that I'm okay. Besides, Miss Brinson wants to sit down with me and Kaleb."
Trevor clenched his jaw. "I don't want you anywhere around Kaleb. Especially not after what he fucking said about you."
I stepped back from him, grabbing the bag I had brought downstairs when he wasn't paying attention. "Trevor, until I turn eighteen, Miss Brinson is still my guardian, and I have to do what she says,” I reminded him.
He sighed, reaching into his pockets to pull out his bike keys. I shook my head at him. "No, Trevor. I need to walk home and clear my head, okay?"
Worry filled his beautiful, dark eyes that always seemed to draw me in. He sighed, running his hands through his hair, tugging on the ends. It was obvious he didn't want me walking alone, and he definitely didn’t want me going back home and facing Kaleb without him.
"Fine,” he finally muttered. "But you have to call me when you get home, understand?"
I nodded. He stepped forward, pulling me against him to kiss me with enough passion to make my knees weak. When he pulled back, I was a bit breathless, my chest quickly rising and falling as I tried to normalize my breathing again. He kissed my forehead and released me. "Please, be careful, Tracey."
I nodded. I smiled at Lucas, giving him a small wave. "Bye, kiddo."
He smiled at me shyly, still wary of me. I turned to the door, walking out into the chilly night.
I was lost. Somewhere I had taken a wrong turn, and I was absolutely fucking lost. Nothing looked familiar, and I had absolutely no idea where I was at.
On top of it all, my phone was dead.
I was so fucked.
Graffiti covered the buildings around me. I saw some kids standing on the sides of the roads, wearing either red or blue for obvious reasons. I could tell some of them had guns, and it didn't make me feel comfortable in the slightest.
I kept my gaze focused on the pavement, desperate to get somewhere I knew. Fuck, why hadn't I just taken Trevor's offer of a ride? I sure as hell wouldn't be in this predicament if I had.
I screamed when someone grabbed me and tossed me onto the ground in an alley. I quickly scampered up, my phone and bag left forgotten on the ground. My chest heaved up and down as my eyes met the same cold, green ones of my own.
He stepped into the light, that sadistic smirk I had almost forgotten about covering his features, making me sick to my stomach. "We have a lot of unfinished business, Tracey."
Chapter Fourteen
NO.
I wouldn't let him hurt me like this again—I couldn’t. I was stronger this time. I was terrified out of my mind, but I would fight.
I didn't know how he had gotten out of jail. I didn't know how long he had been out, but what I did know was that I wouldn't let him take me down without a fight.
I scrambled up off the ground, and he grabbed the front of my shirt, yanking my face close to his. I gagged at the smell of his breath and the smell that emanated off of his skin. It was clear that he hadn’t been anywhere where he could properly take care of himself.
"You're going to pay, Tracey, and by the time I'm done with you, there won’t be breath left in your lungs,” he spat in my face.
