Page 82 of Web of Lies
“You were?” His eyes run up and down my body, even squatting down in front of me, checking me over for injuries. His lips turn down at the gouge in my leg, but he stands before me, cupping my face in his large palms. The look he gives me conveys more emotion than words could ever express. His gray eyes swim in unshed tears.
“Are you shitting me?” Tears spill over the edge of my eyes, sinking back into the darkest thoughts I had an hour ago. “Of course, we were worried. When you didn’t show up for dinner….” He closes his eyes, going back in time to a few hours ago. “We were so worried, but we thought maybe you got preoccupied with something. Even through the game, I had such a bad feeling. And then you didn’t show up for the party. We knew then. We told everyone to leave, and we came looking for you.” Swallowing a lump in his throat, he reconnects our gaze. Moisture blossoms in his eyes again, his head shaking.
Tears track down my cheeks at an unstoppable rate. I can’t stop them. I can’t contain myself. These emotions I’ve held back come to the front of my mind. Without thinking, I fling my arms around his neck, and without hesitation, he lifts me into his arms. His warm, inviting, lovable arms. I bury my nose in the crook of his neck, sobbing into his flesh. His hug instantly squashes the negative thoughts floating around my brain. His sunshine parts the black clouds in my mind, growing the flowers of positivity inside of me. I needed him—them. They ground me.
“It’s okay, I got you,” he whispers on repeat, securing his forearm under my butt. My legs wrap around his waist, melting me to him like butter in a pan.
Sobs roar through my entire body, shaking me and Chase. I let it all out. The pain. The sorrow. I let it free, hoping this will be the last ounce of negativity inside of me so I can move on with my plans. Even the strongest crumble and fall; it all depends on if they can glue themselves back together again. And I will. But for now—I need this. I’ll crumble, bumble around, but I will rebuild from this setback. Stronger. With my allies by my side.
“Thank you, thank you,” I whisper into his neck, my lips brushing against his flesh. “I was in there forever.” My body shudders against him again.
“I found your backpack and your phone,” he whispers, walking with me in his arms. He bends down, slinging it over his shoulder. Vibrations spill from the denim of his jeans as he carefully fishes it out, answering it.
“I can’t fucking find her!” It’s Seger’s pain-laced voice spilling through the phone. “What the fuck?” he yells again in aggravation.
“Man, calm down. I found her, and she’s fine-ish.” He finishes, sending Seger on another tangent.
“Ish? What the fuck does that even mean, Benoit. Where the fuck are you?” His voice carries through the phone so loudly, I can hear every breath he takes and every curse he spills on my behalf.
“South of the main building, listen, we’ll meet you out back.”
“Come to her apartment,” Seger says, losing the hostility in his voice. “And—uhh—prepare her,” he says more softly this time. I can picture his movements in my mind, swiping a hand down the back of his neck.
“What do you mean, prepare her?” Chase asks, turning his head a little, forcing his conversation to be one-sided. “Oh—shit,” he breathes, “yeah, yeah, we’ll be there in like five.” His hold tightens on me as he shoves his phone back into his pocket.
“What’s going on?” I ask, lifting my head. Our noses brush against each other’s, making eye contact once again. His tongue wets his lips, averting his eyes from mine. “Chase?” I nudge my nose against his, gaining his attention again.
“Someone broke into your apartment,” he whispers, “we’re going to meet the guys there.” My heart beats against my ribs, falling into the pit of my churning stomach.
Bile burns the back of my throat, thinking about all my precious possessions hidden away in my room. “How—how bad, is it? Did he say?” My voice turns frantic, anxiety building in my veins, coursing through my limbs again.
Chase shakes his head, taking more steps towards my apartment building. “No, he didn’t say. He just wanted me to get you there.” He takes off, practically running with me in his arms, carrying me like I weigh nothing. I snuggle back into his neck, finding comfort in his embrace for the first time in a long time. These boys have done something to my phobia, taking it away with their fingertips. Something I never thought I’d come across.
Chase pants like a dog, coming to a stop right outside the door. Dropping me back down to my feet, handing me my backpack, I frown, looking through it, finding only my untouched phone inside. I move my hand from side to side, huffing when there’s nothing else there.
“I’m going to kill them,” I seethe, gritting my teeth together.
“Who was it?” Chase asks, taking my hand. He leads me through the lobby and towards the elevator on the main floor. Kids turn to us, wrinkling their noses in my direction. And I can imagine now; it isn’t because I’m with Chase, no it’s just me. The dumpster left its mark on me.
I lift my arm, smelling my shirt, and nearly gag at my scent. “How the hell did you get so close to me? I reek,” I groan as we step into the elevator. Chase shrugs, keeping a hold of my hand, and presses the button for my floor.
“I didn’t really notice. I was more relieved that my new girl wasn’t dead.” I nod because he makes a fair point.
“Oscar, Trent, and fucking Carter. They grabbed me after I left the building.” I practically snarl their names like a rabid animal.
“I’m going to obliterate them,” Chase growls, slamming his free fist into the side of the elevator. “I’m so sick of this shit. It’s ridiculous.”
“You and me both,” I agree as we step off the elevator and head towards my apartment.
My frown deepens, standing in front of my broken-down door. That bastard even rejoiced in having my key, but from the look of it, they took a damned ax to it. Seger bolts from inside of my room to where we stand in the doorway.
“Kaycee, thank fucking fuck.” Seger wraps his arms around me, holding me tight against him. His nose brushes against my hair. “You fucking stink…. no offense.” He pulls back, cupping my cheeks, checking me over for injuries.
“They threw her in a damn dumpster like savages. Who does that?” Chase asks.
“Crazy people, that’s who,” Zepp says, stepping out of my room and pulling me into an embrace.
“My computer,” I groan into Zepp’s chest. “It’s—”
