Total pages in book: 88
Estimated words: 84227 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 421(@200wpm)___ 337(@250wpm)___ 281(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 84227 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 421(@200wpm)___ 337(@250wpm)___ 281(@300wpm)
When my stomach was empty, I slid down to the floor, huddled along the dirt and grime as tears trailed down my face.
Oh God. What was I going to do? It was my father, my flesh and blood. He’d killed Robert and Susan Caine—the people who had been like parents to me, the people who had loved me, the parents of my best friend in the world and the man I loved.
Nothing would ever be the same again.
CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE
Kellan
“Still nothing else?” Josh squeezed my shoulder as I looked at my phone for the thousandth time.
“No,” I replied softly. We were all crowded around the living room of my house—me, Griffin, Josh, Natalie, Lawson, and Knox. It was late, almost midnight, and I’d received one text from Chase all day.
I’m okay. Gotta figure some shit out. I love you.
When I hadn’t heard from him earlier, I’d gotten ahold of everyone to see if they’d seen him. When no one had, we ended up looking for him until finally the text came. I was scared and angry and a million other feelings I couldn’t work through.
“At least we know he’s safe,” Griff said.
“No, we don’t know that at all. Anyone can send a text. Someone was watching us together. They took photos of us, and then his dad went missing, and now Chase is gone too.” I rubbed my hands over my face in frustration and shoved off the couch. “Fuck!”
My chest got tight. Each second that went by, the fist around it squeezed with more and more strength.
“What if something happens to him? What if he’s not okay? I can’t…” I couldn’t lose Chase like I’d lost my parents.
“Hey…it’s okay, babe. He’s okay.” Josh’s arms went around me. I buried my face in his neck and cried, sobbed really, my tears running down my best friend’s skin. I was so scared Chase was hurt, that something bad had or would happen to him. The text could have easily been faked. We’d notified his police chief, but there wasn’t much they could do at this point. I didn’t know how I’d survive if something bad happened to him.
Then there was the part of me that also feared he was okay, but that he just didn’t know if he wanted me anymore.
“God, if he’s okay, I’m going to kill him!” I pulled away from Josh and wiped my face, trying to compose myself. Now wasn’t the time to lose it. That wouldn’t help anything.
“Mind if I help you?” Griff asked.
“Yeah, me too,” Law added.
“And me,” Knox agreed.
“One more?” Natalie raised her hand.
We were trying to lighten the mood, trying to pretend we weren’t all worried sick, but it wasn’t working.
“Thanks, you guys,” I told them. “I appreciate you all being here, but really, there’s not much we can do. You can all go home if you want. I’ll let you know as soon as I hear anything.”
“Pfft,” Josh huffed. I’d never thought for a second he or Natalie would leave. Griff lived here, obviously, but I was surprised when Law and Knox both said no as well.
“If you hear from him or the police contact you, we want to be here in case you need us,” Law said, and damn, it felt good. It seemed wrong to feel that way when Chase was missing, but I never had this—a room full of people who were my friends, who would be there for me. It wasn’t about being Griffin’s brother or Chase’s boyfriend. They were there for me too.
“Thanks. That means a lot to me.”
We settled in for a long night. There wasn’t much talking after that; everyone sat on couches, chairs, or on the floor, and Knox was the first to fall asleep, followed by Natalie, then Josh, then Griffin.
Unable to sit still, I sneaked out from beneath Josh, who had his head on my shoulder, and pointed to the back door so Lawson knew where I was going. I didn’t think he would follow, but he surprised me by doing the same.
“You okay?” he asked as we sat on the back porch, phone tightly clutched in my hand.
“Not really.”
“Yeah, I guess that was a stupid question.”
“No, it’s okay. I get it. We all want to say something in a situation like this, but what is there to say?”
He nodded, pushing his blond curls behind his ear.
“Have you ever been in love?” I found myself asking him.
Law was quiet for a moment, then said, “Yeah…once. Didn’t end well.”
“I’m sorry.”
He shook off my apology. “No worries. It is what it is.”
I couldn’t help but wonder who the woman was that Law had been in love with. I hadn’t seen him date anyone seriously since he’d returned to Havenwood. He grew up here but moved away after high school, then found his way back about five years ago.