30. Griffin
I don’t know how Asher found these people — the doctor, the security guy, whoever the hell else — but I’m fucking glad that he was a sneaky shit and built up a team of assets outside of The Celestials that we might need one day. Thank god Asher had this guy under his thumb, willing to give Creed whatever meds he needs without all the bullshit, paperwork, or questions.
The drive here was tense, Creed just staring out the window like he was lost deep in thought, and I was too focused on driving us here fast so I could get him help. The hours dragged by until we parked outside some old gothic looking monstrosity. I think the house would be nice if the dark gray paint had been touched up and the yard was kept in shape. The moment we stepped inside, though, all thoughts of the exterior flew from my mind.
This short old man with striking white hair, milky blue eyes, and the biggest fucking glasses I”ve ever seen had taken one look at Creed and I, and then all but dragged Creed through the foyer and down into the basement.
I’ve been waiting for their return for over an hour now, standing stiffly in the foyer of this massive, ass-ugly house. What is it with obscenely wealthy people having the worst damn taste? I mean, fuck me, the outside was bad enough, but the inside? From the mounted bear on the left of the stairs, the classic Renaissance painting directly in front of me, and the checkered black and white tile floor, I feel like this doctor is likely a quack with a few screws loose himself. But hey, if he’s helping Creed, then I’ll bite my tongue and try not to look like I hate everything about this place.
It won’t be an easy task, though, that damn bear is giving me the creeps.
I’m finally saved from my unease a few minutes later when Creed and the older doctor stroll out from the door beneath the stairs that leads to the basement. I guess that’s where the good Doc handles all his illegal practices.
I plaster a smile on my face for Creed, even though I’m sick with worry for him on the inside. Unlike Asher, I’d never seen Creed at his worst before, just so completely out of his mind like he was last night. Sure, I’d seen him have manic episodes and fall into deep depressive states over the years, but never anything quite as volatile as yesterday. I know we’ll all get through this and see him steady out, but I worry that Creed’ll be ashamed that we all saw his breakdown and that he’ll pull away because of it. Before I can even help myself, I’m already thinking of ways to keep him close, to get him to see that he belongs in this family. We’re all a little fucked up, anyway. He fits right in.
I look from Creed to the doctor, who”s name I can”t remember for the damn life of me. Asher told me before we left the cabin, but fuck if that information is anywhere in my head now. He smiles at me professionally, coming over to stand beside me while Creed wanders the foyer.
When the doctor doesn’t say anything for a moment, I shift awkwardly on my feet. Am I supposed to start this conversation, or does he just not want to divulge Creed’s business to me? Finally, clearing my throat, I murmur, “All set? He’s gonna be good in, what, a week or something?”
“It can take up to seventy-two hours before things start to regulate, so be prepared for that over the next few days, but I went ahead and gave him a fast-acting dose of something that should help with his manic spikes in the meantime. I don’t foresee any issues arising, but things happen. Keep an eye on him and watch for any signs of another episode. He should be leveling out, not getting worse. If you need anything more from me or there’s another emergency situation, please don’t hesitate to reach out,” he says, giving me all his attention while Creed walks over to the big ass bear and just stares the thing down. I’m assuming they’ve already spoken about all of this when they were down in the basement and now I’m just getting brought in to the news. The doctor pushes his big, circle glasses up his nose, tersely adding, “Please, give Asher my best.” And then he nods once and turns, disappearing back into the basement.
Creed barks a laugh as the door clicks shut, and I startle a bit, glancing over at him. He brushes a hand through his wild hair, leaving it messier than it already was. “What a nice guy. A fucking oddball, but fuck if I’m one to judge,” he muses, strolling toward me after one last look at that damn stuffed bear.
I frown, hating the feeling like I’m walking on eggshells with one of my oldest friends. I don’t want to say or do something to send him to that low, dangerous place again, but I also don’t want to treat him any differently than I normally would. He’s still Creed, one of my best friends and a man who loves Prudence with all he is. There’s nothing bad in him, even if his mind needs some extra help along from time to time.
As if he can read my tumultuous thoughts, Creed stops in front of me, dropping his hand to my shoulder with a somber, almost sheepish expression. He holds my gaze as he tells me, “I’m sorry, Griff. I know I fucked up, scared everyone… I don’t know why my brain can’t just fucking work right, but you gotta know, even if Prudence hadn”t stepped in to help level me out, I’d never hurt any of you.” He pauses with a bitter laugh, shaking his head and sending his hair into his haunted eyes. “Why would you believe that, though, right? I”m fucking nuts… Sometimes, when I get… lost like that, I… Well, I think that it might be easier for everyone if I wasn”t here, you know? One less crazy person to worry about.”
His heavy words, the painful truth in them, cleave my chest wide open, and I grunt out my disapproval as I grab his shoulder, so we’re mirroring each other. Creed’s eyes shudder closed, his expression faltering at my touch. “Don’t,” I rasp, gripping him harder as if, by will alone, I’d be able to keep Creed grounded with me. Fuck, I”ve never wanted anything in my life as much as I want to that to be true. “Creed, we all love you, man. No matter what, okay? Don’t apologize for this shit, and don”t ever think we”d be better off without you.”
He nods solemnly, sighing and blinking open his eyes. With a brittle smile that doesn’t reach his eyes, Creed says, “I know. I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to get so dark. I’m just feeling—“
“It’s okay,” I say, cutting him off gently. “No more apologies, man. Feel whatever you need to. Come to us whenever you need to. Just don’t fucking leave us, okay? We’re a family, and that includes you. It always will... Crazy or not.” I tack that last part on hesitantly, but with a teasing smile, so he knows we”re good. I”d never call the guy insane in any serious manner, but he”s the one who started it, so I may as well roll with it and try to bring out his playful side.
This time, Creed’s smile is more genuine, his eyes lighting up like I’ve just professed my undying love and he’s been waiting endlessly to hear it. Creed moves in so fucking quick, I don’t have time to react before his lips are pressing into my cheek with a loud, wet pop. He’s gone a second later, backing up with a smirk, his moods changing with the wind today, apparently.
”The fuck?” I choke out as I wipe my cheek dry. I don’t know whether to fall apart laughing or rush to lay down some boundaries — I love the guy, but I’m not into Creed like that — so I end up just standing here like a dick, waiting for his explanation.
With a wink, Creed saunters toward the front door, calling over his shoulder, “I love you too, you big sappy fuck! But this doesn’t mean I want to cross swords with you, so get your boner under control before you get back in the car.”
“My— Creed! I don’t have a boner,” I growl, stalking after him while he laughs like an asshole, and goddamn him and antics because my lips twitch up into a goofy smile right along with him.
“Whatever you say, Griff,” he muses. “Just don’t let me see it, and we can pretend all you like.”
I roll my eyes so hard, I’m shocked they don’t fall right out of my head. So glad he’s feeling more like himself already.
Dick.
Even though it”s late, and he should be sleeping, I send a text off to Asher to let him know we”re going to find a motel for the night and we”ll be back first thing tomorrow morning. I”d drive through the night if I could, but exhaustion is weighing heavily on me and if I don”t find a bed to collapse in soon, I might just pass out behind the damn wheel.
Creed gets back in the car from our quick stop for a piss, and I set Genevieve”s phone down in the cup holder. Girl”s a real blessing. First, inviting a bunch of strangers into her secret cabin to hide out in, the way she”s just rolled with the punches and already started bonding with Prudence, and now letting me take her phone and car so I could get Creed some help. Honestly, if it weren”t for Genevieve”s help, we might not have made it this far.
”All set?” Creed asks while buckling himself in.
I nod and back out of the parking spot of the shady gas station we”d stopped at. The phone buzzes with Asher”s reply, but I ignore it for now. I just want to find a place to crash for the night first, and then I”ll give him a call.
We”re not on the road for ten minutes when Creed shifts in his seat and curses under his breath. “We’re being followed.”
My spine snaps straight, my eyes darting to the rear-view mirror while I tighten my grip on the steering wheel. I narrow my gaze, locking onto the black SUV three cars behind us. Whoever it is has been keeping a safe distance the last few blocks, so I didn”t think it was a threat. But now that Creed has pointed it out… Fuck, he”s right. They’ve been there since we left the gas station. My gut sours with the truth, but I still ask, “You sure?”
Creed nods slowly, drumming his fingers on his thigh while he watches the traffic all around us. The light ahead turns red, and tension explodes through his muscles as we slow to a stop. “Another one at two o’clock. Just pulled up to the light.”
I look right, finding an identical black SUV a few cars back. Shit… We’re being hunted, blocked in like prey. If a third SUV joins the party, we might not make it.
“Hold on,” I order a second before slamming my foot on the gas and swerving around the vehicles in front of us, rushing through the red light and taking the left turn. We very narrowly avoid a four car collision.
Creed whoops in excitement as I straighten the wheel, the tires screeching while I battle for control. I flick my gaze to the mirror, cursing when I find the two SUVs racing around the turn and keeping close. Too damn close. Horns blare all around us, but I can’t be fucked to care about all the accidents I’m likely causing in my wake. The only thing I can focus on is getting Creed and I the hell out of this shitshow with our lives intact.
“Now would have been an excellent time for Prudence’s weapons guy,” Creed mutters under his breath, glaring out the window. “Where’s a fucking gun or twenty when we need one?”
I blink over at him for a second, trying to see if he’s joking with me right now, in the middle of a street chase. But nope, as I take in his rigid posture and stony expression, the way his fists ball with anger, I realize he’s being very serious.
“She doesn’t have a weapons guy,” I grit out as I swerve around a semi truck and almost slam headfirst into the car coming at us from the other lane. I correct us at the last possible second, air whooshing by as our car and the other one pass only inches apart. Fuck. My stomach swoops and drops and roils while sweat beads on my forehead. I”m so thankful Prudence isn”t in the car with us. She”s already got trauma from a car crash. She”d never recover from this shit. At least with Asher and Prudence back at the cabin, if the worst were to happen today, they”ll be safe.
But fuck me, I so do not want to die in a car crash today. I want a long, rich life with my family. I want to fuck and love and laugh for the rest of my days and never worry about The Celestials ever again.
Creed shrugs at me, frantically reaching forward and digging through the glove box for something that might come in handy. “New rule,” he snaps after a moment, not finding anything useful. “From now on, we all carry guns. No excuses.”
“Agreed,” I rasp, looking into the rearview mirror again right as one of the SUVs catches up to us. I gasp, tension coiling in my gut. “Fuck, Creed, hold on,” I shout, because that fucking asshole is about to ram us. This is gonna hurt, but we can survive. We’ll fight our way out and it’ll be fine.
I hope…
Creed’s hand darts out and slams against the dash to steady himself. “Oh fuck! Shit, shit, shit! Griffin!”
I tear my focus from the SUV behind us, slamming on my brakes, but it’s too late. A third one has come out of nowhere, directly ahead of us and charging in fast. I jerk the steering wheel to the left — the only direction now without a raging SUV chasing us — but it’s no use. Seconds later, before I can get us to safety, two of the vehicles hit us, on our left and on our right. The collision is so loud and jarring, my head snapping to the side and hitting the window, and within moments, I’ve lost all sense of time and space.
I’m just floating, neither here nor there, but lost to endless pain.
Glass shatters around us, thousands of little cuts stinging across my body. Our airbags deployed at some point, and it takes me a while to regain myself, but once I do, I can tell the impact did some damage. Blood is raining down from my nose over my lips and chin, tainting the air with the acrid, metallic scent, and igniting panic deep in my bones.
Do not think about the blood. Don”t go back to that day in the garage, that blade on your throat. Don”t you fucking do it, Griffin.
Footsteps crunch on the glass outside, but my head is too fuzzy from the crash. I know I should be moving, trying to run or fight, but I can’t relay that message from my mind to my body. It’s like I’ve just shut down, my ears ringing and my lungs feeling like they’re fucking collapsing.
Creed groans weakly beside me, and I try to blink over at him, but my neck is screaming in pain and I’m only able to turn my head a few inches before my muscles protest entirely. I clear my throat, tasting blood on the back of my tongue. “Creed?” I croak, though I don’t know how loud I am, since all I can hear is the blood rushing in my ears.
He doesn’t respond, so I try to call out to him once more. My throat is tight, though, my eyes heavy suddenly, and I realize with an abject sense of horror that I’m about to pass the fuck out. I’m no help to myself or Creed in this state. I’m weak, and it’s my failure right now that might see both of us dead.
My eyes slip closed against my will, even as panic washes through me like a potent drug. But no matter how many times I scream stay awake! in my head, it doesn’t work.
My door is wrenched open a moment later, the metal groaning in protest. “Such pretty sacrifices,” a familiar feminine voice purrs as delicate fingers trace over my jaw. “The Elders will be so pleased to offer you two up. Traitors, defectors, failures. I can practically see the way they”ll spill your blood already.”
“Heather,” Creed hisses weakly, and it’s the last thing I hear before I lose the fight to stay conscious.