Chapter 22
Twenty-Two
“Am I dreaming this?” The words barely escape my lips as I stand, shrouded in the night’s darkness, embraced by its cold breeze, at the rear of the dilapidated apartment building I call home. The black car that brought us here idles quietly, its presence standing out in this run-down neighborhood. My heart is thumping loudly with joy that I’m back home to see my sister and my mom, fear that we’re going to get caught, disbelief that I’m actually back here. They’re all tangled up as I wipe the tears from my eyes. It’s been too long, and part of me had been resigned to the idea it might be even longer, if not years, before I ever saw them again.
The area is quiet, too quiet. I can’t help but glance over my shoulder repeatedly, half-expecting to see Nexus authorities materialize out of the night. But there’s nothing, just the whisper of the wind and the distant sound of a city.
I’m shaking, trying to rub my arms to warmth but failing miserably.
Seth is suddenly beside me, a large shopping bag in his hand, his long, black coat making him almost blend into the night.
“Let’s hurry up,” he whispers, urgency lacing his words. We dart toward the rear entry, a little-known passage that somehow Seth discovered. I remember him being on his phone for what seemed like an eternity during our drive here. I’d started to suspect something when we arrived in my hometown, a flicker of hope igniting, but I refused to believe it… I’ve learned the hard way not to let hope get the better of me. I never expect good things to happen to me.
But now, as we slip through the back door, that flicker of hope bursts into a flame. The tears are falling, streaming down my face as the reality of being home, truly home, begins to sink in. The driver follows us in, then remains as a guard by the door.
I lead the way upstairs with Seth on my heels. The familiar creaks and groans of the old building are welcoming to me a life I’ve been forced away from.
The hallway is bathed in darkness, our building too old and neglected for the luxury of light sensors or automatic illumination. I don’t dare flip the switch, unwilling to draw any unnecessary attention to our presence. The last thing we need are curious neighbors peeking out or Nexus authorities on the street seeing the light on.
My heart pounds in my chest faster.
Seth’s hand is in mine, and he gives me a strong smile and a nod of his head to tell me I’m not alone. He’s by my side, and I can’t even begin to express how much I need him here.
This place, my home, with its peeling paint and the musty scent of memories long past, holds so much of who I am, who I was before everything changed. The quiet is almost suffocating.
I’m rushing up, my thighs fighting me, but I’m so excited to see my family. At the door, I can’t wait and knock, my pulse thundering. Seth’s hand rests gently on my lower back while my heart’s racing, the sound echoing in my ears.
Footsteps tapping the floor sound from the other side of the door, sending my emotions into a spiral. I’m bouncing on my tippy toes. It’s just after eight p.m., so it’s not too late for them to be awake.
The last time I walked away from this door, I was drowning in tears, being torn away from my family. Now, as I return, my emotions feel just as raw, the tears just as ready to spill over.
The door swings open.
There stands my mom, looking as if she’s just gotten home from work in her blue dress, her hair still pinned up and off her face. Ruby’s peeking from behind her. Their eyes are wide with disbelief, mirroring the shock thundering through me.
I don’t wait for a greeting because I’m crying with a thousand unspoken feelings.
“Mom, Ruby!” I croak, my voice choked with tears as I rush inside, throwing my arms around them. The familiarity of their hugs embraces me, and their sweet and freshly baked bread smell envelops me. God, I’ve missed them so much.
“Danica, you’ve come back,” Ruby manages, her arms clinging to me like she’s afraid I might disappear again. My mom’s hugging me, too, her embrace fierce, trying to make up for the lost time with the strength of her hold.
“I missed you both so much,” I sob, barely a whisper. Behind me, I hear the clack of the front door shutting. I sense Seth’s presence close, but I’m not ready to let go of my sister and my mom. It’s been too long, and I want to imprint every second of them into my mind.
“You have no idea how worried I’ve been about you,” my mom says, her words thick with emotion.
“She cries every night for you,” Ruby adds. “It’s been awful that you’re gone. But you know, there’s only one good thing out of this. I got your bigger room.”
I giggle, which is unexpected, considering how wound up I feel.
We pull apart, but Ruby’s still clinging to my arm. My mom is brushing tears off my cheeks when her gaze moves over my shoulder to Seth.
I take a step back, introducing him with pride and nervousness as, technically, he’s the first guy I’ve ever brought home.
“This is Seth. He’s the Alpha who’s been helping me out and protecting me from Nexus.”
A small squeak spills past Ruby’s lips, drawing a startled look from Mom. But Ruby’s gaze is locked on Seth, and she’s slightly shaking.
“You’re Seth from Fever, aren’t you? Oh my God, you’re in our home. I can’t believe it! Echoes of Silence is literally my all-time favorite song.”
“Fever?” Mom looks between Ruby and me, confusion etched on her face. “What are you talking about?”
I can’t stop smiling at how fast she recognized him… of course she would. She lives with her headphones on, listening to music endlessly. Even at fourteen, she knows every band out there, every top-selling song.
“Ruby’s right. Seth is the lead singer of Fever, a huge rock band. But more importantly, he flew me here to see you both.”
Seth steps forward, that charismatic smile capturing my mom’s and my sister’s full attention. The sight sends a familiar fluttering through me.
“Wonderful to meet you both. I’ve heard so much about how much Danica misses you. I wanted to surprise her with a quick trip here.”
“Thank you,” Mom says. “You are always welcome here, but is it safe that you’re here?”
“I have my man downstairs on guard and more in the front to keep an eye out for any presence of Nexus.”
Oh, that’s news to me. I had no idea he’d arranged that, and when I glance up at him, he gives me that knowing look, as though he’s got my back. I resist the urge to jump into his arms in front of my mom.
He hands the shopping bag he’s been carrying to Ruby. “I heard you’re a fan of peaches.”
Her eyes are the size of saucers at his words, and she eagerly dives into the bag, revealing it’s filled with big fat peaches. Ruby’s cooing, already digging in for one, while Mom rushes to the curtains, pulling them shut and ensuring the locks on the front door are set in place.
I nudge Seth toward the couch, inviting him to sit beside me, feeling a sense of home enveloping me. Glancing over at him, he doesn’t seem uncomfortable, and he’s chuckling at Ruby, who already finished her first peach.
“Coffee, tea, anything?” Mom’s voice carries from the open-plan kitchen.
“You don’t have any of my favorite cookies, do you?” I call out.
“Oh, today is your lucky day, Danica. I just made a fresh batch of snickerdoodles.”
As she busies herself in the kitchen, Ruby is perched on a nearby couch with her prized peaches, staring at Seth. It’s a star-struck reaction, but there’s a warmth in there, too.
“Are you two going to get married?” she blurts out.
I almost choke on a lungful of oxygen while Seth barks out laughing.
“Ruby,” Mom calls out sternly from the kitchen. “What did I tell you about not asking inappropriate questions?”
My sister just smiles, staring at us.
“You haven’t changed one bit,” I tease her.
“You have,” she answers. “You actually look happier than I’ve seen you in a really long time.”
I blink at her honesty. “Well, yeah, because I’m back home.”
“Nah, it’s not that.” She shakes her head. “It’s him.” She stares at Seth, then takes another bite of a peach.
“You heard her,” Seth adds. “Just remember that I bring out your happiness.” He arches his eyebrows, which has me giggling.
I nudge his arm with my shoulder while he turns his attention to my sister.
“So, Ruby, aside from being a connoisseur of peaches, what else should I know about the biggest Fever fan in the room?”
Ruby swallows her bite of peach quickly before responding. “Well, if you’re going to hang out here, you need to be prepared for some serious video game competition. And just so you know, I don’t go easy on rock stars.”
I burst out laughing. Mom arrives with a huge plate of snickerdoodle cookies, and for the first time since the accident with my dad, I feel like I’m home. Like how it used to be, how we’d laugh, feeling like nothing in the world can touch us.
Seth tells stories from his road trip, captivating Ruby, while Mom is next to me, holding my hand, staring at me. When I was taken by Nexus from my home, Mom and I weren’t exactly on the best terms. She was mad at me for getting caught at the club. But now, she stares at me like she’s in agony, as though she’d do anything to keep me safe.
“It means so much to know you’ve found someone,” she whispers, her hand tightening over mine. “I only want you safe.”
“I know,” I say, smiling at her, wishing there was a way to remove the agony in her eyes, the sorrow of the loss she’s experienced in her life.
Seth’s phone rings, slicing through the comfort like a sharp blade. He answers instantly, his relaxed expression shifting as he listens to the voice on the other end. When he hangs up, the look on his face sends a chill down my spine.
“We have to go,” he says with urgency.
“What’s going on?” Panic grips me, my heart racing. “Is Nexus here?”
He nods grimly, and in an instant, the room is in chaos. Mom and Ruby are on their feet, fear in their expressions.
“You need to leave now… quickly.”
Mom’s already peeking out the window, scanning the street for signs of danger.
“Have they spotted us?” The question leaves my lips in a whisper, dread coiling in my stomach.
“I don’t know,” Seth says, though his eyes are dark with concern. “But they’re patrolling up and down the street. We can’t take any chances. I won’t lose you.”
We rush with our farewell hugs. I cling to Mom and Ruby a bit longer, wanting to remember this feeling until I see them again.
“I’m going to cherish this,” my mom murmurs. “And to know you’re in good hands.”
Then we’re racing out of our apartment door.
At that moment, the downstairs front door swings open with a familiar creak, the hallway flooding with light from someone entering and switching on the overhead lights.
Fear and dread swallow me, choking me.
Seth’s holding onto my hand firmly, and for a second, we’re frozen, then Mom’s whisper reaches us.
“Use the fire escape.” She points to the left at the end of the hall.
I throw a glance back, and the door to our apartment is now closed. The fear they’re going to face some repercussions for our visit hangs heavily over me. But if they don’t catch us, they don’t have proof, right?
Seth’s already dragging me toward the fire escape on quick steps.
We reach the door, and I take a fleeting glance back, my heart hammering against my ribcage. The corridor is empty, but the distant sound of footsteps climbing the stairs sends a wave of panic through me. We slip outside, the night air biting at my skin, and find ourselves on a set of rickety metal stairs that seem barely attached to the building.
“Okay, quickly,” Seth whispers. “Before anyone sees us.”
I rush down the stairs as if my life depends on it, which, at this moment, it very well does. Reaching the bottom of the metal stairs, I fumble with the latch to extend the ladder to the ground, but it’s stubbornly stuck. Frustratingly, I pull at it, but it doesn’t budge.
Stepping aside, I let Seth try. My pulse is pounding in my ears, my gaze darting to the door we just exited, half-expecting it to burst open with Nexus authorities on our heels. Below, the street is deserted, the black car we arrived in standing alone, its driver absent.
Panic is setting in, but then Seth jumps down, landing with a soft thud. “Ladder’s broken,” he announces, looking up at me with a resolve that’s both terrifying and reassuring.
I peer down at the gap, my stomach churning. “I can’t jump that.” The distance seems insurmountable in the dim light.
“Jump, and I’ll catch you,” he insists. “Quickly now.”
“What if you miss?” Dread washes over me, a tide wave of fear. “What if I fall?” The questions tumble past my lips.
“I won’t miss. Danica, jump now!”
Just then, a set of headlights pierce the dark from farther down the street. Oh, shit!
With no time to second-guess, I step up to the ledge, my heart in my throat. In a moment of blind trust, I leap, the cold air rushing past me in those fleeting seconds of free fall. Then, just as panic is about to take hold, Seth’s arms wrap around me, strong and secure. I slam into him, and he stumbles back, then steadies himself. We’re face to face, and I’m gasping.
“Told you I’d catch you,” he says, a hint of a smile in his voice, before gently setting me down. My feet kiss the ground.
We make a dash for the car. Seth unlocks it with the remote key I hadn’t noticed before. I dive into the passenger seat, my mind racing with questions. “What about the driver?” I manage to ask.
“He can return with the other team,” Seth answers, his focus on the road as we peel away from the curb, the engine roaring to life. We’re racing away into the night, and I’m scrambling to pull my seat belt on. As we weave through the traffic, the city lights blur past us. Seth’s gaze hardens, fixating on the rearview mirror.
“Just hold on,” he says, his voice steady, but I can detect worry behind his words.
“Is everything okay?” Turning to look over my shoulder, my heart skips a beat. A silver SUV with dark windows is threading its way through the traffic with aggressive precision, its movements too deliberate to be anything but coming in our direction. “God, do you think that’s Nexus?”
Seth’s jaw tightens as he maneuvers the car with ease. “No idea for sure, but I’ll get rid of them.”
As we speed ahead, I grip the door handle. Seth takes each turn and swerves with ease in the traffic, sending adrenaline coursing through my veins. We dive into back streets, the narrow lanes covered in shadows, then we emerge onto a ramp that spirals onto the highway. Holding my breath, I try not to panic about being followed, about going so fast in a car, reminded of the car accident with Dad.
Either we go fast or Nexus catches us. It has to be them behind us… who else would be following?
Mom’s words, from weeks ago, come to mind about other criminal groups who steal Omegas. But it makes no sense they’d hang around Mom’s house, right? Unless they were waiting for me to return… I’m panicking, letting my imagination run wild.
But panic coils in my gut, each glimpse of the pursuing SUV growing tense. If they’re Nexus and catch us, I’ll most likely end up in a cold cell in an institute lockup, the loss of freedom, the stripping away of everything that makes life worth living. The thought is a weight, dragging at my spirits.
Seth’s hand is on my thigh, squeezing lightly. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah,” I murmur. “I’m holding on.”
“You’re doing amazing.” His eyes are on the road, and I can’t deny that he controls the car like a race car driver.
I’m still clinging to the door handle, my knuckles white.
Then Seth takes a sudden, sharp turn into an alleyway barely wide enough for the car. A small yelp spills from my mouth while the sound of scraping metal grinds through me in the night as he navigates the tight space.
“It’s going to be okay,” he reassures me. I’m not so sure now.
When we emerge, the relentless SUV is nowhere to be seen. We’re driving madly down other streets, and I don’t see them behind us.
“Did we lose them?” I ask, my words shaky.
Seth doesn’t let up, his gaze scanning the mirrors as he keeps driving. Only then does he turn to me, his expression softening.
“I’ll always keep you protected, Danica. Never doubt that.” His words are a vow, a promise that wraps around me with the warmth of a blanket. His words are magic. I never expected to hear anyone promise them to me before I met the Fever Pack.
That earlier terrifying dread that consumed me begins to ease, replaced by an unwavering trust in the man beside me. I reach over and place my hand on his thigh as he cuts through the traffic with confidence, and I see the airport in the distance.
“That means everything to me. I grew up feeling like I had to always look out for myself, to protect my sister, to help my mom, so to have you care for me… it’s more than I could have ever hoped for.”
He looks at me with a small smile, and there’s warmth in his eyes. “You don’t have to worry anymore, okay? You’ve got us, and I personally am not going to let you leave us.” He blows me a kiss, and I’m swooning that a rock star god like him wants to be committed to me.
Is this even real life?