Chapter 52 Nice Try, Universe #2
“No buts, Kenzie. I’m not a disposable afterthought.
My feelings matter because I matter.” I stomp my foot to release some of my ire.
“Contrary to what you may think, I don’t exist to make you happy or be your kicking can.
I’m sorry I never saw this sooner, but it turns out that I’m worthy of the type of love that I readily give to others.
No friendship or relationship is worth being a victim of this type of manipulation and your constant belittling.
Even as you stand here now, you’re making me feel inferior as if I earned or caused your deceit. ”
“That isn’t what I meant. You’re twisting my words. I’m sorry I hurt you. I was trying to explain. I know it’s my fault. Please forgive me. I’m apologizing. What more do you want? How else can I make this right?”
“Forgive you?” I scoff, unwilling to temper my outrage for her benefit for another second. “Forgiveness has its limits. You’ve proven time and time again that you don’t value me as a person or a friend. I’d rather be alone than be treated like I don’t matter.”
Even if Reed and I don’t last, I’m choosing myself. I refuse to cling to her just so I don’t have to be alone.
“Lila, please,” she begs half-heartedly.
“It’s time for you to leave.”
She crosses her arms at her chest. “No.”
When she doesn’t budge, I raise my voice at her for the first time. “Kenzie, I don’t want you here. We are done.”
In the corner of my eye, I see Kri inching into the room. I hold out my palm to her because I don’t need her to fight my battles. Not this one, anyhow.
I stomp toward the door, unlock it, and fling it open for Kenzie. “Get. Out. Now.”
Kri appears at my side two seconds later, placing herself between me and the empty hallway. To her credit, she wisely doesn’t intervene in my interaction with Kenzie. She’s simply here to protect me from Silas and his goons.
With that thought, I cut my gaze back to Kenzie.
She was taken by Silas. If I’m in danger because I’m a loose end, then what does that make her?
While I might not want to ever see her again, I don’t want her to die.
Crap.
Unaware of my floundering thoughts, Kenzie storms out the door before I can wave Kri back inside.
“Kenzie, wait!”
She freezes right on the other side of the threshold, keeping her back to me. “What?”
“It’s probably not a good idea for you to leave with Silas out there causing havoc. As much as I want you to go, you should stay. It’s safer here.”
She slowly pivots to face me, revealing an eerie expression. “Too late. You’ve already made it clear where I stand with you. If I die, I die. What’s it to you?”
Her words cut like a knife, slicing right along the scar I’ve had since I was seven.
All I can do is watch her stride down the hall. The idea of Kenzie falling victim to Silas for a second time steals my breath.
Kri ushers me back into the safety of Reed’s condo. No clue how much time passes as I stand in the foyer, completely frozen.
No. Not frozen.
Empty.
However, I refuse to stay this way. I’m more than the broken little girl who watched her sister tumble over the edge. And I’ll be dammed if I watch another one fall.
Blinking out of the regret, I lock my focus on Kri. “You need to send Aaron after her for protection. She’s just as much at risk as I am.”
Kri’s jaw clenches. “I can’t do that. You’re my charge. Not her.”
Panic blends with desperation, making my voice quaver.
“Then ask him to stop her and bring her back up here. I don’t care how he does it, but we cannot let her leave.
I’m telling you, she isn’t safe on her own.
She knows just as much as I do. Silas kidnapped her before. That’s how this whole thing started.”
I turn away, bending at the waist and struggling for air.
Determined to save Kenzie, I straighten and finish my plea.
“She should have been protected all along. But Reed and I were so pissed at her, we kept putting it off so we didn’t have to face what she did to us.
Please, help her. We can’t let her get taken again. ”
Kri drags her hand through her hair, then pulls out her phone. “I’ll see if Aaron can stop her before she gets out of the building.”
My exhale comes in a whoosh. “Thank you.”
“Hey, Kenzie’s leaving the building. You need to stop—” Her words cut off, and her expression waxes over. “What do you mean? By who?”
She listens for a beat, then averts her eyes from my prying gaze. “Did you get a license plate number?”
My fingernails dig into my palms as I wait for an explanation.
“No, don’t do that. Call Tomer or Mia to see if they can track the vehicle on traffic cams and follow her that way. You’re needed here now more than ever.”
Oh no, no, no.
She disconnects the call, cocking her ear toward Reed’s bedroom, where my phone is blaring with another incoming call. Kri grabs me by the wrist, tugging me down the hall in a rush. She finds my phone on the bed and grabs it before I register what’s happening.
“It’s Reed,” she announces as she puts it to her ear. “We have a problem.”
All my worst fears surge to life with her next words. “A few minutes ago, your sister stormed out of the building after having it out with Lila. Two men in masks jumped out of a red sedan before she cleared the block. They pounced on her, shoved her into the car, and sped off.”
Holy. Fucking. Shit.
Kenzie’s been taken.
Again.
Because of me.