26. Chapter 26
Chapter 26
Easton
Something is seriously wrong. I’ve texted Dylan a million fucking times since leaving Spade’s warehouse. He didn’t have a job for me when I arrived. Instead, he wanted to warn me about someone from our past who was spotted lurking around, and needed to remind me how dangerous he is. That shit could have been said over the fucking phone.
Class ended hours ago. I’ve called and texted repeatedly and nothing. I swear to god if this is some kind of game she’s cooked up, I’m going to shove her gorgeous face into a fucking pillow and make her scream my name until her throats’ raw as I fuck her little pink pussy so fucking hard, she won’t forget why she’s so damn sore.
Slamming my hands against the steering wheel, I drive to The Den. Maybe her class got out and she called for a ride even though I promised her I’d be back for her. Think Easton. Think. Where the fuck could she be?
Picking up my phone, I dial her again. Come on baby, pick up. Please pick up. Nothing . I pull up her location and it circles like it’s trying to load but can’t. I swear to god she never fucking listens. I don’t do these things to piss her off, it’s for her fucking safety. She’s not a stupid woman. She knows more about us than I thought, so you would think her location would be on.
“FUCKKKKK!” I yell out, pounding my fist into the steering wheel again.
I pull into The Den like a maniac, slamming on the brakes and throwing the door open. I run inside. No one is fucking here. It’s quiet as fuck. Jogging to my room, praying she’s sleeping in my bed, I swing open the door but everything is exactly how we left it.
Fuck. I pull at my hair in frustration because I shouldn’t have fucking left, but yet again, I had no choice. When the boss calls, I go running. I need to realize that I can’t always be with her, even if that’s the only place I truly want to be day and night. “Fuck!” I roar, picking up my stereo from the floor and hauling it across the room as it smashes against the wall. Anything I get my hands on goes flying; TV, lamps, night tables and clothes.
Taking the sais from the holster, I spin them in my hands, climbing onto the bed and slice into the mattress like a hellhound shredding flesh. I don’t stop until my arms get heavy and I can no longer fucking breathe.
Taking a step back as I try to control my breathing, I take in the damage I have caused. My heart continues to race just as fast as my mind does. Think. Easton. Fucking think. Could she have gone home? Wouldn’t she at least text me if she had? I grab my holster and strap it to my jeans, adding a few more knives.
Walking over the mess to my closet, I grab my racing jacket and slide it on. Her fucking scent hits me like a ton of bricks. I need to find her already. I slam my door shut and jog back out to my car. Hopping in, I throw her in reverse and head home, praying that’s where she is, because if she’s not, I don’t know where else to look and then I’ll have to alert everyone that she’s missing.
My fucking heart is beating so fast. What if he took her? What if this is his way of getting to me through the one I love? Fuck, Spade is right. Even if I didn’t want to see it, I can never underestimate an Ace, especially when the Ace is gunning for the Queen. The sun is starting to set which is going to make this hunt so much fucking harder.
Racing to the house, I weave in and out of traffic, not giving a single fuck about lights and stop signs, she means too much to me to slow down. I will not fucking stop until she’s in my arms again. I really hope I’m fucking overreacting but my gut is telling me otherwise.
Pulling along the curb in the middle of both of our houses, no one is parked in the driveway. Where the fuck is everyone? Climbing out of the car, I hop the picket fence and run up the steps, jabbing in the key code and swinging the door open. “Dylan!” I yell, running up the stairs to her room and finding nothing; no sign of anyone being here. Glancing out her window into mine, I see no movement, but fuck it. I leave her room and run down the stairs and out the front door, hopping the fence again into my yard. I jog up my three steps, enter the code, and swing the door open.
“Dylan, you here?” I yell. Again, nothing. Running up the steps to my room and again for the umpteenth time tonight, NOTHING! I’m ready to fucking destroy this room too, but my mom will throw a bitch fit and I do not have the time to deal with her and all the questions that come with it.
Taking a ragged, deep breath, I leave the house and get back into my car. The only other place left to check is the University. Someone had to have seen her there.
Luckily, Uni is only minutes away as I try to calm the fuck down. When I get like this, I can’t fucking think straight. Spade always taught me to think first, then react, and I’m doing the complete opposite. I’m losing my shit, but I can’t hold in all this rage. It’s fucking Dylan. I’ll never be able to calm down when it comes to her. She means fucking everything to me.
Picking up my phone, I dial her again. It rings and rings and rings, and then it picks up and I hear a whisper.
“Dylan, where the fuck are you?” I scream into the phone, but the voice sounds so far away and the connection keeps breaking up.
“Dylan, if you can hear me, baby, press a button if you are still at school.” I say calmly as the line beeps.
“Okay, baby. That’s good. Can you tell me where you are?” I ask, and again it’s like she’s so far away, whispering. What the fuck is going on?
“I can’t hear you, Hellcat. You can hear me, right? Press a button for yes.” I instruct, waiting for the beep and I get nothing.
“Dylan, I can’t fucking find you. I need you to help me get to you. I’m heading to the school but I don’t know where to look.” I say, praying to God she can hear me. The line beeps and I hear a faint,
“Help me, Eas,” and the line goes dead. I drop the phone and pound both hands against the steering wheel as I scream. Entering the college, I find an empty area and park. Picking up my phone again, I call her and she picks up.
“I’m coming baby, you hear me, Hellcat? Tell me where you are. Press a button once for the same spot I dropped you off at. Press it twice for no.”
Beep beep. Okay process of elimination.
“Okay, are you inside the school stuck somewhere?” Beep beep.
“Are you inside at all?” Beep beep.
“You’re doing so good, baby. I’m so proud of you. Are you outside?” Beep.
“Alone?” Beep.
“North side press once, south side press twice, east side press three times. I’m parked on the west side and don’t see you.” I say, and she beeps three times.
“Okay, east side it is. Tennis courts?” Beep beep.
“Soccer field?” Beep beep.
“Football field?” Beeeeeeeeeeeeeppp.
“Ok baby. I’m coming. Don’t hang up. I’m right here Hellcat.” I assure her as I race through the parking lot to the other end of the school. Pulling up to the fence of the football field, I get out, bringing my phone with me.
“I’m here, baby. I’m right here.” I growl, finally spotting her laying in the grass. I run as I hang the phone up and shove it in my back pocket. Skidding to a stop, I fall to my knees as I take her in. Left eye swollen, bruised cheek, blood on her face as she holds her stomach and chest with one hand and the other is almost out of reach from her phone.
My hands shake with anger as I remove my jacket and lay it over her as I grab her phone and put it in my pocket before I lift her into my arms. She tries to move her arms to wrap around my neck but can’t. “It’s okay, baby. You’re safe now. I got you.” I whisper, kissing the top of her head.
“Thank you.” She whispers as she begins to cry in my arms. I’m trying to stay calm and not question who had done this because I don’t want to scare her with the rage that is fucking building all over again. I just need to make sure my girl is okay before I make my next move.
Opening the passenger door, I gently place her in the seat, and she winces. I grind my teeth so fucking hard as I take a step back and shut the door quietly. Rounding the car, I get in and put her in gear, heading out of the lot.
“I’ll take you to the hospital to get checked out.” I say as I grab her hand to hold.
“No, take me to Spade’s.” She whispers. Maybe I didn’t hear her correctly. I turn out of the parking lot and get on the main road.
“You want to go where?” I ask as I bring her hand to my lips.
“Spade’s. Take me to the warehouse.” She says, clearing her throat. The fuck?
“How do you know about Spade?” I say through gritted teeth and she looks at me with those gorgeous ocean blues.
“He’s my uncle.” She reveals and I damn near swerve off the road.
“He’s your what?” I ask, shock written all over my face. How the fuck is she related to Spade and why haven’t I known that my entire fucking life?
“My uncle. He’s my mother's brother. Do the math Eas.” She rasps with irritation.
“You’ve been keeping this a secret for how long? Does Bentley know? Am I the only one out of the fucking loop?” I growl, tightening my grip on the steering wheel.
“I’ve known for years, just about as long as I’ve known that our mothers are fucking.” She confesses.
“Same about our moms, but you still didn’t answer the question. Does your brother know?” I press.
“No, he doesn’t, neither does my mom. I guess you can say I’ve been keeping a lot of secrets locked in my head.” She whispers and I just nod because she’s not the only one. Fuck.
“Why are we going to Spade’s?” I ask and she sighs.
“Because he can call his Doc and not alert my brother, or mother, on this. I can trust him to keep my secret. He fucking owes me.” She grits.
“Hey, don’t get annoyed with me. I’m just trying to help and understand what the fuck is going on. I couldn’t find you for hours, Hellcat. I searched everywhere for you and I need a new mattress.” I add as she weakly squeezes my hand.
“I’m safe now, but don’t ask me who did it until later. And when I do tell you, I need you to promise that you won’t up and leave me. We will do it together because I’m sick of the games these fuckers are playing, and it’s time to get my hands bloody. Killing Garrett wasn’t enough. They all need to die. Every single one of them that hurt and touched me without my consent.” She growls and I swallow thickly because I’m one of them and I deserve to pay for what I did.
Sooner or later, I’m going to have to tell her. I’m just so fucking terrified of losing her and I know Fatal will kill me. I guess my impending death is inevitable.
The rest of the car ride is quiet as I internally beat myself up for not coming clean after it happened. If I would have told her the truth, maybe what’s coming wouldn't happen or maybe she would have never spoken to me again and lived her life without me.
The cards will fall where they may. But what is Raph without his April O'Neil?