Chapter 33
Corrine
Riley and I wait in the van as the guys rush into the fire-ridden basement. I silently count the seconds that go by, sure we’re too late.
“What if I waited too long to say something?” I ask her.
“Say something about what?” Riley hugs my arm next to me.
“About him disappearing in the club. We could have gotten to him faster if I hadn’t suspected he was using in the bathroom or just being a dick.”
“Corrine,” she chastises me, “none of this is your fault. We didn’t know what was happening, and I am sure we will get to the bottom of this.” She squeezes my hand, and then I close my eyes.
Sixty-seven, sixty-eight.
Then I hear the door slam open, and Sebastian is carrying Xavier’s lifeless body through the door with Jamison and Jonathan on his heels.
“Open the door!” Sebastian shouts as he approaches. I jump up and open the van’s doors, looking first at Sebastian before daring to look down at Xavier.
“Is he…?” I ask.
“He’s fine I think. He must have hit his head and likely passed out from the smoke. Come on, let’s get him home and checked out.”
“Home? Shouldn’t we go to the hospital?!” I ask, incredulous.
“No.” We need Lockhart and his goons not to know how bad he is.
During the entire car ride, I sat in the back of the van with Xavier’s head in my lap, and his body sprawled across the bench. His leg has an open wound, and he’s got bruising and blood on his face. But he’s breathing. And all I can do is watch his chest rise and fall as Sebastian rushes back to the city.
The time on the clock ticks by as I wait for Xavier to wake up. Once Sebastian’s doctor had met us at the apartment and checked on Xavier, we all breathed a sigh of relief, knowing he would be fine. Sebastian had made it very clear that Xavier needed no painkillers, and much to my surprise, the doctor agreed—apparently, no one questioned Sebastian’s wishes. Even still, I worry he’ll wake in a world of hurt after getting a few stitches in the stab wound on his leg. Hopefully, he understands why we want him to be clear-headed.
The others left to give us some space and likely to get some rest themselves. And I’ve been lying next to Xavier most of the day, waiting for him to wake up. I shift now on the bed, trying to make as little impact next to him as possible. My phone tumbles off the mattress to the floor.
“Shit,” I whisper, then lean over to grab it.
“Hello, Butterfly,” Xavier says from behind me. I’m so startled I gasp, turning to find his brilliant smile on full display.