Chapter 4
Summer
As we wait for Zander and Nick to leave the cabin, everyone is lost in their own thoughts.
I’ve stopped shaking, but the aches are making themselves known.
I take a few sips of water before asking the guys if the police have caught anyone else.
“No, they have not,” Alex tells me. “There was no one around when we went looking for you. We know Ben did not act alone, but so far we have nothing. With your permission, I would like to call my lawyer, Summer. You will need one going forward, and he is the best in the state.”
“Okay,” I agree, not really wanting to get into any of this right now.
“Here comes Nick and Z,” E tells us.
As I raise my head from Bay’s shoulder, I notice them both making their way towards the SUV. Zander opens the back door and gazes down at me. “We can take you home now. Sean will come by in the morning to get your official statement, okay?”
“Yeah, let’s go, please,” I say. The sooner I’m away from the cabin, the better.
“Are you comfortable there, or do you want me to take you over to your Jeep with me?”
“I’ll stay here,” I tell him. The pain’s increasing as the adrenaline ebbs. That, and I feel safe.
“I’ll meet you at home.” He leans close and kisses my forehead before closing the door as he and Nick walk towards the end of the driveway.
E looks over his shoulder towards me and Bay. “I’ll drive the truck back. I’m going to stop at my house and get some clothes, but I would like to stay at your house tonight if that’s alright?” He asks me.
“I believe everyone will end up staying the night,” Alex replies.
“I’d like that,” I tell him. E reaches back and gives my hand a squeeze, then gets out of the car, walking behind us.
“Can you buckle both of yourselves in, Bay?” Alex asks.
“I think so,” he replies, grabbing the seat belt and pulling it across both of us and clicking it into place.
“Where are we?” I ask the guys. We could be 10 minutes from the school or hours; I couldn’t guess.
“North of Wando,” Bay tells me. He must see the confusion on my face because he explains further. “There’s a river that wraps around the north side of Mt. Pleasant. Wando is across the river from there. We’re up north, in the middle of nowhere.” I nod as we drive in silence back home.
Zander
She’s out of danger. She’s safe. I keep repeating those words to myself as I drive back home, following Alex’s SUV closely.
Nick is getting a raise. He saved her today.
I can’t think about what she’s been through.
She wasn’t with Ben long, all things considered, but one minute is too long for her.
She looked so young and fragile, sitting on Bay’s lap in the backseat.
There was still a strength in her eyes, though.
He didn’t break her. For that, I will be forever grateful.
I need to inform Sarah and Sue about what happened. Her coach too. I tell Nick to call Troy for me. He dials and puts the phone on speaker. “Nick. Did you find her?” Troy asks.
“We’ve got her, Troy,” I tell him. “You’re on speakerphone with me and Nick. She’s okay, a few minor cuts and blood. We’re heading back home. We left Sean at the cabin Nick found her in.”
“Good. I’ve got Seb home now. I’ll let him know. Holly, her mom, and Jaxon went home, too.”
“Alright. Talk later,” I say as Nick ends the call. “We need to find out who helped Ben,” I tell Nick, because she won’t feel safe until we catch everyone involved.
“I know,” he replies. “Ben is tied to Virginia,” he informs me. “I need to call my contact and get more information.”
“Do that. Let me know his price.” Nick nods and goes back to typing on his phone.
Seb
Holy shit. They found her. Thank fuck. I felt useless sitting in that hospital bed. I’m so mad at myself that someone got the jump on me today. I hope my Sunshine really is okay.
I get a text from Nick as I’m getting dressed after a shower. He’s asking me to bring clothes for him to Z’s house. “Troy, I’m going to Z’s,” I holler, heading to the kitchen. He comes out of his room, looking at me. “Nick wants a change of clothes, and I want to stay there tonight,” I tell him.
“I’ll drive you over. I want to check on Z anyway,” he says.
“Can I come too?” Gabby asks. She’s been pretty freaked out since Troy told her what happened today.
“Of course, kid,” he tells her. “Seb, pack for yourself, Nick, and the others. Let’s go.”
Summer
Comfort temporarily washes over me as I see the warm, golden glow of the porch lights. Never have I been so happy to be home as I am this evening. It feels like an eternity since I’ve been here. How is this still the same day?
Alex quickly jogs over to my door after he parks. He lifts me into his arms, carries me inside, over to the couch, and gently sets me down in the corner. The guys take seats around me as Zander grabs a chair from the dining table and sits down in front of me. “Are you holding up okay, darling?”
“Yeah, I think so,” I reply. No, not really.
“Did you glimpse anyone in the bathroom?”
“No, I registered the chloroform, but that’s it. I woke up in a trunk.”
“Okay,” he nods. “Can you tell me what happened after you woke up?”
“Can I just tell you all in the morning with Officer Sean? I don’t want to relive it more than once, please.” My nerves can’t handle much more tonight before I completely lose it.
“Sure, darling,” Zander readily agrees. “What do you need now?”
“A shower and bath,” I tell him.
“Get cleaned up. I have calls to make if you’ll be okay with the guys for a few minutes?” He asks.
“Go ahead,” I nod. He gently squeezes my hand before removing the chair and heading to his office.
“Sunshine,” Seb hollers from the front doorway less than a minute later. He comes jogging into the room, heading straight for me, after dropping a few bags on the floor by the fireplace.
Alex quickly stands in his way. “Easy. She is hurt,” he tells Seb.
He nods and plops down on the floor in front of me. “I’m so sorry I didn’t protect you, Sunshine. I didn’t hear anyone come up behind me and knock me out,” he says, tears in his eyes as he zeroes in on the cuts.
“Not your fault, Hurry. I’m glad you and Holly are okay.”
“Hey Summer,” I catch the sound of Gabby’s voice and turn around to find her standing behind the couch. She looks scared, and her skin is paler than I’ve seen before. Her usual jewelry is missing, and her hair is in a messy bun. “Are you really okay?”
“Mostly,” I answer, giving her a small smile as she comes around to sit on the edge of the couch. “I need to shower, guys,” I remind them as I attempt to stand. My butt doesn’t even leave the couch cushion; my legs unable to straighten or hold my weight.
“Sunshine?” Seb questions.
“My legs are seized,” I tell him.
“I can run you a bath?” E offers, standing up.
“I need to shower first,” I say, my skin beginning to crawl as chilling memories claw their way to the surface, the scent of decay from the cabin air thick with the phantom weight of Ben’s actions.
My breath hitches, a frantic rhythm echoing the pounding of my heart against my ribs.
The remembered warmth of his touch feels like a brand scorching my skin.
“I have to get him off me,” I plead, eyes filling.
“Please, I can’t sit in the tub with him on me.
He’ll just be floating around!” My fingers scrub frantically at my arms and legs, a desperate attempt to erase the ghost of his touch.
“Sunshine, breathe for me.” Seb gently stops me from scratching, placing one of my hands over his chest. “We will get you showered. I promise. Follow my breathing.” I do as he asks, gaining enough oxygen, but it feels like ants are crawling all over my skin.
I must seem irrational right now, but I have to wash him away.
“Can one of us go in with you? We’ll stay clothed,” he asks.
I glance around at the guys, their faces etched with a mixture of concern and willingness.
If I want a shower, someone is going to see me naked.
The prickly feeling of embarrassment quickly fades, overshadowed by the urgent need to be clean.
Alex and Nick have already seen me in my birthday suit back at the old cabin, but Alex has a girlfriend.
“Nick,” I ask, voice a little rough, “can you help me?”
He nods and stands, grabbing one of the bags Seb dropped, and walks down the hallway. He quickly returns and lifts me, carrying me to the bathroom before setting me on the counter and shutting the door.
Nick
Fuck. I know why she chose me, but I’m not used to taking care of people.
I start the shower and glance at her. “Underwear okay?” I ask.
Getting a nod, I strip down quickly. She unabashedly looks her fill as I stand up straight and step towards her.
I hold the hem of my shirt while she squirms to free it from under her ass, then I pull it over her head.
Glancing away so I don’t stare at her, I ask how she wants to handle the shorts.
“Um, I can wiggle them down, I think,” she says, so I step back, staring at the ceiling. I see her leaning left and right in my periphery. “Can you give them a tug, Nick? They’re stuck on my butt.”
I look sideways and then down, grabbing the bottoms of the shorts and tug. She nearly slides off the counter, bracing her hands on my shoulders. One more yank and they drop to the floor.
I gently pick her up and walk into the shower.
Every drop of blood sits just beneath the surface of her skin.
She’s red from toes to forehead. I set her on the built-in bench and get on my knees.
No need to tower over her after everything.
She must be completely out of it, since she’s not even trying to cover herself up.
I crank the hot water and grab the handheld, wetting her hair first. This is my first time washing someone’s hair. I pour shampoo onto her head, gently massaging it in until it forms a lather. Even with her eyes shut, her face is crimson.