Chapter 20
KADENCE
Drew brought me a steaming plate of shrimp alfredo and garlic bread, and my mouth watered before he could put it down.
I dug into the food, moaning as the savory flavor hit my taste buds.
This was the best goddamn thing I’d put in my mouth.
If a man could cook like this, his dick game had to be spot on and Annika was a lucky girl, but I still had questions.
Annika was carried into the kitchen by Drew as he sat her down next to me. I slurped a noodle, alfredo sauce dripping down my chin, causing both of us to laugh. This was something I hadn’t had in a long time, and the laughter was genuine. Annika was a saving grace in a sea of darkness.
“Sorry.” I grabbed the napkin, cleaning my face as I jumped back in.
“Drew's food is amazing, so I understand.”
I got to know the guys more, which caused Annika to turn as red as a tomato since they were telling me embarrassing stories.
While they talked, I saw love in their eyes for each other.
I was a romantic, I couldn’t help it. Admiring and craving other people’s relationships was how I managed, so when I did find my forever, I had the perfect blueprint.
I just met the four of them, but I could see how much they loved each other.
When we finished eating, I helped Annika clean the kitchen, listening to flirty pop music.
Drew kissed her neck when the last dish was in the dishwasher, causing her to moan and push against him.
Annika excused the two of them while they went to shower.
I told her I would be going to bed myself.
It was a long night. Hell, it was a long existence and sleeping might be a little easier.
My nerves were already shot with my first official day at Hades tomorrow.
It was just waitressing, so nothing should go wrong, right?
I felt like Blaize was going to be a problem, though.
Tonight was only the second time interacting with her, but everything was still fresh.
I said goodnight to Theo and Noah as I scurried off to the bedroom.
The darkness was deafening.
I felt like I was being chased, my red flags at high alert as the world spun around me.
“That’s it, you fucking whore.” Rough, brutal hands gripped my body as searing pain ripped through me.
“You are mine to use how I want.” Dom’s face faded to view, anger and hate in his eyes.
I used to love those mocha eyes, but now they brought nothing but pain and misery.
“Stop!” Everything was on fire as his dominating form hovered over my body. “Goodbye, Caden. I’ll be seeing you.” A gun fired, and before I felt anything, I was falling into a dark abyss.
“NO!” I screamed, kicking at the blankets that stuck to my sweaty body.
My hand went to my chest, feeling for a bullet wound that wasn’t there.
“Fuck.” I reached for my phone, sighing at the time.
I’d only been asleep for three hours. I pushed the blankets aside, pulled down my shirt, and quietly left the room to get some water.
Leaning on the counter, I rested my head in my hands and rubbed my temples. I needed to get on medication or some kind of therapy. This was not going to work.
I heard footsteps coming up into the kitchen, and I looked up to see Drew shirtless in his black boxer briefs. I gave him a small smile as I finished the water in the glass. “Nightmare?” he asked, and I nodded. “Heard you scream. The others are out like a light, but I don’t really sleep much.”
“You know that’s not healthy.”
“Touché, but I sleep when the other two leave in the morning with Annika before she has to go to the club. It’s only a few hours, but it’s something. The mind is a crazy thing.”
“It really is,” I muttered.
“You feel like talkin’ about it?” He looked genuinely concerned, but there was something in his blue eyes that said he understood the emotions swimming through my mind right now.
“I’m not ready to trauma dump, but I was hurt by someone I loved. The dreams and constant memories are paralyzing, like I have a demon waiting at the back door to drag me to the pits of hell.”
“Demons are tricky. They like to be pesky and hurt us more than our memories.” Their bedroom door opened and a sleepy Annika walked in the kitchen. She smiled at me with sleepy eyes before grabbing Drew's hand.
“Come back to sleep, my love,” Annika said, rubbing his arm.
He nodded while looking down at her with a smile before returning his eyes to me. “Don’t let your demons win. If you need to talk, find me.” Instead of having Annika walk to the bedroom, Drew scooped her up bridal style and the two of them disappeared.