19. Cherry
I’m just going through some inventory for the shop, trying to concentrate on work instead of the frustrating man who’s been MIA since he dropped his last bombshell. The call from Lexi late Sunday night saying that Dean had sent her threatening texts had put everyone on edge too. That man needs to be taken down hard, and I have no doubt if he comes after Lexi and Theo, Hunter will have no hesitation in doing just that.
When Hunter calls me frantic not thirty minutes later, I hope it’s with an update to say Dean is in jail, but it’s my worst nightmare come to life.
“Cherry, he took her. That bastard has Lexi and my son.”
Jumping up, I feel all my limbs begin to shake with fear. My heart races at the thought of that lunatic having Lexi and Theo. “How? When?”
“She took Theo to the doctor because he felt warm. Dean killed her protection officers and took her from the side of the road.”
“I’m coming to you. Hunter, we will get them back, I promise you.”
I know I’m making promises I can’t possibly have any control over, but the need to re assure him is so strong I don’t think.
“No, stay there and lock the door. Jake is coming to collect you and bring you here.”
“Okay.”
Hunter hangs up and I look around me at the wonderful business I’ve built with my best friend, and wonder if it’s all going to end because of one sick man. The thought of losing Lexi makes me sink to my knees on a sob so guttural it’s almost animal.
Anguish and terror have me folding in on myself, as I imagine the fear she must be feeling. I know Lexi and I know she’d die protecting her son if it comes to it. I pull my knees to my chest and try to breathe but it feels like everything is stuck. The air in my lungs is thick and suffocating.
I want to scream and wail, but I can’t get air in. I feel like I’m dying as everything feels far away, and muted. My vision blurs as I see a figure walk towards me and begin to scramble away as he crouches closer.
“Cherry, baby, it’s me.”
“Jake?”
He folds around me and lifts me, his arm under my knees, and carries me into the back office, before sitting us both on the couch, with me on his lap. His arms feel tight and secure as he holds me to him and rocks me like I’m fragile.
“Breathe with me, Blossom.” Placing my hand over his heart he lays his over mine and begins to breathe slowly in and out. Surrounded by his familiar scent and the warm security of his body, I begin to breathe with him, my body relaxing, the shakes that had wracked my body subsiding.
“He took her, Jake.”
“I know, Blossom, but we’re gonna get her back.”
Lifting my head, I look into the handsome face that has been at the center of some of my happiest memories and some of my worst and see his belief in what he said.
“Okay.” I don’t know why I choose to believe him, but I do .
“Come on, let’s take you to Hunter’s. He needs us right now and we should all be together.”
Silently we drive to Hunter’s and Lexi’s home, which is set up like mission control with huge trained mercenaries moving around like this is their show. I sit with Jake, Vivian, and Hank, as Hunter paces like a caged lion. After my mental breakdown at the shop, Jake has hardly left my side, but I’m feeling stronger and more focused now that I have others to concentrate on.
Yet sitting here doing nothing feels wrong, the heavy weight of helplessness making me want to claw my eyes out. Jumping up, I stride over to the scary hot guy who seems to be in charge and tap him on the shoulder. He turns, pinning me with a cool gaze that holds no warmth, only cold intelligence and control.
I force a shiver away and lift my chin. “I want an update.”
“There is no update. You know what we know, so let us do our jobs.”
Any other time, I would’ve swooned at his gorgeous British accent, but not now. Not when my best friend is at the mercy of a monster. “This is bullshit. We should know something by now.”
“The best thing you can do is keep calm and remain with your friends.”
Folding my arms, I lift a brow as Jake comes to stand behind me. “Oh, really? Is that the best thing to do, you condescending asshole?”
“Blossom, he’s doing his best.”
“Well, it’s not enough and I can’t sit here and do nothing.”
“How well do you know Lexi?”
I glared at Mr. Tall, dark, and dangerous, knowing my anger is misplaced but not caring. “She’s been my best friend since school. She’s my business partner, my ride or die.”
“Do you have a key to her home?”
“Of course.”
“Okay, go there and look for anything that might be out of place. You know her best so look through paperwork for anything that might tell us where he’s taken her. ”
“On it.”
Spinning with a sense of purpose, I stride toward the door.
“Hey, wait up.”
“What are you doing, Jake?” I ask as he steps into the elevator behind me. He gives me a look that indicates I’m stupid for even asking. “You don’t need to come with me.”
“I’m not letting you go alone so just shut up and tell me where to go.”
I could argue but I know it won’t do any good, so I just give him directions to Lexi’s old home and let him drive.
It feels weird being here without her. Most of her things are gone, and the house has a sad air of ghosts from another life in it. It’s hard to explain because I’ve spent so much time here with her, with her and Dean, and now it’s like remembering a movie I once watched.
We spend hours looking for clues, some things we pass on to Hunter and his team in the hopes it helps but most of it is as useless as I feel.
Around nine we get the call. Lexi has been found but she’s in a bad way. Theo is still missing. As we race to the hospital, Jake grips my hand tight, as if to quiet my racing thoughts.
When we reach the department, we’re ushered in by Hunter’s security team and find Vivian and Hank with Cassie. I rush toward them and Vivian hugs me close, as Jake hugs Hank. In this, we’re an unbreakable unit. Nothing else matters right now, not the past, not the future, just getting Theo back and making sure Lexi is okay.
“What have they said?” Jake takes charge, asking the question that seems stuck in my throat.
“It’s bad. They brought her in via life-flight. She has multiple injuries, including a head injury.”
“Oh God.” My hand covers my mouth and I sway towards Jake who wraps his arm around my shoulders, holding me up.
“Hunter is speaking to the doctor now.”
Nodding, I let Jake lead me toward a chair and ease me down. Sitting next to me, he pulls me close and I rest my head on his shoulder. He’s my strength right now, when deep down I know he’s my weakness.
We wait for hours, getting updates on Lexi that do nothing to ease my fears. At some point, we get word that they’ve found Theo and Hunter heads out with the team to rescue his son. My best friend is still fighting for her life. That animal beat her head in and left her in the river to die, but she fought. She fought for her son and for the man she loves.
I know that kind of love. I felt it for the man who hasn’t left my side. The difference is Hunter is right there fighting with Lexi, and when it came down to it, Jake didn’t do the same for me.
I mull over his words as the clock ticks and the hours pass. He’d said he didn’t steal the papers and part of me believes that, but it doesn’t matter because he let me take the fall either way, and nothing can excuse that.
Sitting up, I move away from his warmth, knowing that I can’t rely on it. I’d thought I could but it was a lie.
“You doing okay?”
I nod and stand, pretending to stretch, but really it’s because I can’t bear to be near him and not touch him. He’s behaving like the man I fell in love with and it’s confusing me too much when I can’t afford to let myself be sucked in again. “Just stretching my legs.”
I can feel him watching me as I walk to the window and look out over the city. People are going about their lives without any idea of the trauma and drama happening in this room. A phone rings behind me and I twist to see Hank answer. The relief that falls across his face, followed by the smile, tells me all I need to know.
Theo is safe. I wait in silence as Hank speaks and nods, my heart lighter than it has been in a very long time, especially when he announces that Dean is dead. My best friend’s nightmare is over.
Glancing across at Jake, I see him watching me and know that mine is far from over. How can it be when I’m still in love with the devil that broke me?