Chapter 25
CHAPTER 25
ZYRAN
First, she blocked me. Then, she got a new number. And when I continued to blow up her phone, she turned it off and completely disposed of it. I’ve been hacking since I was in middle school, and I consider myself to be the best, but whoever Kiara got to encrypt her phone is better than me.
I’ve been trying to give her the space she needs, but I’m beginning to lose it. Even though she exists all around me, every single day, without her even knowing, I still give her space because I know she needs it. I feel horrible about Esther’s death, and the knowledge that I’ve hurt my butterfly so deeply makes me crave her nearness to comfort and console her.
The urge to leave that cramped closet space and show myself to her has been strong, but I’ve suppressed it. Every night after she falls asleep, I creep up to her room and stroke her face. I’ll sit there for hours, watching her sleep, until I feel like I can’t keep my own eyes open anymore. Only then do I reluctantly break myself away from her and crawl back into the space before the sun comes up.
I’m definitely feeling the lack of sleep now, because as I scan the crowded area for my butterfly, I feel like I’ll pass out from exhaustion.
But then I spot her watching Anthony Banks on stage.
Downing the rest of my drink, I push away a half-drunk girl who’s trying to get my attention and go follow Kiara. She’s with her friend, so at least she’ll be safe, but I won’t know peace until I’m next to her again.
Slithering my way through the crowd, I ignore the dirty looks I get as I push past people in my haste to get to my baby.
I’ve given her enough space—I’m done waiting. I knew she was helping her friend deal with being raped, and I wanted her to be there for her, but I’m not a patient man. When I want something, I take it without a second thought. I meant it when I said she is mine, and I fully intend to make her see it.
When I finally get close enough to touch her, I’m jostled to the side by the crowd. Gritting my teeth, I push my way back to her. She’s like a lighthouse, my beacon in the night—I’ll always find my way back to her.
There she is, standing right in front of me, and she doesn’t even know it. If there weren’t so many damn people around, I’d force her to come with me.
Her phone pokes out of her back pocket. I silently chastise her for being so careless.
But I thank whatever entity is out there for the perfect opportunity for me to take it.
Thankfully, no one is paying any attention to me, so it’s easy for me to slip in and slide her phone out of her pocket. I’m breathing so hard that when she whips her head around, I duck behind someone else so she doesn’t see me.
She’s so close, yet so far away. I drink in her beautiful, freckled face, her long brown hair piled high on top of her head into a messy bun.
Fuck, I need her now.
But instead of taking what I want, I wait. For now, I’ll keep my distance and watch her have fun. Pretty soon, I’ll be having some fun of my own.