AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Oh, God.
What if they come to Ben’s house? What if this mysterious person sets fire to his house? What if he’s inside? What if Laila is?
Like a bird trapped in a pitch dark cave, panic is flapping crazily inside me, desperate to escape.
What if I get Ben killed? Or Laila?
I can’t go anywhere. Not Ari and Cash’s place. Not with Ari about to have her baby.
My dad in Florida? I can’t risk him, either.
My head is pounding, tears are pressing against my eyes; I’m a breath away from completely losing it.
“I have to leave,” I blurt out. “I’ll hide.”
A hand rubs my arm. “Thea, sweetheart—”
Another voice—Cole? Leo?—says, “You don’t need to hide—”
“I do!” Tears are leaking down my cheeks, the battle to keep them in over. “I can’t get anyone hurt. Oh, God.” I look frantically at Ben. “I could have hurt you. Laila. I’m so sorry!”
My pulse is thundering, a steel drum echoing in my head. My lungs struggle to get air. “I’m so sorry,” I cry, and now I’m full-on sobbing. “I didn’t think… I’m so sorry… I’ll leave—”
“Thea.” Ben wraps his arms around me, tugging me into his chest. His voice is gentle, but firm. “Stop. You need to listen to me. Stop panicking.”
I can’t. Everything I’ve been holding back—my fears, the uncertainty, the guilt—it’s broken through the dam and is overflowing.
“Thea.” There’s a harder edge to his tone. “I need you to breathe. Okay? Just breathe. We can work this out.”
I can feel Ben’s hand moving up and down my back, the press of his lips on my head, the firmness of his chest and the thump of his heartbeat against mine. But it’s not enough. Not this time. I’ve never felt this out of control. This weak. Broken.
Cole moves closer, speaking to Ben. “We’ll get out of here. I’m sorry about this—”
“It’s not your fault. I think this has been a long time coming.”
It’s humiliating, sobbing like a baby in front of Cole and Leo, but I can’t seem to make myself stop.
“We’ll get the apartment ready, then?” It’s Leo this time. “I think it’s best if you come tonight. We can come back to pack the rest of your things tomorrow.”
Pack? What things? Where is Ben going?
Ben nods against my head. “Yeah. Give us a couple of hours.”
I want to ask what he’s talking about, but that requires me to stop crying first. Which is easier said than done.
But after a few minutes—I think, or is it longer—of Ben rubbing my back and me snuffling back tears, I’ve finally gotten myself back under control. Sort of. I’m still hiccuping and sniffing and my eyes are tight and burning, but I’m not sobbing into his shirt anymore.
“I’m sorry,” I whisper, eyeing the large damp spot on his chest. “I didn’t mean to lose it.”
“It’s okay, sweetheart.” He brushes the wetness from my cheeks. “You’ve been through so much. And today—especially after being hurt—it’s understandable. You have nothing to be sorry about.”
I beg to differ, but that’s for another day. “Where are you going?”
“Not me. Us.”
“What?” My voice wobbles. “I told you, Ben. I can’t let you—”
“No, Thea.” His eyes soften as he looks into mine. “Just listen, okay? Blade and Arrow has an extra apartment; they use it for clients, friends and family, too. We’re going to stay there. All of us. Me, you, Laila. You’re not running off on your own. I won’t let you.”
