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I slam into the frame of the door, smashing my bum knee, and nearly falling the fuck out.
“Fuck, Ian!” I pry myself back, Lugh’s hold of my beltloop releasing as I slam back into the rushing wind. The window goes up like my heart rate, but the car slows despite my hyperventilation. “Fucking shit.”
“You alright?” Ian speaks over his shoulder but doesn’t take his eyes off the road.
“Yeah, I’m good.” I heave, my chest tightening around my ribs, making air hard to get into my lungs.
Shit.
Hand to my pecs, I focus on the image I know is underneath the band tee I wear and suck in oxygen like I need life.
Breathe, one … two … three …
It slows, the hyperventilation, the shake in my hands calming.
“Shit, where’s my phone.” I feel around with trembling limbs and locate the thing on the floor, the call still engaged. “Mac?Mac?”
“Still alive. Thanks for that.” He’s sincere, almost undisturbed. He’s also sarcastic as hell considering the rapid breathing I hear over the line.
Twin shit.
Either my brother felt my response to nearly flying out the window, or he saw it and freaked out.
“I know you love me.” I breath back to him, fuck his sarcasm and calmness.
“Absolutely.” I hear the nod, feel it even, as I focus on the vehicle in front of us. “Here. Aria wants to cuss you out a little bit.” Shuffling sounds over the phone I cement to my ear, my heart racing for a different reason.
“Aria?” I sense her before she speaks, a tranquility falling around me despite all the events that just happened. “You ok, babe?”
She can be mad at me. I don’t care. As long as she’s safe.
“Goddammit, Rex.” Her tone suggests I shouldn’t feel relaxed at the sound.
I am.
“I really am fucking glad to hear the sound of your voice, babe.” Instead of just thinking it, I say it outright. Something I realized she needs if this is ever gonna have some semblance of a chance to work.
I’m met with a sigh over the phone, one I know is more of agreeance than irritation. I tuck the device between my shoulder and ear so I can lean back in the seat and buckle the seatbelt.
“I really want to say so many fucking things to you, you jackass.” She pauses, her frustration with me evident in her forced words. “That was fucking stupid.”
“I know. Not sure if you’ve gotten it yet, but I do a lot of stupid shit, babe.” I try to dampen the chuckle that bubbles out of my chest, but it sounds anyways.
“Fucking clearly.” Laced with an eye roll I can hear through the phone, my chuckle turns into a laugh I’m so glad I can have in this moment. That I can share with her.
“Fuck, I never thought I’d hear from you again.” I rub my chin, the stubble scratching against my palm that then lands on the back of my neck.
“And I certainly never thought I’d have to chase your ass down to find my best friend, but here we are.” Aria retorts, her words furrowing my brow, the ache in my chest returning.
Did I read it wrong?
Shit.
“Where the fuck is Cedar?” She challenges, the bite in her tone has me snapping up in my seat.
“Babe, I don’t know who you’re talking about.” I tap the front seat for Ian’s attention who signals that we’re two minutes out from the rendezvous.
“Bull shit. Did you have her tossed in jail for assault?”Huh?“Or did you just kick her to the curb?”
