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The three of us converse some more and after Brett has all the information he needs from me, he gives Mike and me an overview of what will happen. His phone buzzes and he says, “Jeff asked me to be present when he gives his statement of what occurred, and Melody and Mackenzie have asked that I be there as well.” His gaze locks with mine. “This should help Chase.”
“Can I see Mackenzie?”
Brett shakes his head. “I’m sorry son. Not yet. I’m hoping I can get you out of here within twenty-four hours. You can see her then.” His gaze moves to Mike. “He’s already agreed to pay your bail. I’ll keep you updated.” He shakes my hand, then Mike’s. “I’ll be back soon.”
After he leaves, I blow out a breath, my gaze locking with Mike’s. “I’m sorry for everything. Thank you for agreeing to pay my bail. I’ll find a way to pay you back?—”
Mike holds up a hand. “That won’t be necessary, Chase. I’m your guardian. Plus, Mackenzie would be irate if she found out I didn’t.” He grins, trying to lighten the mood. An involuntary smile curls my lips.She’d be furious if he didn’t.
“How is she doing?” Worry and longing battle for dominance. The look on Mike’s face changes, growing serious, causing the cold hand of fear to trail along my spine.
“You know Mackenzie. Determined to get you out of here. Pissed at Alex and her mom.” His voice cracks on the word mom, and I brace myself. The things Pearl said in the principal’s office about me needing to be held accountable whenever Alex’s father decided to press charges churned through my mind, causing my stomach to clench.
“Mackenzie and Pearl have been fighting since the arrest.” He blows out a long breath. “Pearl is determined to keep you away from Mackenzie. She…” His eyes are full of sorrow as his voice shakes, cutting off. I know he sees the pain on my face. It’s something I can’t hide.
Like he’s ripping a band-aid off, he blurts out, “Pearl said you are no longer welcome at our house. She wants you to move out, Chase.”
The floor drops out from beneath my feet and the room spins as I stare at him.
“The fight was the last straw for her.” His voice is quiet. His gaze drops to his hands that twist nervously together on the table. “Chase, I’ll do everything to try and change her mind. But right now, she’s not budging.”
“What am I supposed to do?” I croak, panic welling inside me.I can’t do this. I can’t be without Mackenzie. It’s just not possible.
Mike mistakes my reaction, immediately reassuring me. “I’m going to talk to Brett and see if you can stay there temporarily. I’ll help you find a place and I’ll pay for it. I also want to get you a vehicle to drive so you have transportation.”
I stare at him blankly. I’m not worried about where I’ll live.Right now, I could give two shits if I’m sleeping on the street. I only care that I’ll be separated from Mackenzie.
One word passes through my lips. “Mackenzie.”
Mike swallows audibly, leaning back in the chair. “I think it best if you try and avoid her for a bit. At least until Pearl calms down.”
I’m already shaking my head vigorously.I refuse. There’s no fucking way.
I’m so lost inside my head, my thoughts spinning wildly, that I jump when Mike’s hand squeezes my shoulder. “I know this is going to be hard. I’ll help you in any way?—”
“Then don’t separate Mackenzie and me. It won’t do either of us any good.” My tone is harsh, my anger rising.
“Chase, I understand that you care for her?—”
“No, you have no fucking idea, Mike. Your daughter iseverythingto me. She isn’t just a high school sweetheart. She’s my whole fucking life. My reason for getting up every morning. Your daughter is why I fought so damn hard to escape the fucking devil, who hurt us in unimaginable ways,” I snap, the rage like the rising ocean waters about to take me over. “Do you know that fucker put your daughter in a glass box and zip-tied her inside? He made me fight a guy to the death for her. The winner got her—to do whatever he wanted with—and that fucker threatened to rape her until she bled. I had to kill him to save her. I fought that bastard until I literally bashed his skull in, Mike. It made me dry heave to see what I did… But there was no other choice. I wasn’t going to let him rape her, too.” I have to pause, my chest heaving, as I gasp for oxygen. I take a few gulps, then continue.
“But that wasn’t enough. To get to her, they dumped various glass shards all over the stairs and altar where she was being held. I had to walk barefoot across it, cut the ties, and then carry her so she didn’t get hurt.”
Mike’s eyes are huge. Mackenzie and I spared him the gory details of what we’d been through. Mackenzie feared it would be too much for them to handle.
But now, it rushes out as I try to make him understand she and I aren’t different. The love we have isnottypical. It’s all-consuming. She owns my heart and is part of my battered soul. I love Mackenzie so damn much, she’s imprinted on my fucking DNA.
I keep going, hoping Mackenzie will forgive me for revealing this without consulting with her before spilling my guts. “Orpheus put her in a goddamn wooden coffin with a glass lid. He had some type of opening that, when he pressed a button, it opened, and dumped spiders on her.She was freaking out. You know how terrified she is of spiders.” I shudder, her screams and terror so tangible I feel like I’m reliving it all over again. “I had to find a weapon and shatter the glass to get her out of there. That’s why she had those abrasions and cuts on her face, hands, and legs when she came home. I didn’t want to hurt her, but I had to get her the fuck out of there as fast as I could.”
Mike is still staring at me, his face deathly white. His mouth opens and closes like a fish, no sound coming out.
“That’s what I mean about the kind of love we share. It’s rare. A once-in-a-lifetime kind of feeling, Mike. When I say I love your daughter, I don’t think that word carries enough weight to depict what we share. She’s my soulmate. My pot of gold at the end of the end of a rainbow. My heart and soul. Every piece of me belongs to her.” My emotions are out of control, tears filling my eyes. “She’s my everything,” I rasp.
77
MACKENZIE
I’m sitting in the waiting area between Jeff and Melody, who murmur reassurances that everything will work out and Chase will be out sooner than later. I cling to their words even as I worry my bottom lip between my teeth, fearing they’re wrong.
