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Tears welled in my eyes while I absorbed her words. No judgment, no shaming, just Gabby accepting me and my fucked-up baggage. I wiped away the moisture before I looked at her.
“I’ve been seeing a psychiatrist for a few years to see if we can find out where the terrors are coming from. One of the options that my parents and psychiatrist came up with was for me to cuff myself to the bed so I wouldn’t jump out of any more windows.”
Gabby leaned over and took my hand in hers. “Does it work?”
I nodded. “The chain isn’t that long, and Dad helped me set it up at my new place. It won’t reach the sliding glass door or the bathroom. The mirror was a concern,” I explained.
“If you’re safe, that’s all that’s important. Really, don’t ever feel like we can’t talk about it. Besties have an automatic safe zone for these things. You, Teagan, Ari, Everlee, and Leighton are my bitch pack, and nothing will come between us.”
“Really?” I whispered, tears flowing down my cheeks now. “You have no idea how much that means to me. Even though I was popular in high school, no one knew my secret … except Marc, my ex-boyfriend. That mistake nearly destroyed me and cost me a year and a half of being forced to stay in a relationship I didn’t want anything to do with. The fucking asshole blackmailed me.” There was the other part of my confession.
“What the actual fuck? What a goddamn bastard!” Gabby dropped my hand and hopped off the couch. She paced the room, her bare feet smacking the hardwood floors as her fingers curled into a fist. “Oh, I wish the son of a bitch had come to Whitmore with you. By the time you and I were done with him, he would never mess with a girl again. Piece of shit,” she spat.
Wide-eyed, I watched her pace. I hadn’t ever seen her react so strongly. A giggle slipped from my lips. “You might be a little scary, Gabby. But … I like it.”
Gabby slowed, then sat down again. “We all have secrets or things that we’re embarrassed to admit. Anyone who uses it against us is lower …” She pursed her mouth into a thin line. “I’m so mad at that douche canoe I can’t even find the right words.”
I giggled. “I think you found plenty of words. Lucky for him, he’s across the country, and I haven’t heard from him since I moved to Oregon.” I’d felt so relieved leaving him behind, I didn’t want to give him too much headspace when I had more important things to deal with—like how I was going to stay here without attracting more unwanted attention from the masked stranger. A shudder worked its way up my spine. “I should go. I have some studying to do.” I stood and grabbed my duffel bag stuffed with my dirty clothes from the week.
“If you need to come back, don’t even bother to call. Just show up.” Gabby hopped out of her seat, then pulled me in for a big hug. “But I have something for you.”
Curious, I watched as she hurried to her backpack near the set of stairs that led to the bedrooms. She rifled around for a moment, then returned and held out a small black canister. “Mace.”
“Thank you.” I grinned. “It helps knowing you’re only a few minutes away, too.” I quickly hugged her, then strode to the door.
Gabby followed, then watched me as I walked down the driveway and to my car. Once I was inside, she gave me a little wave and disappeared back into the home.
Before I left, I turned on Spotify, and “Blood on Your Hands” by Veda and Adam Arcadia flowed through my speakers. I grimaced at the lyrics. “Mm, not right now.” I quickly changed the song. To my dismay, “The Hunted” by The Rigs played next. Apparently, I had dark taste in music, but this wasn’t the time to listen to it. Turning off the music, I opted to focus on the drive. Soft raindrops landed on my windshield, and my anxiety kicked up the closer I got to the house. At least I had some mace now. The only problem was the night terrors. What if I accidentally sprayed myself while asleep?
Every mile that went by, my heart rate spiked with my nervousness. I wasn’t as brave as I told myself I was. If I were honest, I was fucking terrified, but I wouldn’t allow someone else to dictate to me.
By the time I arrived at my place, I was struggling to breathe. Forcing myself to get control, I stood at the front door, squared my shoulders, then marched inside like I was fucking Wonder Woman. Rage exploded inside my chest.How dare that motherfucker come into my home and threaten me?Whoever he was, he had another thing coming if he thought he could bully me. Marching right to my bedroom, I placed the keys and mace on my nightstand, then tossed my bag into the middle of the bed.
Chills peppered my arms, and I rubbed them as I realized I needed to check the place for anyone hiding and waiting for me. “Fuck. What are you doing?” Looking around to make sure I was safe should have been the first thing I’d done, but at least now I was more pissed than scared. That was progress.
I collected the little black canister of courage and ensured that I aimed the mace away from my face.
Five minutes later, I flopped onto my bed. All the doors and windows were locked, and the closets were empty of any lurking assholes wearing a mask and waiting to try and force me to leave Oregon. The mirror was also free of any lipstick other than thefuck offmessage I’d left.
“Shit,” I muttered, climbing off the mattress. I’d forgotten to check the backyard. My fingers tightened on the mace as I peeked outside. Seeing no one, I opened the slider in my room. The sun had already set, and the rain clouds made it darker than normal. I stepped out onto the little cement patio, realizing there was nothing to be afraid of, I breathed in the fresh air. No monsters were in sight. A flash of light caught my eye, and my curiosity got the most of me as I walked across the yard. A dog barked in the distance, and I glanced over my shoulder at my bedroom. Even though I was feeling a lot better, my nerves apparently were still wound tight.
Crouching down to see what had caught my attention, I frowned as I picked up a little metal box with an eye on it. I traced the strange image, intrigued. Footsteps sounded, but before I could turn to see where they were coming from, a gag was shoved into my mouth, and a bag was pulled over my head from behind me, causing me to drop my mace.
I kicked and screamed, fighting the unknown figure, but I was quickly overpowered. My hands were forcefully secured behind me, then I was lifted off the ground. Some kind of ropes were wrapped around my ankles, leaving me completely helpless. I couldn’t tell how many people were carrying me off, but I could hear several sets of footsteps. Panic clawed at my chest, then I landed with a thud, and a click reached my ears. I struggled to breathe through the coarse material covering my face as tears streamed down my cheeks. I should have fucking listened and left school. The fucker wasn’t playing with me. I wasn’t positive, but I was pretty sure that I’d been kidnapped and tossed into the trunk of a car.
I closed my eyes, trying to remain calm, but the moment I did, flashes of dark figures clouded my mind.What in the hell is happening?
ChapterTwelve
Kane
“It’s initiation night, guys!” I hollered to everyone in the living room. “Head downstairs, and let the games begin.”
Since I bought the place, I’d added the finishing touches and renovations for the new society location that included a meeting area, camera system, toys for every kink we had, and soundproofing in the ten rooms. But one special space had been built for initiation, and I couldn’t fucking wait to use it.
The guys followed, eager to see the place as well. I released a chuckle as everyone’s footsteps pounded down the stairs, sounding like a stampede. Once we reached a silver door, I pressed my thumb to the keypad, and the lock popped open.
“Damn. We’re stepping it up this year, huh?” Sterling said over my shoulder.
