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“I don’t say anything I don’t mean, especially to you.”
“I know.” Our eyes lock and hold for a few minutes. We silently communicate without saying a word.
His voice is a reverent whisper. “Angel, I need to hear you feel like I do… That this thing isn’t one-sided. That what I’m seeing in your eyes is real.”
“It is real. I’ve tried to deny it, but it’s impossible. It just keeps growing stronger, and I don’t wanna fight it?—"
His lips cover mine, and my words die inside my throat. A whimper comes from me as I eagerly respond to his kiss, delighting in the feel of his soft mouth covering mine. The way he sighs before deepening it makes me forget what the hell we were talking about. It takes me out of this creepy attic and into the stratosphere.
When we break apart, Chase growls, “What a kiss. I could do that all day, every day.”
His words are meant to make me smile, but the air is knocked from my lungs.How many days do we have to explore this? What is going to happen at this damn ritual? Will one or both of us die?
Shaking my head to clear the thoughts, my gaze rakes over the dried blood on his face and his swollen eye.I wish I could take care of him. Clean the blood from his face and put ice on his eye.
“Stop it, angel. I’m fine.”
“Of course you’d say that, whiskey tango.” My words lighten the moment, making him smile. “You always worry about everyone else first, putting yourself last.”
He rubs his nose against mine. “Correction. I putyoufirst. Everyone else second. And me, last.” Warm breaths feather over my skin. “I like that nickname you gave me. It makes me feel important to you. Special.”
I swallow hard, my mouth and throat dry. “Youarespecial, whiskey. No one compares to you.”
“I feel the same way about you, angel. No one comes close to you.” His lips capture mine for a long and sweet kiss. When he pulls back, the promise in his eyes nearly makes me weep. “I’m gonna get us out of here, Kenz. And it’s going to happen before your birthday.”
My emotions spiral out of control. My mom has been pestering me about a big birthday bash because I’ll turn eighteen on Halloween. I’ve been very indecisive since I only have a few friends. While I could invite many people from school, the vast majority turned their backs on me after the accident.
“Why do you look so glum, buttercup?” Chase squeezes my hands, bringing me back to the dusty attic room with the dim light bulb hanging from the center, casting dark shadows in the corners.
“My mom was pestering me about a big birthday bash.” I look down at my bound hands, emotionally raw. “But I don’t want that. I-I don’t have many friends. Not like I used to. They abandoned me when my brother died, and I was messed up from the accident. I was the ‘depressed, crippled friend’ who was a burden to them. Some drifted away and never returned. The others who did, I refused to get close to them. Not after they abandoned me when I needed them.”
“God, Kenz.” His eyes shine with tears. “I’m so fucking sorry. People can be so horrible. But, on a positive note, what matters more is surrounding yourself with those who really care for you. Even if it’s only a few.”
I exhale a long, shuddering breath. “You’re right. It was a tough lesson to learn at fourteen. Life is short, and some people are shallow.” My gaze lifts, burning into his. “And some are so damn genuine, they offset all the fake ones.”
Chase raises a brow, a smile playing on his lips. “Referring to me, I hope?”
“Always, Chase. You’re the most authentic person I know.”
“I’m honored. Also, don’t sell yourself short, Kenz. You weeded out the disingenuous for the sincere. It was a tough lesson, but you grew and matured from it. Most people aren’t resilient like you. And they sure as hell aren’t as strong.” Chase’s jaw is set, his eyes full of determination and promise. “No matter what happens or what we must do, we’re getting out of this hellhole. It’s us against them. Where you go, I go.”
His words are inspiring, the confidence and resolve on his face filling me with hope. It weaves itself into the very fibers of my being, giving me renewed drive and purpose. A reason to keep fighting.
I squeeze his hands. “Us against them. Where you go, I go.”
17
CHASE
My eyes pop open when I feel someone touching my ankle. At first, I assume it’s Mackenzie, until I realize she’s lying beside me, her warm breaths hitting my face. My eyes pop open, taking in her long lashes resting against her cheek as she sleeps.
She’s not touching me. Who is?
My head snaps up from the mattress, taking in Rosario hovering by my feet. Her lacy black veil covers her face but her dark eyes flash to mine. I see the hint of fear in them before she continues touching me. “Untying your ankles so you can eat.”
My belly growls in response. I have no idea how long it’s been since I ate last. After being drugged, I have no concept of time other than noticing if it’s day or night when I stare out the window.
Rosario moves to Mackenzie’s ankles next. She stirs, her wild eyes moving to Rosario, panic in them, before they become calmer when they meet mine.
