Witness: See Series (Volume 1)(11)

“Leave your bag here…look like you’re going to the restroom,” Evan said as he casually took a sip of his coffee.

I slid my bag over my shoulder and tucked his keys in my pocket.

“Go…take the back roads….you’ll be there in minutes.”

I held my breath and slid out of the seat, not daring to look toward the window. I casually dodged through the full tables of people to the hallway that led to the bathrooms. At the end of that hall, there was door to the left that had ‘Exit’ written all over it. As I reached to push it open, someone pulled it open from the other side; I was so startled, I had to hold in a scream. The old man on the other side of the door looked at me like I was insane. I looked down and slid by him. Evan’s black Hummer was a few feet from the door. I pushed the alarm button by mistake, then hit it again, frantically trying to silence the noise that was putting a target on me. I hit the unlock button and climbed in. I had to struggle with the seat to move it close enough for me to reach the pedals. Finally I backed out, then pealed the tires to the right. Once on the road, I frantically looked into the rearview mirror. I could feel Bianca...I could feel her right behind me.





Chapter Three


I never went under seventy the entire way to Draven’s. A drive that should have taken fifteen minutes was cut into seven. My heart was beating so fast that I couldn’t breathe, and my stomach was in knots.

Once I turned in the driveway, I stopped a few feet in…I had to calm down. I took in long, deep breaths and told myself I was OK…I was imagining things…they didn’t see me….Bianca didn’t know I was there. I leaned my head against the seat and glanced in the rearview mirror; as I did, Britain’s Aston Martin slowly passed by Draven’s house. My foot was on the gas before I looked ahead. I peeled around the side of the house and threw the truck in park behind the garage, then ran toward the door. It was locked; panic came over me as I stood on my tip toes and reached for the light, for the key I knew was hidden there. I dropped it, then fumbled to pick it up and forced it in the key hole.

Inside, all of the blinds were closed and the house was quiet…so quiet, you’d think it was the dead of night. I locked the door behind me, then rushed through the kitchen to the entry hall and peered out the front window, looking for Britain’s car. He wouldn’t come here…he wouldn’t let Bianca come here, I thought over and over. I reached to my side, wanting to check my phone - but my bag wasn’t there; I’d left it with Evan…my phone was with Evan. I squinted my eyes closed as I thought of the texts that would be there when I got it back – what clever game of wits Britain was playing with me.

I stared out the window for countless minutes. When I saw no evidence of the Aston Martin driving by again, I turned and looked at the sleepy, dim house. I was a little surprised not to find Nana downstairs…she literally lived in the kitchen. I guess she was playing cards at a friend’s house. I could only assume that Aden was out just as late as Draven. They had been rehearsing new songs with a few guys across town for weeks now, and I had no doubt that they were both sleeping soundly.

I climbed the stairs, trying to catch my breath and slow my heart. My plan for today was in shambles. I wanted to talk to Draven…to tell him about Britain…but after talking to Evan, I was terrified to make him angry, to give reason for the nightmares he saw to be darker. I wasn’t sure how much weight I could give to the idea of his emotions controlling the intensity. The one person that would be able to explain if they did or didn’t would be Madison…that girl has always been able to understand others’ emotions…sometimes she understood them better than her own.

I slowly opened Draven’s bedroom door. The only light came from the sides of the drapes that were pulled. I saw him lying in the center of his bed, on his stomach…his shirt was off, and his arms were above his head under his pillow. My eyes moved across every perfect muscle in his back and long, strong arms. The sight of him literally took my breath away.

I quietly slid out of my shoes and let my hoodie fall to the floor, then tiptoed to the end of the bed. I crawled slowly along his side…he never moved. I let my lips rest on his arm; when he didn’t respond, I leaned closer and kissed his neck softly. I felt him smile against my cheek. Then he whispered, “If this is a dream…don’t wake me.”

The sound of his hypnotic voice made my skin hum. He pulled his arm from under the pillow and wrapped it around my side and pulled me against him. His lips were on mine before I could say a word. I took in every movement of his lips as if it were the air I needed to breathe. My arms tightened around his waist as I squeezed myself against his warm chest. The idea of losing him…of him fighting some dark nightmare... it was too much to bear. Tears came to the corner of my eyes; once Draven felt them against his balmy skin, his kiss hesitated, then he slowly pulled away and stared into my eyes.

“What’s wrong?” he whispered as his hand slowly moved along my side.

“I missed you,” I said in a quiet voice that echoed the pain my heart felt in his absence.

“I’m right here,” he whispered as he leaned down and began to move his lips across my neck. The sensation that was coursing through every part of me was almost enough to make me forget my morning…almost.

“I’m worried about you…I’m scared,” I whispered as I let out a breath of passion.