Witness: See Series (Volume 1)(24)

“Not so fast,” Britain said in a demanding tone. “I want my book back – and tell your boyfriend he owes me for the phone.”

“Seriously?!” I said callously. “I bet you own the company.” I reached in my pocket and pulled out the ripped photo of me and him. “This was in your book. I’ll give the rest back when I’m done with it.”

Britain smirked and refused to take the photo. “You keep it. I forgive you…at this point, I have no other choice.”

Before I could question what he meant by that, Silas’s arm tightened around my waist. “Come Charlie,” he said quietly. “Monroe,” Silas said as he reached his other arm for her. Monroe came willingly, and I wondered how she knew him. Was he affecting her the same way he was affecting me? I looked across his strong chest at Monroe on his other side. She looked calm, but what I was feeling…this peace…was nowhere in her expression. I let my eyes fall to the ground, and for the first time in a long time - a really long time - I felt calm. I wasn’t anxious, scared, confused, or even angry. The emotion was so foreign to me that I was struggling to comprehend it. The anxiety I should have had for not understanding it never surfaced; the peace was just too strong.

“Who are you?” I asked, quietly looking up at him as we stepped onto Main Street.

He smiled slightly, and it all but took my breath away. This guy was...he was like...angelic.

“A friend,” he answered.

“Have I met you before?”

For some reason, my question seemed to dim the glow he had about him; it was like I made him sad. He let his arm fall, taking the numbing sensation with him.

“How do you know Britain?” I asked, hoping I could get him to say something, anything. I had to figure him out.

Silas let his hand run slowly across Monroe’s shoulder before he let his arm fall from her as well.

“Old friends – enemies.”

“You can’t be both,” I said, looking up at him.

He nodded for me to cross the street. I could see Aden’s Hummer parked there with him in the driver’s seat. Aden; his twin image always made me feel closer to Draven. I hesitated before I crossed the street, not sure that I wanted Aden to meet Silas…it felt dangerous to me – like I was about to collide two different worlds that didn’t belong together. I felt Silas’ hand on the small of my back, urging me to walk, and I somehow found the courage to step forward. As I got to the Hummer, I looked to my side to find Silas gone. I looked across the street, but he wasn’t there. Down – up the street...he’d literally vanished.

“Where did he go?” I asked Monroe. She didn’t say a word; she just reached for the door on the Hummer and crawled in.

“Where did who go?” Aden asked as he rolled down his window further. I ignored him as my eyes rushed from person to person – how could he just vanish? I swear, I could still feel him…his energy...it was like it was all around me, but he was nowhere in sight.

“Charlie,” Aden said as he climbed out of the Hummer. “Who?”

I shook my head, knowing for sure that I didn’t want Aden to see what I just felt – how Silas made me feel. If Draven ever saw that, he’d be furious – and fury brings nightmares to life. I can’t let that happen to him. I had no other choice but to lie. I pushed the way Silas made me feel deep inside and focused on the one that had caused all hell to break loose in my life.

“Britain’s here.”

Before I could say another word, Aden had his arm around me and was pushing me to climb into the truck on the driver’s side. I didn’t fight him; I was confused and almost sure I was insane. I couldn’t get over how amazing peace felt…I did what I could to hold on to that emotion, but it was fading every second.

Aden peeled out of his spot and turned left on the next street – the one I was just on. The street light was beaming brightly, and there was no sign of Silas or Britain.

“Did he see you?!” Aden yelled as he pressed the gas.

“Yeah, we had a little talk – he knows I’m awake.”

“You told him? You got that close?” Aden asked, seething with anger.

“Close enough,” I mumbled as I stared out the window, wondering who Silas was, and how he knew Britain; how Britain knew he was coming for me.





Chapter Six


Aden sped through roads, not saying another word. I glanced over my shoulder to Monroe; she was leaning forward and holding on to my seat as Aden turned into the curves. I was gonna get her to talk one way or another. I wanted to know how Silas knew her name – was I crazy to think I knew him? I decided to wait until I was alone with her to ask. I had a strange feeling that Aden and Draven unknowingly made her uncomfortable.

Aden turned into my driveway and circled to the back, where the garage was. Once he threw the truck in park, he reached for his cell phone and started texting.

“Who are you talking to?”

“Who do you think?” he said through gritted teeth.

“Do you really think it’s a good idea to tell him about Britain?! This morning didn’t work out too well – you’re antagonizing him.”

“Me?!” he said as his eyes quickly glanced to his side at me, then back to his phone’s screen. “I wasn’t the one that wanted to go to town.”