Willing Captive(59)

We’re leaving tonight.

I don’t know where we’re going, but as long as I’m with Nox, I’ll be okay.

My body trembles.

I’m not showing my true fear. Nox is stressed enough without having to deal with my BS.

Boo stops what she’s doing at the sight of me. And I thought I was hiding it so well. She comes over and wraps her arms around me, and I let her. She whispers encouraging words that I don’t actually hear.

Rock finishes up his call looking more than worried.

Shit.

Turning to Nox, he waits patiently for him to finish his call. Once off the phone, Nox barks, “Tell me something good, Rock. I couldn’t handle bad right now.”

Rock lowers his eyes. He says quietly, “Safe house Zed was breached just now.”

My heart stops altogether.

Before I can ask about Terah, he adds, “Jon knew something wasn’t right. Went with his gut and took Terah away from there. I don’t know where they are, but wherever it is, they’re safe.”

I turn my face to watch Nox. He swallows hard. He looks angry. Very angry.

Sniffing, he asks, “Fallen?”

Rock stills a moment before answering softly, “Takeshi and Sean.”

Nox steps back, sucking in a deep breath.

I still don’t know what’s going on.

Hands on his hips, Nox enquires, “Gunfire?”

Rock says even softer, “Explosion. Zed was blown apart.”

Oh God. Oh God. Oh my f*cking God!

People are dead. Takeshi and Sean are dead.

My eyes fill with tears. They died protecting my sister. And I never even met them. I’ll never meet my sister’s heroes. I ask a hollow, “People are dying?”

Nox, Rock, and Boo all look at me. I ask again, quieter, “People are dying because of me?”

Immediately, Nox is by my side. And he’s furious. “No. Don’t do that. This is not your fault. This is because of some sick f*ck with a crush.” Looking up at him through blurry eyes, he cups my cheeks and leans his forehead on mine. “Not your fault, baby. I swear.”

I know it’s not appropriate, but I love that he used my version of a promise by saying ‘I swear’.

Reaching up, I hold his hands over my cheeks. “What do we do now?”

Pulling back, he states, “We get outta here. Take Jonathon’s line of thinking and disappear. Just me and you, babe.”

Taking a deep breath, I nod as I exhale.

Nox whispers, “Good. Get your shit.”

As I walk over to back of the room, a deafening boom sounds from the back of the house, and I see a flash of blinding white light before an unseen force throws me backwards to the ground.

The house shakes. The fixtures rattle. The furniture moves. My heart slams into my chest. I’m winded from the fall. Shaking, I hold my hands over my ears and watch as the windows, a foot away from me, explode. Ducking my head, I scream in shock and use my forearm to cover my face.

Glass shards spray me, and closing my eyes tightly, I feel wet warmth on my forehead and arm.

Looking around, I see Nox yelling so hard the veins in his neck bulge. He motions for me to come to him but I can’t move.

I’m petrified.

Army crawling towards me, he yells some more, but I can’t hear a thing. A ringing sound echoes through my head.

Blinking, I shout, “What?”

His lips move, but I still can’t hear over the ringing. Adrenalin causes blood to roar in my ears, and finally I begin to hear.

Boo and Rock yell out while Nox directs them.

Confusion seeps through me. I can’t comprehend what’s happening. All I know is that it’s bad.

Another explosion. Closer this time. The house shakes feverishly.

A frightened shriek escapes me. Nox shouts, “Go with Boo!”

Opening my mouth to respond, arms come around me from behind and pull me backwards. Everything’s happening so quickly. I’m in a panic.

Watching Nox watch me, a torrent of tears escape me. Shrugging off the arms, I fall forward on my knees and scramble across broken glass back to Nox. Crying hysterically, I yell out, “I don’t want to leave you! Please don’t make me leave you! Don’t make me go!”

His eyes shine bright. Taking my face in his hands, he takes my mouth in a short possessive kiss. Releasing me, he shouts out, “Go with Boo!”

Reaching forward, I clutch his shirt, shaking, “Don’t make me go! I want to stay with you!”

His face turns pained. Pulling my clawing hands off him, he stands and says, “If you ever loved me, you’ll go with Boo.” Lowering my face, I burst into another bout of tears. He adds, “You have to trust me, Lily!”

Crying only a moment longer, I pull myself together. Straightening, I demand through gritted teeth, “You better come for me. You promised.” Not waiting for a response, I crawl back to Boo through the destruction.

She pushes me forward in front of her and yells, “Down the hall and out!”

Rock waits at the end of the hall, holding his arms out. Crawling fast on bleeding knees, I make it to him and he pulls me up. As soon as Boo gets within a foot of us, we’re out the front door. A black van waits there, side door open. Rock all but throws me inside, Boo follows, slamming the door shut. Rock climbs into the driver’s seat, starts the van, and drives.