Page 4

4

J ared snakes an arm around me, steadying me as we stand in the lift, and I watch as he punches the button for the top floor.

“Where are we?” I ask, hating the tremble in my voice that matches the way my body is shaking.

I’ve been like this ever since I lost sight of Ringo. Ever since we left the freeway and Jared tore through the streets, weaving us back towards the city.

“We’re somewhere safe,” Jared offers vaguely, and I glare up at him, unimpressed.

Dee snickers beside him, and I lean forward with a raised brow. She just shrugs, then glances up at the numbers climbing on the screen.

I don’t know if I can handle any more surprises. The last hour has been a lot, and now my pelvis is sore, like I may have strained a muscle running.

Shit. Will running hurt my baby?

I don’t even know. I barely know anything about pregnancy, let alone childbirth. The only thing I do know is I want to keep my baby safe.

As we near the top floor, I shift away from Jared’s hold and lean against the handrail.

He frowns down at me, his lips parting like he’s about to ask if I’m alright.

I shake my head and wave him off before he gets the chance.

While the lift ascends the last few floors, I finally get a proper look at my childhood best friend and his girlfriend.

It’s only been a couple of months since I last saw them. It was at the worst graduation ceremony of all time, thanks to the pandemic restrictions limiting everything. But that was the last time I saw them.

So why do they look so different in only a few months?

Then again, I guess the same could be said for me.

Jared’s blond hair is messier than usual, but that could just be from tonight’s chaos. His blue eyes, though… they look harder. Like he’s had to toughen up fast. Like he’s carrying something heavy.

And I suppose he is.

He knows loss.

He knows what it’s like to be at the receiving end of a fist.

He knows violence.

But there’s more. So much more.

The last eighteen months have changed us all .

Dee, on the other hand, looks anything but stressed. Her mousy brown hair is long, her huge brown eyes relaxed. She’s still short, and still has a smattering of freckles across her nose that makes her look younger than her eighteen years.

Despite her innocent looks, she held a knife to that man’s throat tonight. A huge knife.

She also held a gun. And she didn’t even flinch when the bullets rained down on us.

It’s almost haunting how calm she is after everything that just happened.

Who are these people?

The ding of the lift arriving on the top floor has me dragging my gaze to the doors as they part, and I peek out to find a small passage with a stairwell leading up to another door.

Jared gestures for me to step out, and as much as I want to hesitate, I force my feet to move as Dee follows before rounding me and making her way up the stairs first.

I have no clue where we are, but I follow anyway, because I’m with my friends and they wouldn’t harm me… right?

As I trudge up the stairs, Jared’s presence looms behind me, close enough that I can feel the warmth of his body at my back.

Nerves coil around in my chest, squeezing tighter with every step. The unknown waits beyond that door, and for the second time tonight, my grip tightens on the strap of my backpack like it’s a lifeline, as my pulse hammers in my neck.

Pressing her hands to the door, Dee pushes it open revealing the night sky, and a warmly lit rooftop alfresco area.

The second I step out onto the rooftop, the cool night fans over me in a refreshing relief after the suffocating tension in the passage .

Jared and Dee move ahead, Dee gesturing for me to follow, and as we move, I take in the space around me.

A rooftop garden stretches out, with hidden nooks partitioned by bamboo walls and each retreat housing cocoon-shaped loveseats.

It’s an oasis. A place to escape.

A place to breathe.

Soft voices drift to me as I trail behind my friends, weaving through the maze of greenery, and unease prickles at the back of my neck as I still don’t know what I’m about to walk into.

Jared rounds the corner of the last partition with Dee on his heels, and suddenly, the voices cut off.

Silence.

Then I hear a voice. Urgent and desperate.

“Where is she?”

A sob catches in my throat, my feet moving before I can think as I rush forward, rounding the corner before I freeze.

They’re here.

All of them.

My friends from back home.

“Abs!”

Lexi’s scream shatters the moment, my eyes instantly finding her as she leaps over a low table, arms outstretched, blue eyes glossy with unshed tears.

But then… she skids to a stop, her gaze dropping down my body.

My noticeably pregnant body.

“I didn’t know how to tell you,” I whisper, but she’s close enough to hear, and her tears finally spill over as her lips part to speak .

“Oh, Abs,” she cries, closing the distance and wrapping her arms around my neck, pulling me into a hug I’ve been longing for, for months.

Burying my face in her neck, I inhale the familiar scent of my best friend, and fall apart.

My knees buckle and Lexi follows me to the ground, not letting go for a second as she holds me tight, letting me break in her arms.

She shouldn’t love me after everything I did.

She shouldn’t even like me.

She shouldn’t be here.

But she is.

She’s the one who sent Ringo to take me.

She’s the one who sent Jared and Dee to find me.

She’s still fighting for me.

Unconditional.

That’s the way Lexi West loves me despite everything.

That’s the type of love Lexi West has to offer those she cares about, and apparently, I’m still on her list.

“I’m so glad you’re safe,” she sobs into my ear, her body trembling with emotion.

Strong arms wrap around both of us as a familiar weight presses against my back.

“Thank fuck you’re alright, Yeb.”

Marcus.

His voice, his words, the childhood nickname they called me, shatter whatever control I have left.

The dam breaks, my sobs spilling out harder, louder, buried pain rising to the surface and spilling over .

His grip tightens, keeping me and Lexi firmly in his warmth, and I let myself collapse into the love I never thought I’d have again.

I don’t know how long we sit there, tangled together, sobbing on the deck-like floor of the rooftop. Eventually, our tears dry up, and Marcus’ hold loosens as Ayden steps in to help Lexi stand.

Marcus shifts, straightening, then turns to face me, his hand outstretched.

I take it, my fingers curling around his as I watch his familiar brown eyes rake over me.

By the time I’m on my feet, his gaze is trained on my bump, the worry etched into his face almost suffocating. His dark gaze flicks to mine, searching my expression.

“Abs, you’re…”

I snicker, but there’s no real humour in it. I’m too drained, too emotionally wrecked to feel anything other than the pain I’ve been shoving down for months.

Licking my lips, I take in a steadying breath and drop Marcus’ hand, stepping around him to look over the rest of the group.

My friends.

Well… most of them.

I can’t claim all of them. Specifically Lexi’s new best friend, Rhys.

I can’t fault her for that. She was there when I wasn’t. She was there when I hurt Lexi.

“Uh hi.” I wave awkwardly, not entirely sure what sort of reception I’ll get from them.

Do they still hate me for what I did?

“I don’t mean to state the obvious…” Simon, the playful class clown of the group steps forward, hazel eyes flicking from my face to my belly. “But, Abs, you’re pregnant.”

A laugh bubbles up from my throat this time as I watch his eyes widen like his brain just short-circuited.

“Super observant, Hastings,” Garrett scoffs, clapping Simon on the shoulder before stepping towards me. “You’ve had us all worried, Abs.”

His voice is softer than expected, matching the warmth in his blue-grey eyes.

He towers over me, and I have to crane my neck back to look up at him.

Garrett is such a big guy. Not just tall but broad, thicker with muscle than the last time I saw him. But underneath all that size, Garrett is still a teddy bear.

He reminds me of Ringo.

My heart clenches at the thought of Ringo. The ache is immediate, but then Garrett bends, pulling me into a hug that momentarily helps the pain to ease.

“Hurry up! My turn.” Simon bounds forward like an overexcited puppy, shoving Garrett aside the second he lets me go, and takes his place, yanking me in for a hug.

I giggle. He gasps.

Simon’s hands grip my upper arms as he shoves me back.

“Did I just hurt the baby? Was I too rough?”

“Sy, calm down,” Rhys soothes, stepping up beside him as she slides her hand over his, prying his fingers from my arms. “Hugging Abbey won’t hurt her baby. ”

Simon exhales, his shoulders relaxing. “Good.” Simon nods firmly before flashing me a wide, cheesy smile. “That would suck if you can’t hug anyone until your baby is born.”

“Yeah. It really would.” I smile back, but my attention shifts to Rhys.

She’s like a dark goddess.

Confident.

Stunning.

And a queen to her men.

Literally. She has like four boyfriends.

Wait, no. Five. There’s an older guy too, I think.

I don’t know what I expected from her. She’s been right there with Lexi a couple of the times Lexi wanted to help me. Even when our standoffs were tense, I knew she took her cues from Lexi.

And if Lexi thought I was worth saving, then Rhys must have believed it too.

How wonderful it must be to have friends like that.

Rhys would never betray Lexi the way I did.

Even though she’s taken my place, I’m glad Lexi has her.

“It’s so good to see you, Abbey. We’ll have a girls chat later.”

Her black-painted lips curl into a smile as she reaches out, giving my arm a gentle squeeze before leading Simon away.

A girls chat.

Shit.

That would be nice.

The thought makes my chest tighten, reminding me of Jols. When I stayed at the Western, Jols and I had a couple of girly chats. She reminded me of Lexi. They both have the same kind of warmth. They both care the same way with all of their hearts. I missed Lexi even more because of it.

I smile and nod at Rhys, letting her know I’d like that, just as Shaun steps forward.

Shaun Bossier was known as the Spanish Casanova of our school.

He’s a smooth talker. The guy who could get any girl he wanted.

Well, until Rhys claimed him as one of hers.

Sweeping me up in a hug that includes a spin, I laugh lightly before Shaun plants me back on my feet.

“You had us all worried, Abs. I’m fucking glad you’re okay.”

“Thanks, Shaun.” I smile just as Ayden shoulder-bumps him.

“Bossi’s right,” Ayden says, using Shaun’s nickname. “All of us have been worried, and Lex has been beside herself. I don’t know what happened at the Southern Sadists’ compound, but Ringo is on our shit list.”

My brows shoot up. “Oh… ummm.” I glance around, feeling the weight of every stare. They are either locked on my face or my bump, and my hand drifts over it protectively.

“He didn’t tell you?”

Ayden frowns at my question, his blue gaze flicking to Lexi, who steps up beside him.

“He said you ran off. That was it.”

My brows shoot up at Lexi’s words.

Of course he didn’t tell them the whole story. Their reactions to my pregnancy alone prove that much.

Shuffling awkwardly, my cheeks heat as I try to figure out how to explain what happened, mainly because I still don’t really understand it myself.

“Did something happen?” Ayden asks, and I can feel my friends closing in around me.

They are doing it because they care, but it’s making me feel claustrophobic.

The urge to run is palpable.

“Well, umm…” I lick my lips, my gaze dancing between Ayden, Lexi, Marcus, and Garrett.

“Did someone hurt you?” Lexi snaps, now a little panicked.

My gaze flicks to hers, and I quickly shake my head.

“No… no. Not on purpose.”

“What the fuck happened?” Jared snarls, and I shrink in on myself, wanting to hide.

“Oh for fuck’s sake, back off her, you psychos.” Rhys shoves past Marcus and takes my hand, leading me out of the pack to one of the cabana loveseats.

I look at her, searching for something.

I don’t even know what, but it’s like she sees more than she should, because Rhys takes my hand and deadpans, “Who broke your heart?”

My lower lip wobbles.

Shit.

A fat tear spills over before I can stop it, but I quickly bat it away, so sick of crying. Sick of feeling like I can’t control my own damn emotions.

“Shit.” Lexi exhales, sitting down beside me. “You and Ringo did get close, didn’t you?”

All I can do is nod.

“Did he fucking touch you?” Marcus snarls, and Ayden scowls at his cousin.

“Dude, Ringo isn’t like that. ”

Marcus scoffs. “He’s a fucking criminal. She’s a pretty damsel. As if someone like that wouldn’t fucking try something.”

“Marcus!” Lexi snaps, her voice sharp as she levels him with a glare. “Just because he’s on the other side of the law doesn’t make him a monster.”

He was my monster.

I want to tell her that but I don’t.

Because this… this is just another thing they won’t understand.

How could I be attracted to a man after what Daniel and his friends did to me?

How could I be attracted to a criminal?

How could I be attracted to the kind of man who so easily broke into my home, stole me away in the night, and left no trace?

How do I explain that even knowing how dangerous he is… I still felt safe with him?

“You’re blinded by the way he helped you, Lexi,” Marcus snaps, his voice thick with frustration. “But don’t forget why he had to help you. Don’t forget what his brother, Muz, did to you and Ayden at that party. Don’t forget how Muz held a gun to your head in my fucking driveway!”

“Forget! How can I ever forget?!” Lexi explodes, springing off the loveseat like she’s ready to throw hands.

She doesn’t get far though, Ayden moving fast to hook his arm around her, dragging her back, even as she fights against his hold.

“I will also never forget that when I was being attacked, when I thought I was about to die, Muz was there! Have you forgotten about that part Marcus? Because I sure as shit haven’t! Or how about the fact that he died BECAUSE OF ME?!”

Tears stream down Lexi’s face, her body wracked with sobs as Ayden turns her into his chest, wrapping her up in his arms.

I can’t watch this.

I can’t listen to this.

Pushing to my feet, I clear the lump in my throat.

“Please don’t fight because of me.”

It doesn’t matter how much love they’ve shown me tonight. Doesn’t matter that I truly feel it. Because deep down, I’m still an outsider. Someone who drags toxicity with them wherever they go.

And the last thing I want to do is cause a rift between them.

“Fuck, sorry, Abs.” Marcus sighs, raking his fingers through his thick dark hair. “I’m just worried.” He steps forward, guilt lining his face, brows furrowed in concern.

“I understand that. Thank you. But Lexi is right. Ringo isn’t the bad guy you think him to be, he—”

My words are cut off by the loud clang of the rooftop door bursting open, rattling on its hinges.

Angry male voices cut through the air, sharp and dangerous.

We all stiffen, freezing in place momentarily.

Jared moves first. Gun out, raised as Dee slinks off into the shadows, unsheathing her knife.