Sleep Tight, page 32
Mateo stepped into place and raised his hand to slap him again when Arlo cried out.
“Wait. Wait. I’ll tell you guys what you want to know.”
Mateo lowered his hand and gave Mason a skeptical look.
“Alright then tell us.”
Arlo glanced up then and looked straight to the window. “No. I'll only tell my sweet Olivia.”
Mason shook his head. “I don’t think so.”
“Then you’ll never find out where your friends are. She’s the only one I’ll tell.”
Mason and Mateo exchanged looks before walking out of the room. They looked at Olivia with sympathy and warmth. They might look scary, but I was willing to bet they were big sweethearts.
“Olivia,” Mason began. “We’ll be more than happy to keep beating his ass.”
She took a deep breath, and I gave her hand an encouraging quick squeeze. “It’s okay I’ll go in there. I made this mess and I’ll do whatever it takes to make it right.”
Olivia pushed passed them, opening the door to enter the room.
“I’ll go with you.” Caleb offered suddenly.
Olivia looked up at him in surprise, but Arlo quickly chimed in before she had a chance to reply.
“No. She comes in alone or else I won’t say a word.”
Caleb glared into the room while Olivia stepped inside and turned to close the door. She looked up at Caleb before looking at the rest of us. “I’ll make this right. I promise.”
And then she closed the door, leaving us on the other side while she faced Arlo alone.
We all huddled towards the window and watched as she approached him.
“Alright you have me in here. Where are they?” Her voice was steady and strong.
Arlo smiled at her and chuckled. “Come closer.”
“This is no time for games Arlo. Just tell me.”
“And I said I would, but you have to come closer.”
She hesitated before moving closer.
He shook his head. “Still not close enough.”
She moved even closer and was now standing right in front of him.
“Closer.”
“Arlo,” she blew out an exasperated breath. “I can’t get any closer.”
“Let me whisper it to you.”
She ran her hands through her golden hair, and I had the distinct impression that she probably rolled her eyes. But she lowered her head near his mouth, showing that she was willing to do anything to make things right.
He leaned near her ear and started speaking rapidly but none of us were able to make out what he was saying anymore. And then Olivia suddenly leaped away from him and gave a small yelp of surprise.
Mason and Mateo were in the room in a flash pulling her away from him and out of the room.
“Are you okay?” I asked noticing she was rubbing her ear with the back of her hand.
“He licked me.” She gave a disgusted look towards the door as she kept rubbing her ear. “But he told me where to find them. They have their hideout somewhere in National Glacier Park. He’ll have to guide us though, it’s well hidden. And--” She stopped and hesitated, glancing at Blake.
“What is it? Tell us.” Blake said impatiently.
“He said that what happened to Rosa is going to happen to everyone who was taken.”
“We don’t even know for sure what happened to Rosa yet. How does he know?”
Olivia shook her head. “I don’t know.”
“Are you guys stupid?” Arlo called out from inside the room.
Everyone's gaze turned to him.
“Your friend Rosa is no longer Rosa. At least not the Rosa you know.”
“What do you mean?” Olivia asked as she moved closer to the door.
“Rosa is now a Kryp.” He smiled. “We finally figured out how to make you into the very thing you guys' hunt. But she’s much more powerful than you pathetic losers. And soon all your friends will be just like her.”
“No.” Blake rushed forward, pure anger radiating off him. Elijah grabbed onto his shoulder.
“We won’t let that happen to Priya.” Elijah assured him.
Blake shook him off. “You’re right because I won’t let it.” He gave Arlo one last glance before turning away. “I’m going to let Uncle Cass know we have to leave. Now.”
As everyone went to follow him, I stayed back studying Arlo. He was staring up at the ceiling, that same smug smile still on his face. Something felt off.
“Hey,” Elijah touched my arm. “What’s wrong?”
I kept my eyes on Arlo. “Somethings wrong. Arlo was so adamant that he wouldn’t tell us where they were. He said he didn’t want his fun to be ruined. But he gave up their location so easily.”
“Well not that easily. Mason and Mateo’s beatings are tougher than they look.”
“No. It’s also a gut feeling I have. What if it’s a trap?” I looked up and meet his eyes. I really had to stop doing that. It always left me lightheaded and now my thoughts were a scrambled mess.
“If it’s a trap we’ll be ready.” His hand was still on my arm, heat creeped up my arm towards my face.
Someone’s throat cleared and I tilted my head to look behind Elijah. Kenji stood there with his arms crossed, his eyes glued to Elijah’s hand on my arm.
“That’s my fiancé and I’d appreciate it if you stopped touching her.”
I choked on air while my eyes widened. Who did he think he was saying that? I hadn’t even told him yet if I accepted this engagement.
Elijah rolled his neck like there was suddenly a huge weight on him. He turned to face Kenji taking his hand off me but only to sling his arm across my shoulders.
“Fiancé? I think both parties have to be willing participants for that word to work. And if Ava doesn’t want me touching her, she can tell me.” He gave Kenji a lazy smile. “But I think you’ll find out soon that she’s more than happy if I touch her.”
I was getting tired of seeing Elijah around Ava. He followed her around like a puppy, but I don’t think Ava even noticed. And I knew I was also following her around like a puppy, I hated to admit that.
She wasn’t mine anymore, but I was still hers.
And this was the perfect chance to win her back. If Elijah would get out of my way. And now I had the perfect excuse to tell him to get lost.
But the second that word ‘fiancé’ came out of my mouth I knew I made a mistake. Ava’s eyes grew twice their size, and she would never forgive me for calling her that when she hadn’t agreed to the engagement yet.
I couldn’t help it though. I was excited and nervous and terrified. The possibility of being able to be with Ava for the rest of my life was exhilarating. And if it took the rest of our lives to win her back, I was willing to do that.
But now seeing that look on her face. Like she was going to be sick. I felt guilty. I had been feeling guilty the moment uncle told me that we would get married. I knew she didn’t want this. How could I force her into a loveless marriage? Well at least on her end it would be loveless.
And then Elijah had to go and make that comment.
“What do you mean by that?”
He kept that conceited smile on his face and his arm around her shoulders tightened. I took a step forward intent on twisting that arm when Nikko was suddenly at my side, his heavy hand landing on my shoulder.
“I spoke to Leilani. She sends her love and told me to make sure you’re behaving. Looks like I came right on time.”
My anger went down a little at the mention of Leilani. If she was here, she would be scolding me on my behavior, saying I was acting like an alpha-hole. She always acted like an older sister towards me.
Nikko smiled knowing that would do the trick and faced Ava and Elijah. “Leilani is my wife.”
Ava gave Nikko a sweet smile, a little jealousy ran through me. She never gave me that smile.
“I had no idea you were married.” She said, pulling herself away from Elijah’s arm. It took her long enough.
“Yeah, we’ve been married for two years and she’s seven months pregnant.” Nikko’s eyes shined like they always did when talking about Leilani.
“Oh congratulations!” Ava gave Nikko a big hug that he enthusiastically returned. “What are you having?”
“A baby girl and I couldn’t be happier about that. All I want are baby girls.” His eyes were bright with excitement. “Girls run the world.”
Ava chuckled. “They sure do.”
I needed to talk to Ava, but she wouldn’t even look at me. I messed up calling her my fiancé. But that’s exactly what we had to talk about. I opened my mouth to say just that when she pushed past us.
“I have to find my aunt and make sure she’s okay. I’ll see you later Nikko.” She deliberately only said his name. I really messed up.
Elijah followed close behind, his eyes glued to her. Her loyal puppy.
I lifted my hand up in front of Nikko’s face. “Don’t say a word. I already know.”
He pressed a hand on my shoulder. “You messed up.”
I groaned. “I just said I already know and not to say a word. You never listen to me.”
I stomped away with Nikko’s laughter following me.
I stepped outside to see if there was anything I could help with. They were almost done with bringing the bodies inside. We lost five of our own and ten were taken.
Including Maz. She just got here and was already gone. She was a good friend to me for years and it felt like this was my fault. I should have been there to watch out for her. We were a team. But I would get her back. We would get them all back soon.
I walked to the car garage to check on my rental and maybe to check on Ava’s car. Of course, I would check everyone’s car while I was here just to make sure they hadn't been damaged during the fight. Not just Ava’s car.
As I walked around the cars, I stepped outside heading for the side of the garage to go around and check the other cars when I stopped and pushed back against the wall.
There on the side of the building was Clarissa with a guy.
She was yelling at him, her arms flying around before she crossed them over her chest. The guy was maybe a little older. He ran a hand through his dark hair, pushing it back from his forehead in frustration.
“Clarissa, I couldn’t stay here anymore. I had to leave. For my own sanity.”
The guy crossed his arms too, mimicking her stance.
“Your sanity? What about your family?”
Family? Was he related to her?
“That’s why I came back. I came back for you Clarissa, for family. I knew you would need my help.”
“I don’t need your help, Caleb. I’m fine.”
“No, you’re not.” Caleb sighed. “I’ve heard stories about you. And they aren’t nice ones.”
Clarissa scoffed. “And? You think I care what people say about me or what they think about me?”
“No, I know you don’t care what people think. We were raised by the same parents. I don't care either. But the way you have been acting needs to stop.”
“You need to stop. Why are you acting like you are better than me? Like you said. We were raised by the same parents. You’re just like me!”
“Not anymore!” He took a deep breath before continuing. “That’s why I left. Don’t you get it? I knew the way I was acting had to stop and the only way I would get better was if I left. If I got away from mom and dad. They’re poisoning you, Clarissa. They’re letting your heart rot away and they don’t care.”
She took a step back from him, his words clearly hurt her. “So, you think I’m poison? You think I have no heart? I’m just an awful person to you.”
“That’s not it. You know I don’t think that. This is all mom and dad’s fault. I’m only here to help you, I have your back.”
“No, you don’t! If you had my back, you would have never left me alone with them.” She choked on the last word as she struggled to hold back tears.
“Clarissa I--”
She spun around giving him her back. “Please. Just leave me alone. I don’t want to talk anymore.”
Caleb reached his arm out but stopped short as if thinking better of it before dropping his hand and walking away. He almost passed me by without seeing me but at the last second, he stopped and looked at me. His eyes widened in surprise for a moment, he glanced back at Clarissa and then back at me, his sharp golden eyes studying me.
His eyes were just like Clarissa’s, this must be her brother.
I didn’t know what to say or do. He had just caught me ease dropping on their very private conversation. A look I couldn’t interpret crossed his face and his body relaxed, then he nodded at me and walked away.
I let out a slow breath and watched Clarissa. She was still standing there in the same position, she hadn’t moved, her body stiff.
I didn’t know her well but from what I had seen she seemed selfish and bitter and self-centered. But now she just looked lost. All of that was gone and replaced with loneliness. Because that's what she really was. She was just lonely.
I groaned inwardly knowing this was probably a mistake, but I walked towards her anyways. She turned in surprise when she heard my steps. Her cheeks were wet with tears and her nose was slightly pink.
She quickly wiped at her cheeks and her face hardened. “What do you want?” She spat out.
“You don't have to do that.”
She stiffened. “Do what?”
“Put on this tough act that you seem to always be putting on. You don’t have to do that with me.”
She started to laugh but stopped when she saw my face. “Oh, you’re being serious?”
“I’m here if you ever need a friend.”
Her act was breaking, I could see it on her face. Her golden eyes filling with unshed tears.
“Why?” Her voice came out in a whisper, low and hoarse.
If I told her I could see that she needed a friend she would get defensive and maybe even offended, that much I knew about her.
“I don’t know.” I admitted. “Maybe I need a friend here. Maybe I’m lonely. Maybe I’m crazy to even offer you friendship.” I smiled at her and after a moment of hesitation she smiled back.
“You’re definitely crazy. Haven’t you heard the stories about me?” She said it in an amused tone, but I could hear the slight tension behind her voice. If I hadn’t been ease dropping, I probably would have missed it.
“You want my honest answer?”
Her face grew serious, she looked almost scared, but she nodded her head.
“I haven’t heard a single story about you. And if I did, I wouldn’t listen to them. I like to come up with my own conclusions about people.” And that wasn’t a lie. Everything I was telling her I found was surprisingly true.
She was different. She liked to put on an act for others, but it wouldn't work for me. I saw her now and there was no going back.
“And what’s the conclusion for me?”
I gave her another smile and waited until she returned it. I found myself wanting to make her smile. She looked like a different person when she was giving you a genuine smile. The corners of her eyes squinted slightly, and they glowed in the night.
“You’ll have to wait for my answer, I need more time.”
She flipped her long dark hair over her shoulder and walked to me. “Fine I can wait. Now walk me back.”
She walked past me not looking back to see if I was following. Her black hair shimmering in the moonlight.
I laughed to myself, shaking my head as I followed her. “Yes ma’am.”
“Let's move everyone!”
I quickly went through my backpack making sure I had everything I needed for the trip. I then went through my purse one more time, my fingers curling around a small tube. It was the lipstick Priya bought me for the ball.
I closed my eyes as I remembered her face, hazel eyes always glowing. The way she applied my makeup, knowing just how much to put on.
One of my best friends. A sister.
I would get her back too no matter the cost.
Sky looked up from her backpack. “You girls ready?” She glanced at me and Olivia.
We both nodded and headed out to meet everyone. The first floor was packed. It had only been twelve hours since the attack but already Leki’s from across the country had flown in to help and courtesy of the private jets my family owned they were able to get here so quick.
I found Jesse with tia Lusila leaning against a wall and rushed over to them. “Are you ready tia? Do you have everything? Are you sure you are up for this? You can still change your mind.”
She waved me off. “Stop worrying about me so much. That’s my job. I’m the adult here and I’ll be fine. I’m going with you guys no matter what. That’s my sister and nephew out there.”
“And don’t worry I’ll be keeping an eye on her.” Calixto appeared at her side.
She jumped. “How do you keep doing that? You just appeared out of thin air.”
He only chuckled at her but said nothing. And tia Lusila only seemed to be more annoyed. “I don’t need your help or your watchful eye on me.”
“Please,” I grabbed her hand. “Let him have his watchful eye on you. It will help ease my anxiety.”
She grumbled and I thought she would start pouting but she only gave him a tight smile before turning back to me. “I can’t promise I won’t make it easy on him.”
“I would never expect you to.” Calixto murmured.
Tia Lusila was adjusting more every day to this life and even though she was still suspicious of everyone and didn’t fully trust them she was slowly starting to accept their help. I had expected her to be in a terrible state after the attack, but she was eerily calm.
And when she saw me staring at her in surprise she only said, “This is my life now.”
That was progress. And I was sure that Calixto had a hand in her change.
Cass was up front near the front door with Priya and Sky’s parents. Scott and Dana looked exhausted; they hadn’t rested since Priya was taken.
Elijah, Ethan, and Blake were near them. Elijah’s eyes found mine right away. I looked away and watched Cass as he began to speak.
