Never Moving On, page 3
part #1 of Always With You Duet Series
Calculating again, I ate the last time it was bright out and caught glimpses of the dark room in between then and when the sun came up next. I should have time. The hesitancy in the trust I have in myself makes me grip the weapon a bit harder as I move it from my hand to my teeth while I twirl it.
Ting, ting, ting! The screw falls loose. I waste no time getting started on my other wrist. Getting lost in my head right now will do me no good when this is the first time I have ever truly tasted freedom so close.
The most beautiful melody reaches my ears while I try to calm my thundering heart and rasping breaths. Gripping the final shackle, I pry it open slowly in shock.
No more chains. I'm free.
A sense of urgency and adrenaline floods my veins as I crawl to the window. I'm nervous to test out my legs just yet. I was able to take a few steps with the chains on, but this is a whole new level.
I rise on shaky legs trying to control my swaying. Nobody to lean on but myself. I shuffle to the table's remnants and look out the basement window. Rips and tugs on my wounds have me hissing through my teeth while throwing obscenities into the quiet basement.
I grab a couple of the tools lying around with shaky hands and get to work on prying the window open. What fucking way does it open, though? I swear if I am bested by a rotting window, I don't deserve to escape.
Shimmying, poking, prodding, pulling, and finally pushing gets me the fresh air I have dreamed about for ages. Tears prick behind my eyes at the sun's brightness and the hope growing in my chest. I take a lungful of fresh Arizona air.
I may have gone back and forth with my anger about them not feeding me enough, and that they continued to feed me so I wouldn't die...but right now? As I scoot out the window, I am so damn thankful for my protruding ribs and meatless bones. My malnourishment has saved me.
One final burst of adrenaline has me lying on the desert floor while I try to collect my energy and calm my racing heart.
What now, Nolan? I'm so exhausted.
A unanimous vote in my mind decides to take a couple of minutes to rest while my ingrained alarm bells protest the darkness clouding my vision.
I startle awake to the sounds of booming laughter and the sun setting in the distance. My initial thought is that the monster is back, although, as I listen a bit harder, the voices aren't very close at all. They are coming from beyond the woods, not the front of the cabin where the makeshift path is. My best bet is to find whoever might be out here.
Groaning, I get to my knees, I prepare myself to use the last of my energy to find safety. Not like I have any fucking choice. Looking to my right, I see a ton of dead bushes, cacti, and other foliage that just fucking scream snakes.
I'm screwed if I don't go toward the voices, so I might as well live out another one of my worst fears. Scrapes, welts, and scratches line my body as I hustle up this hill from hell. Moving as fast as I can, like the gates of the underworld might swallow me hole. Like the hounds of hell are nipping at my heels. Honestly, these assholes chose the most horrific place to hide me away in. I suppose it fits with the pit they have kept me in.
My vision is beginning to tunnel, and black spots are starting to form as I catch sight of the top of the hill.
Big bitch panties just one more time.
Hauling myself out of the dead forest of fuck knows what, I land on a beaten-down hiking trail. I have nothing left to give. The raging inferno of adrenaline and fear leave me behind like ashes in the wind. I just hope that some of the black blobs in my vision are people finding me, not some twisted form of hope that my mind conjured up.
Mmmm–sweet oblivion takes me as it drowns out the frantic rumbles of the world around me.
CHAPTER 5
Amiri
I woke before the other guys this morning to make them breakfast. Standing at the stove, I flip a pancake over as I recall Nolan's meltdown two mornings ago. My heart broke watching my best friend so clearly aching while stuck in a pit of confusion. He's been seeming a bit better since our hike, slowly gaining some of his sunshine back. I can see some hope shining in his eyes again.
I couldn't lie to him and tell him that Eve is still alive, and I refused to be honest by telling him there is a low chance of her coming home. It's been seven years. Nobody's strong enough to survive seven years of what I can only assume she is going through.
Fuck, she most likely could have died the night she was kidnapped. This girl, who has become a part of our family over the last five years could have been dead for years before we asked about her.
My heart twinges at the thought. The idea that I might never be able to meet the woman who completes our family hurts on a molecular level.
Sighing out my despair, I place a fruit bowl on our dining room table, hoping the guys will eat some of it. I swear they have no common sense about what they put in their bodies. I lay out the rest of our breakfast and skim my eyes over the news on the living room TV as I lean against the island.
The home I bought for all of us has an open floor plan, with the kitchen flowing right to the dining room and into the living room. Our large sectional couch is fit for a family who enjoys spending their time together.
My attention moves from the large flat-screen TV as I head over to the stairs off to the left. To the left is our entryway, on my right is another hallway leading to our game room and patio. The upstairs breaks into two cozy hallways; mine and Korrens' rooms with a shared bathroom are on the right. We always stay close to each other, no matter what. Down the other hall are where Nol and Ryan are. Their doors are directly across from one another, leaving a bathroom next to Nolan's, and Ryan has his own en-suite. It's perfect for the two lovebirds to move freely between rooms and maintain their own spaces.
Nolan and Ryan's hallway also has a spare bedroom at the very end. We use it to store random shit, but I've caught each of us staring at it with eyes filled with longing and hopefulness.
Evie, we have a place for you...when will you come home to claim it? Nolan needs you. We need you.
With a shout and a quick bang on everyone's doors, I head back downstairs to wait for the guys to get their lazy asses up.
"Girl who has been missing..." A voice mumbles from the living room. "Found in critical condition on a hiking trail just south..." My entire body comes to a complete standstill. My blood is no longer pumping; my focus zeroed in on the last picture taken of Evelyn Miller. "Has been brought to Bisbee hospital–updates coming after the break!"
I completely missed the guys all frozen on the stairs from my dumbfounded spot in the dining room. Tearing my eyes away from the old picture of our dark-eyed beauty on the screen, I look toward Nol.
Nolan
I woke to a bang on the door and a shout about breakfast. Ryan and I find some clothes scattered around his bedroom floor before giving each other a lingering kiss.
I sigh wistfully with a small smile on my lips as he gently guides me toward the stairs. Ryan comes to an abrupt halt halfway down the stairs in front of me, causing me to drag my eyes away from his firm ass.
Looking up, I realize Korren is also stopped on the stairs in front of Ry, "What the hell are you-" My voice cuts off as the sound from the local News channel rushes in.
"Found in critical condition on a hiking trail just south of Bisbee, Arizona. Evelyn Miller has been brought to Bisbee Hospital–updates coming after the break!"
That...that's Eve's young face plastered on my TV. That's my fucking Evie on the TV! Sorrow, hope, excitement, love, terror, longing, confusion, and guilt all strike me like a fright train.
Wait. The News anchors' words find their meaning in my sluggish mind. Wait, oh my God. My vision is rapidly tunneling. My breaths are sawing in and out of me too fast. My hearing sounds like I'm underwater. I'm beginning to feel a heavy pressure on my chest.
A tickle on my jaw, cheek, and lips brings me rushing back to the surface. I find Ryan's hands bracketing my face as we sit on the stairs. "Nolan baby, you with me?"
My voice comes out on a croak, "Yeah. I'm here; what's going on?" Shit, I hate seeing Ryan frown, I go to smooth the lines away.
"Evelyn–baby, the news." My hand stops halfway to his face. "EVIE!" I launch my ass down the stairs and toward the front door.
I hear the guys calling out after me, except nothing else matters more than seeing my girl. My girl who was found in critical fucking condition.
Right before I reach the car, my knees give out as my body and mind catch up with what is happening. Evelyn is at the hospital. Oh my God. I'm going to see Evie.
Ryan hoists me up in his strong arms while I protest pushing toward the SUV. "I am going to see Evelyn. Right the fuck now!" The demand pours from my mouth. Angry and betrayed that they would keep me from her.
"Nolan, we understand. I swear we are going. Let Korren drive, I need to take care of you and–Amiri as well," I relax at the words. Finally registering that he's not necessarily restraining me but trying to calm me. I look back at my family and notice them for the first time this morning.
Korren's jaw is set reaching for the keys that I snatched on the way out the door. I relax my white-knuckle grip on them.
Shit, Ryan's brows are drawn together in concern, while Amiri is so out of it, I don't know if he's even coherent. His brown eyes are dazed; he's acting like he saw a ghost. Concern for him skitters through my stomach.
With a nod, I hand the keys over to Kor while he ushers his brother into the passenger seat. Ryan scoots in close to me in the middle row and begins his soothing strokes on my thigh.
Taking my chin in his fingers, he turns my head until my eyes land on his, "She's coming home, Nolan. Your Evie is safe and coming home to you." Sobs rack my body in uncontrollable waves as his words ram into my heart.
I will stop at nothing until I get my little Phoenix home with me, where she belongs.
My throat aches, and my eyes burn as Kor skirts into a parking spot. I'd be impressed with the shitty he just whipped, but I'm too lost in my need to see my girl. I must have cried the whole way here. We live about fifteen minutes outside of downtown Bisbee, leaving the drive to the hospital around twenty minutes. Knowing Korren, he would have gotten us here in less than that though.
I send Ryan a small smile of thank you for his comfort and a kiss for his love before I step out of the car. I have to be strong for Eve, I need to be her protector now. She will have all four of us. She will want for absolutely nothing and will never be taken from me ever again. Ever. Again.
I'm trying so damn hard not to think about anything too hard and just make sure I get to her as fast as possible. I know if I linger on what the news anchor said, I will conjure up as many terrifying possibilities as I can.
What the hell does critical condition mean?
Our small group rushes through the emergency room doors, however, I'm stopped by a strong grip on my arm. An animalistic snarl bubbles up in my throat as I turn to throttle the person keeping me from seeing Eve.
Korren gives me a firm look, "Calm. Down. Ryan will take care of everything and ensure you get to see her ASAP." With a grunt, he pulls me into his chest, "Nolan, you need to breathe. You won't be able to help her if you are completely fucked in the head. Breathe, brother. She will come home, I swear it." The rumble of his voice feels like a purr transferring to my own chest.
Korren is a man of few words unless he's feeling protective, which, in turn, gives me pause. I must have been freaking him out enough to cause the emotional word vomit he just threw at me.
I heed his advice by taking a deep breath and allowing him to guide me toward the waiting room. I may have calmed, but my eyes bore into the receptionist's face, trying to decipher what she's telling Ryan. I huff out a breath and adjust my glasses, unfortunately, reading lips isn't a skill of mine.
My heart pounds so hard I swear it's going to fly out of my chest when Ryan walks toward where we are seated.
He crouches in front of me and brushes a brown curl off my forehead, "She isn't awake yet nor is she allowed visitors." My heart sinks. "Nolan. Look at me." I pry my moistening eyes up that had dropped to the floor, "When...not if...Eve wakes up, she will give the doctor's approval for whoever she wants to see, okay?"
At my nod, he swipes a stray tear from my cheek, "Now what?" I ask. I can hear the insecurity and need for direction in my voice.
My lost tone must have breached past Amiri's catatonic state enough to bring him back to us. "We will wait here until she wakes up, Nol. Even if we have to be here in shifts, we won't leave her, I promise. We will wait forever if we have to."
I brave a glance at the rest of my family and find that truer words have never been spoken. Evelyn Miller will never be left to face the world alone ever again.
I'm not sure what woke me, my kinked neck, aching back, or the smell of shitty hospital coffee. Straightening in my chair, I come to the conclusion that it was definitely my neck that woke me from my restless sleep.
"Jesus, son of a..." I trail off trying to stretch my muscles out. How long was I fucking sitting like that?
Groaning, I used my raised arms to swipe Ryan's coffee out of his hands. "Oops," I giggle. His rumbling laugh has my skin pebbling with goosebumps. Looking over at him, I notice his blue eyes are shadowed with bags, and his blonde hair is standing up in all different directions.
Don't get me wrong; it's normally messy in a way that just asks for me to run my hands through it. Right now, though, he’s tired and is taking better care of me than himself. My heart warms at the same time it throbs painfully. He's so damn good to me.
Jesus, I don't want to look in a mirror. Ryan and I got back to the hospital a few hours ago. Amiri and Kor demanded I go home to shower and rest while they stayed to wait for any news on our girl. The four of us spent all day at the hospital yesterday, now it's at the point where we are taking shifts keeping the chairs warm in the waiting room.
Ryan, of course, came home with me and made sure I ate something after we woke up from our nap last night. We got back to the hospital early this morning and sent the brothers on their way. They needed sleep and showers desperately by the time we got back.
It's just past noon, and I'm starving, but I refuse to leave. Standing, my back pops obnoxiously as my stomach lets out a rumble of dismay.
Ryan stands behind me with a soft caress on my lower back, "I'll go out and get us some food." I go to protest, but he cuts me off with a swift kiss and swat on my ass, "You need to eat, baby. I'll be right back, be nice to the poor staff."
I bite my lip as I watch him walk out the door; damn, he's sexy when he's all bossy and shit.
Taking a deep breath, I approach the desk for the millionth time today, "Any news?" I ask the nice lady. She eyes me warily, and I instantly know something changed in Eve's status. "What, please tell me," I practically beg.
"Mr. Wilson, I have an update, but I need you to know right now that we cannot let you see her yet. I will send for her doctor to speak with you, okay?" She picks up the phone before allowing me to respond, clearly done with my pestering.
A couple of minutes later, a woman, seemingly in her early forties, walks into the waiting room and calls out my name.
I nearly tumble over my feet as I approach the person who holds the answers I desperately need.
"Mr. Wilson, my name is Dr. Levine. I am Evelyn's doctor." She has a take-no-shit look that I completely respect as she assesses me. "I have been made aware that a group of young men have been asking about my patient and have been requesting to see her, yes?"
I gulp, feeling like I need to prove myself to the doctor, "Yes, doctor. Eve was my best friend, and...I must see her, please." A tear drops from my eye as my desperation leaks out in a physical form. "Please, I need to see her."
A look of pity crosses Dr. Levine's face so quickly I must have imagined it. "Ms. Miller has been through an extremely traumatic seven years, and I will not allow anyone who claims to know her into the only safe place she has at the moment."
At that moment, I notice Ryan is back, standing slightly behind me, "I apologize, I missed the introductions, but ma'am, Nolan loves that woman and would never do anything to harm her."
She takes a deep breath before turning towards Ry, "He may never intentionally harm her. Be that as it may, Ms. Miller is an adult with the right to make her own decisions." Dr. Levine suddenly looks like she's aged ten years, "Gentlemen, Evelyn woke up about forty-five minutes ago and has yet to speak. We need to assess the trauma she is struggling with, and we will not allow unknown men into her room."
Holy shit.
Eve's awake! Eve's awake while in the same building as me. My knees start feeling wobbly, and I lean against Ryan. "Gentlemen, do you understand? This is a unique situation; we need to do everything possible to keep from doing additional harm to Ms. Miller."
Honestly, I can't even be mad. I am so fucking grateful that Evelyn has other people looking out for her. My heart aches, but she deserves as much support as she can get. I've waited seven years for her to come home, I can wait a little longer.
CHAPTER 6
Evelyn
Jesus, mother, fuck, son of a shit!
Who the hell has the sun blasting directly into my eyes? My lids are fucking closed, and yet, my eyeballs are absolutely frying. Wait. My cell can't get this bright.
Where am I?
Panic begins to set in, making my bones rattle and my blood pump harder. My eyes peel open to settle on a bright white room. No, seriously, everything is white and smells like bleach. Heaven is considered all white; is this it? If it is, they need to fix something because it feels like hell. I ache. Everywhere.
Irritability flashes through me. My head is pounding, and my eyes won't stop watering. The familiar burn of fresh cuts and bruises tickles my focus. My skin feels like rubber with its own heating system. Come to think of it, this feels like the sunburn’s I used to get when I was younger.
