Outsider: The Flawed Series Book Two

by Becca J. Campbell

  The nurse gave him an arched eyebrow that wasn’t very reassuring. “I’ll let the doc talk to you about the possibilities.”

  “I asked him when he was here earlier,” Chloe said. “I don’t think anything’s certain yet, except that you’ll be in a wheelchair for a while. The rest depends on how well you heal up. Even best case, it’s going to take a lot of physical therapy to get you mobile again.” She reached over to pat his arm. “But Alex and I have already discussed everything. We’ll take care of you. You don’t have to worry about that.”

  The nurse put the cuff away and put her stethoscope on his chest. “How’s your pain?” she asked.

  “I’m not really in pain at the moment. I just feel really…out of it.”

  “The doctor will be in to check on you later this morning. He can answer any questions you have then. For now, try to get some rest.” She gave a look that was dangerously close to a warning and left the room.

  Josh’s head was still spinning as he tried to process all the events he’d missed. Last thing he remembered, he’d been in the abandoned building with Alex. He turned to Chloe. “How did you find us?”

  “I got home and there was no sign of you or Alex, but I didn’t start worrying until Mr. Hailey called. When he told me he’d gotten a call from some guy claiming he’d kidnapped Alex and was holding her for ransom, I kinda freaked out. Mr. Hailey said he was on his way to the city, but I couldn’t just wait around. I had to search for her myself—you know, maybe it was a misunderstanding and I’d find her in the middle of band practice or something. When I saw her car left at the practice space, I really started to worry. Then I found her phone on the sofa, and I knew it was true.” She blew out a breath and looked over at Cam.

  “The guy said we couldn’t call the cops or he’d kill Alex. But he didn’t say anything about calling other people. So I called Cam instead.”

  “And she called me, too.” Jade spoke up for the first time. She linked her arm through Logan’s and glanced up at him with a soft smile. “And I called Logan.”

  “The three of us booked it up here,” Cam said. “We met up with Chloe, then Mr. Hailey.”

  Chloe continued. “He had to meet the guy to make the exchange: the money for the address where Alex was being held. But we had a plan.” Chloe gave Mr. Hailey a mischievous look, at which point Cam interrupted.

  “Chloe and I hid in the back of the SUV—Mr. Hailey’s rental car. Jade and Logan drove separately, staying out of sight. They parked a few blocks away from the exchange. Chloe had Jade on the line on her cell phone so we could stay in contact the entire time. Then, after the creeps left with the money, Logan and Jade pulled up and we switched: Mr. Hailey, Chloe, and Jade went to find Alex while Logan and I went after the kidnappers. We weren’t gonna let those guys get away.” Cam exchanged a meaningful look with Logan who gave a slight nod. It was weird, to see them on such good terms after the love-triangle drama earlier that year.

  Josh frowned. “I didn’t see Jade when you guys found us.”

  “She was waiting in the car,” Chloe said. Jade’s cheeks went pink. Josh realized she probably wouldn’t have been eager to barge into a dark warehouse and risk sharing some creep’s emotions—not after what had happened in Carlsbad. “And you were totally out of it when the ambulance arrived.”

  “So anyway,” Cam continued. “Logan took off like a madman after those suckers. We were able to catch up to them. My déjà vu memory helped a lot.”

  Josh sent Cam a questioning look.

  “Mr. Hailey bumped the car’s brights when he got out and triggered my déjà vu.”

  “I thought you were hiding in the backseat.”

  “I was, until he gave me the signal to pop my head up and so I could get a look at the vehicle.”

  Josh arched a brow at Cam.

  “All in the plan, bro. All in the plan.”

  “Did you see the guy?”

  “I saw the accomplice, but he was wearing a mask. So anyway, once we caught up to them, we went into stealth mode.” Cam gave Logan another glance. It was impossible to miss the glint of pride in his eyes at being involved in the whole operation.

  “We thought they’d hit the road and book it out of the city. Or maybe go to some hideout. But they stopped at an old, broken-down car wash instead. That’s when the drama started. When we turned off our headlights and crept into one of the far stalls, they were arguing. We didn’t get out of the car, just rolled down our windows and listened. The guy who’d set up the operation was upset at the other guy. Looks like he’d planned on giving Mr. Hailey a phony address, then going back for Alex later to—” Cam halted mid-story, shooting Alex an apologetic look like he’d just stepped on her toes.

  She smiled as if to say, “No big deal.”

  He cleared his throat. “So anyway, he was real upset. I think he was going to kill his partner.” Cam’s eyes widened for emphasis. “But there was something the guy in charge had promised to do, and his partner wasn’t letting him go back on his word. He said once he had fulfilled his end of the deal, he’d help him get Alex again.”

  Josh felt the blood drain out of his face. It wasn’t over? They were still after her? He sat up in bed. “We’ve got to call the police!”

  Chloe put up her hand, motioning for Josh to lie back. When she spoke, her voice was calm. “We already have, Josh. Once we found you and Alex alive, Mr. Hailey called them. They’re ‘working on it.’” She used air quotes to emphasize previous frustrations with the lack of closure. Josh thought of the Carlsbad Kidnapper and wondered momentarily about a possible connection between the two cases. Maybe it was just his loopy brain trying to piece similar things together. How could he possibly be so unlucky to get caught up in two different kidnapping cases in one year? Was it more than coincidence?

  “When the kidnappers left the car wash,” Cam continued, “we tried to follow them, but we were worried about getting spotted. I think we may have hung too far back.” He met Logan’s eyes. “Anyway, I called the cops and told them about what had happened there.” He looked back at Josh. “They’ll be here tomorrow to take your statement. You might want to get with Alex on the exact details…in case you have trouble…remembering.” He threw a glance at Mr. Hailey, who seemed to be dozing off in his chair.

  Josh balled his hands into fists. “So, what? They got away?”

  Chloe shrugged. “The police are out looking for them.”

  Josh looked at Alex. “You talked to the cops already?”

  She nodded. “They were up here for a while. They wanted to talk to you, but the nurses wouldn’t let them bother you, thank goodness. You weren’t awake yet, anyway.”

  A nurse entered the room, the same one as before. This time she shot disapproving looks around the room. Without a word, she walked over to check Josh’s heart rate monitor. Then she spoke in a commanding voice. “Enough is enough. You all have got to give the kid some rest. Out!” She made a sweeping motion toward the door.

  Jim Hailey yawned and stood. “Come on, kids. Let’s move to the waiting room.” Cam, Jade, and Logan ducked their heads and followed Mr. Hailey. At his side, Chloe put her hand on his. “I’m really sorry, Josh—for everything I said. I was completely wrong.” She glanced over at Alex.

  “It’s okay,” Josh said.

  She squeezed his hand and left.

  When Alex lingered in the room, the nurse arched a brow at her. Alex gave the woman her sweetest expression, putting her hands together as if she were making a plea. “I need to speak with him alone for just a minute. I’ll be quick, I promise.”

  The woman was still frowning with her eyes, but the tension on her mouth slackened a bit, and Josh thought he saw the slightest curve on her lips for an instant before it disappeared. “All right. But make it quick. You want your boyfriend to recover, don’t you?”

  Alex’s cheeks went pink, but she nodded solemnly. Josh felt his own face flush. After the door shut, she stepped up to his bed.

  A mill
ion thoughts pecked at his brain like pigeons trying to work their way through the fog. A million emotions, and there was no guitar in the room. Words would have to suffice, but why were words so difficult? He inhaled, trying to focus. Let’s start with the facts. “Wh…what did you tell the cops?”

  Alex blinked, obviously not expecting that question right off. “Well, like Chloe said, my dad called them when he found us and told them about the kidnapper and ransom money. Of course he had no idea why you were there—or why you were hurt. When I talked to them, I told them you followed the kidnapper’s car, and that when you found me, they caught you and locked you in the cell with me. The man threatened to kill you if I didn’t cooperate. You tried to fight back, so he shot you in the legs to incapacitate you.”

  “Making me out to look like a hero, huh?”

  She shrugged and smiled. “If the shoe fits…”

  “Thanks for covering for me.”

  “Sure.”

  There was a quick rap at the door and a policeman stuck his head in. “You almost finished, miss?”

  “Uh, yeah. Can I have just a couple more minutes?”

  He gave a quick nod. “I’ll be outside waiting for you.”

  Josh arched a brow. “What was that about?”

  Alex sighed. “That’s my escort.”

  “What?”

  “That man is still out there, and he knows where I go to school, where I have band practice, and probably where I live.”

  “So, what, they think he’ll come back for you again?”

  “They’re taking precautions, just in case. You’ll have an escort when you leave, too. I told them about the possible connection with your other accident. They say it’s more likely he’ll try to finish you.”

  “Do you think so?”

  “No. But they don’t know all the facts. Besides, if he comes after me I can just ditch him with my speedy skills.”

  “That’s not a plan.” He sighed. “The cops better find him before that happens.”

  “I hope they do.”

  He couldn’t think about it right now—not when he was stuck here and there was nothing he could do to help. The fatigue was pulling at him, and all the tension was just tugging him away faster. He was so exhausted. He took a few deep breaths to calm the stress, consciously relaxing his jaw.

  Josh thought about how glad he was to have Alex here, safe. He gazed at her face, at the freckles scattered around her soft cheeks. Her delicate nose. Her lips. Those lips had kissed him, he remembered, a thought that jumpstarted his heart, making it stutter and then gallop away. He reached his hand out, palm up, and she placed her hand in his. “I don’t want anything to happen to you.”

  “And I don’t think I could live with myself if you got hurt for me again. Josh? Why did you do it?” Her brown eyes penetrated his mind, even through the haze. He couldn’t hide from her, and this time he didn’t want to.

  “It was the logical thing to do.”

  “Who are you, Spock?”

  “You need your legs more than I do. Drumming is your passion. I can still play guitar without mine.”

  “Oh, Josh.” She threw her arms around him, burying her face into his neck. The scent of peppermint engulfed him again, momentarily clarifying his mind. His heart surged, as if her closeness intensified his every emotion. His lips met her cheek. She turned her face to him and he found her mouth. Her lips were utterly soft, and slowly undoing the effects of the peppermint. Spinning was happening, and he wasn’t sure whether it was from her, or the medicine, or exhaustion.

  She must’ve sensed his long, slow breaths, maybe even his fading mind. When she pulled back, he gazed at her a moment, which made her blush and grin back at him. She was a confident, sexy woman, and yet somehow he held the mysterious power of making her feel self-conscious, if only for a moment. The realization made him feel giddy and impervious.

  “So, what’s all this ‘boyfriend’ talk?” he asked, unable to hide a grin. “Have you been going around telling people I’m your boyfriend now?”

  She quickly recovered, putting a sassy hand on her hip. “No, but you better watch out or I might start. After all, you’re going to need someone to take care of you. I have a feeling I might be over at your place quite a lot.” Alex cocked her head and arched an eyebrow. “Do you think you can handle that? I’d hate for you to kick me out again.” Despite her forced frown, her eyes danced.

  Josh still felt badly about the jerk he’d been, but he knew she was just playing. “Yeah. I think I can handle that. Bring on the pity. I’m man enough. Besides, I can’t call you my girlfriend if I kick you out.”

  She leaned closer to him again. “Well, to give you fair warning, if I take care of you, it won’t be pity. I have an ulterior motive.”

  “Speaking of ulterior motives, I have something to ask you.”

  “What?”

  “If I’m out of this place by next Friday, would you like to go out for dinner?”

  “I’d love to.”

  When she smiled, he was lost in her eyes.

  Nic groaned and put a palm over his eyes, feeling the thick bandage. With trembling fingers, he ripped it off. Light streamed past his closed lids. He cracked them a bit, then squeezed them shut. Searing pain. He turned away from the window, relaxing his eyelids, taking deep breaths. Slowly, he opened his eyes. They were sore, but the pain was mild as long as he didn’t squint.

  He blinked three times. He could see. The surgery hadn’t left him blind. That was a good thing. Whether or not Doc had succeeded at fixing him—that he would find out later.

  He sat up and turned his head mechanically, scanning the room, testing his vision. It appeared normal.

  Carefully, he pulled himself up to his feet and took several steps to the bathroom. He relieved himself, washed his hands three times in the sink, and examined himself in the mirror. The pale gray-blue eyes stared back. The whites of his eyes were red. His tear ducts were swollen and leaking. He blinked three times and turned to the door.

  Greedy hunger gnawed at his stomach as soon as he entered the hall. He’d been in bed for two days and was disconnected enough that he couldn’t remember what he’d eaten—or if he’d eaten at all. He turned to the kitchen to find some breakfast, leaving the hall light off. Darkness soothed his irritated corneas.

  In the kitchen, the shade was drawn on the one small window over the sink, leaving the room in dusky undertones. A shadowed figure sat still as a statue at the small table. Nic jumped, forgetting for an instant about his roommate. When Ethan’s low chuckle escaped, however, Nic’s shock turned to annoyance. Why hadn’t the dolt gotten him anything to eat yet?

  “You’re up, I see,” Ethan said. “How are the eyes?”

  Nic took a few steps and sat down across from his partner. “A little sore.”

  For the most part, Nic had buried his anger about Ethan’s little stunt. The bull was locked away tightly until Nic could finish what he’d started. Their amenable partnership was only temporary, whether Ethan knew it or not, but for now Nic would use it to his advantage. His fury toward the witch hadn’t been satiated in the least. On the contrary, he was more eager for vengeance now than ever before. She would get what she deserved, but first he had to be patient and take care of other matters.

  “Are you ready to start looking for Kelsey?” Ethan asked.

  “Tomorrow. Give me one more day to heal. How do they look?” Leaning forward, he widened his eyes and stared into Ethan’s coal black ones. It was dark enough for Ethan to see. Nic silently counted to three. He spoke without blinking. “I need you to make me something to eat. Poached egg on toast. Three strips of bacon. And a nine-ounce glass of juice.” He kept his voice even and gazed across the table as he waited for a response.

  After several seconds a haze settled over Ethan’s eyes. Nic hadn’t seen that glossy, empty expression in weeks, and it was, literally, a sight for sore eyes.

  Ethan pushed his chair back and went to the fridge, returning with Nic�
�s requested breakfast.

  A tiny smile curved Nic’s lip. Doc had come through for him.

  The game was on.

  Enjoying the Flawed series?

  Follow Becca’s journey, and be the first to hear about her next book release. Subscribe at BeccaJCampbell.com.

  Also by Becca J. Campbell

  The Flawed Series

  Empath

  Outsider

  Protector

  Pulled (A Flawed Short Story)

  Constricted (A Flawed Short Story)

  The Father Hunt (A Flawed Story)

  Foreign Identity

  Gateway to Reality

  About the Author

  An avid lover of stories that tiptoe the line between fantasy and reality, Becca J. Campbell looks for new angles on bridging the gap between the two. She holds a special place in her heart for any story involving superpowers or time travel. Her passion is defying the limits of her own creativity.

  You can find her at BeccaJCampbell.com.