by S Kline
My head snaps back with the force of Callie's right hook. I can feel one trail of blood running like warm lava from my split lip, and another from somewhere at the back of my head. I've never felt pain like this before. As I try to pry my eyes open to take in my surroundings pain shoots through my skull, making me squeeze them shut tightly once again.
I can hear the deep rumble of Marcus's voice in the distance, but I can't hear what he's saying. When I finally manage to lift my eyelids I'm met with Callie's twisted smirk. Chocolate eyes dance with enjoyment at my obvious pain. I try to shift up in my chair, but hiss in agony when the too tight bindings bite into my skin. Callie's smile grows a little wider as she stares at me struggling.
"Rise and shine, princess."
I lock my eyes to hers. "What do you want, Callie? Why are you doing this?"
She doesn’t answer. Instead she steps back, and walks through a wooden door that sits across from where I'm bound. I realize then that Marcus has called her name. I flick my gaze around the all-white room and I gasp when my eyes fall to Addie.
She's bound to a chair on the opposite side of the room. Her head is bowed down, long blonde hair falling over her face. She’s wearing nothing more than sleep shorts and a t-shirt. She has to be freezing. I have shivers over my skin, and I'm wearing sweats.
"Addie?" I try to keep my voice as nothing more than a whisper.
She stay's still, too still. A crippling fear set's in the longer she doesn't respond to me. I rock against my chair, ignoring the pain that shoots through my limbs, and the blood I can feel trickle down my wrist.
"Addie." I say her name a little louder this time, hoping my words and the sound of my chair’s movement’s will bring her head up.
Her head lifts slowly just as I’m about to give up. I release a shocked wheeze as her face lifts to meet mine. Dried blood is caked to the side of her head making her hair stick to her face and neck. I can't see where the blood is coming from, but I can tell she's lost a lot of it. Her eyes are dazed and clouded and she blinks a few times, as if she is trying to decide if I'm really there. I smile slightly to encourage her to see that I am. A painful cry leaves her lips and a fresh set of tears begins to stream down her face.
"Kaci? Oh my God it's really you. No, no. you’re not supposed to be here!"
My smile falls away as confusion seeps in. I thought she would be happy to know that I was here with her. That she wasn't alone.
"It's okay, Addie, we're gonna get out of here. Troy is looking for Callie. He'll find her. He'll save us."
Her cries become more forceful with every word that slips from my lips.
"They're going to kill us!" She practically screams the words out around painful sobs.
"No, Addie we're going to be okay. Troy will save us."
"He can't!" She wails into the air. "That's what they want! They're going to make him chose!"
My stomach drops to my feet as vomit forces its way into my throat. "What are you talking about?" The words are barely a whisper as they leave my lips.
"I overheard..." She pauses to clear her throat and swallow deeply. "I overheard them, Callie and Marcus." She sucks in another big breath. "I didn't know it was you."
The words are spoken as almost a plea of wonderment. "They said Troy would have to choose. He would have to choose between his baby, and..."
"And what, Addie?"
"And the woman he loves." Addie’s brown eyes widen in reverence. "It's you, Kace. It's always been you."
I swallow thickly; pushing down the grief I feel digging into the peripheral of my heart.
"They don't believe me." This statement snaps my gaze back to Addie.
"Believe you? What do you mean?" I lift a brow as I try to comprehend what she's saying.
"The baby isn't Troy’s, Kace." She hiccups another sob. "I’m so sorry-"
The door swings open and Callie storms in, anger emanating from her cold features. Addie presses her lips tightly together, her eyes squeezing shut as Callie grips her by her long hair and pulls her into the other room, chair and all.
"Addie! Addie!" I release an agonized cry as the door slams shut behind them.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Troy
The wind whips around, and rain splatters against the windshield as I turn my car onto the exit ramp. I am more thankful than ever before for the speed of my car. I know I should slow down. That I should come up with a better plan then the one I have running through my head. I can't. All I can focus on is that I have to save them. I have to get both Kaci and Addie out of there, and I will the alternative is unacceptable.
I will die myself before any harm comes to either of them. I speed over the slick streets, and barely notice when every so often my car skirts and slips its traction before regaining control.
I skid into the abandoned corn mill where Marcus said they were keeping Addie and Kaci. I am out of the car and running across the slick asphalt so fast I am not even sure I put the car in park. I nearly slip a couple times on my way to the metal door, but my agony has me focusing on nothing but getting inside to them.
Thunder rolls over the sky above me, and rain pelts down in heavy drops around me. I slide the door open on a loud screech of metal and step into my biggest nightmare. Only this time it’s Addie's body on the floor, surrounded by blood, eyes closed, lips pale. The only relief I can find is in the subtle rise and fall of her chest.
"Addie!"
I rush over and kneel beside her while scanning her face; mentally begging her to open her eyes. "Addie! Wake up, Ads, come on." I run my hands gently over her cold skin.
"Give me the gun." A firm voice echoes into the stillness around me, and I glance over my shoulder to see Marcus, a gun in hand trained on the back of my skull.
"Where's Kaci? What did you do to Addie?"
"Gun, Troy. I won't ask again."
I lift up my hands as I stand. I slip one hand behind my back, but stop as small, warm hand slides under my shirt, caressing my skin.
"Keep your hands up honey, I got this." Callie's velvety voice whispers over my ear. Having her hands on me makes me feel utterly disgusted, and I have to force back the bile clogging my throat.
I can feel the gun slip from the holster as she steps back, and around me.
"It's good to see you again, Troy."
"What did you do to Addie?"
"She's fine." Callie waves a flippant hand toward Addie's still frame. "Pregnancy just takes it out of you, you know?"
"She doesn't look fine. Let her go. I'm here. Let them both go now."
Marcus chuckles as Callie tisk’s me with a shake of her head. "You wish it was that easy."
She steps toward me until her chest is pressed against mine. I fight off the urge to wrap my hands around her neck and squeeze.
"You have to make a choice, prince charming."
"What are you talking about?" I keep my tone firm even as panic grips me.
"Addie or Kaci? Which one means more to you, Troy?"
"Why are you doing this? What the fuck made you do this?"
Callie’s eyes narrow as she steps back from me slowly. "You can't be that stupid."
I just stare at her. Clearly I am, because I have no idea why she is doing this. A sadistic laugh leaves her lips.
"Your mother ruined everything for me!" Callie’s words echo around us, clashing with the sounds of the storm raging outside. I force myself to stay quiet.
"Your mother wasn't just fucking my father, Troy. She was pregnant." The shock of this news registers deep inside, but I try to school my expression. Remain neutral. "It was a boy, in case you're wondering."
Callie pauses as her eyes search my face looking for any kind of reaction to this news. I remain still, waiting for her to continue.
"Do you know what a son would have meant to my father?" She stares at me incredulously. "It would have meant security for the family legacy." She answers for me. "But your whore mother refused to walk away from you!" She spits the words out at me li
ke a curse.
"So you killed her?" The words are spoken with an acceptance I can finally feel at my mother's death.
Callie smiles wickedly. "Yes. I killed her."
She turns and walks toward a metal door set off to the side. She pushes it open and walks inside. The sound of Kaci's screams have my legs in motion and I’m halfway to the door when a shot rings out next to my head.
I shift my gaze to Marcus. His smile is just as twisted as Callie's. "And what does your pathetic ass have to do with any of this."
Marcus’s smile drops and anger morphs his face. His mouth opens to respond but when Kaci is shoved into the room with her limbs tied and blood running the length of her arms and neck he smiles again.
"Troy!" Kaci cries out as Callie pushes her to the ground next to Addie.
I can see the fear in her eyes, the sweat beading her skin, and the slight tremble over her bloody lips. Her fear further fuels my anger. "Answer the question."
I shift my gaze back to Marcus. "What do you have to do with any of this?"
Callie laughs loudly, and the sound is accompanied by thunder vibrating the metal roof. "Go ahead, Marcus. Tell him." She turns back to me. "Oh, Troy. You're gonna love this!"
Marcus's smile drops as he stares behind me, and into Kaci's fearful gaze. "I found Callie snooping around your place one night after you and Kaci left for Westin."
Marcus’s gaze shifts back to me. "When I confronted her about it, and asked what she was doing around your place. She told me about how you two were an item now. She told me that she could hear Kaci scream out your name as you fucked her."
I start to shake my head. No way could she have heard that. I stop as I think back to the man who cornered Kaci in the hotel room. Has Callie been following me this whole time? Callie's smile grows as she sees me work through all of this in my head.
"Kaci was supposed to be mine, Troy." Marcus's words are laced with anger, pulling my gaze back to his. "Now you are going to watch while I fuck her in front of you, and I hope she screams your name the whole time. It's your turn to feel helpless."
My fists tighten at my side. "That will never happen, Marcus. You'll have to kill me first."
I shift instinctively to shield Kaci with my body. A whimper falls from behind me, and we all turn at once as Addie open's her eyes, her gaze immediately falling to me. She erupts in tears and I have to force myself not to run over to her. Catching the flinching of my body Callie laughs again.
"It's time, Troy. You have to make your choice. Kaci, or Addie."
Kaci
Troy's whole body tenses in front of me at Callie's words. I pull my gaze away from him and look back at Addie. I don't know why she lied to Troy, to everyone, but even though the baby isn't Troy's, there is still a baby inside of her. I clear my throat pulling everyone's gazes to me.
"Choose Addie." My words are soft but firm.
Troy’s eyes widen in disbelief, and he runs a hand aggressively through his dark hair. I lock my eyes to his, and silently beg him to listen to me.
"She needs you, Troy. The baby needs you." Troy’s arms fall loosely at his side, but he doesn’t speak. Icy eyes search over my face.
I can feel Callie and Marcus's stares as they take in our conversation.
"It's not his baby!" Addie's loud yell echoes around us, and pulls every set of eyes in the room to her.
She sobs quietly, her bottom lip moving in rapid succession between her teeth. "I'm so sorry, Troy. I shouldn't have lied I just- I wanted to matter."
I flick my gaze to Troy; his lips are parted, and his body is somehow even tenser than before.
"You can stop with that now, Addie." Marcus's voice carries into the one-sided conversation between Troy and Addie.
"I'm not lying. It isn't Troy’s baby."
"I don't understand-" Troy’s words are interrupted by a loud crash.
I scream as a series of shots ring out around us, one after the other spraying the air. Troy throws himself over both Addie and me. I hear his painful hiss in my ear seconds before pain tears through my side. I scream.
I can’t see around Troy's big frame, but I'm actually thankful for that. I vaguely feel the warmth bloom against my side. I wonder what’s causing it, but suddenly Troy is gone. I open my eyes, and I'm met with Marcus's evil brown eyes.
The gunshots are still ringing out around us. My eyes fall to Marcus’s hands as they begin to unfasten the buttons of his jeans. I search frantically for Troy, and cry out at his still body on the concrete. Troy’s on his stomach, his face turned away from me, but I can see the blood pool against the concrete from underneath him.
"Troy!" I yell his name, not paying any attention to Marcus until he presses against me, his hand covering my lips in his firm grasp.
"It's my turn, Kaci." The words whisper over my ear making me cry out around his hand as his erection presses into my hip.
I squeeze my eyes closed and refuse to watch. I wait for the pain. I wait for his hands to grope my body, but it doesn’t happen. Suddenly a cool breeze washes over my skin, and I pry one eye open fearful of what I'll see.
I practically sigh in relief. Troy has his arms wrapped securely around Marcus’s neck. I can see the life draining out of Marcus’s eyes; the rich brown diming to a dull shade. I shift to move closer, but I'm hindered not only by the restraints, but also by the pain that's smarting at my side.
I hear a door slam open. I can’t describe the relief that washes over me at the sight of Sean. He looks immediately at Troy, and walks over to him. Sean places the barrel of his gun against Marcus's head, and pulls the trigger. Marcus's body goes completely lax as the sound rings out around us, and he's no longer struggling against Troy's grip.
Troy releases Marcus’s lifeless body, and stands. My eyes fall to the blood spreading over the front of his shirt, that crippling fear returning as I take in his pale coloring.
"Where is Callie?" Troy's words are spoken through shattered breaths of air.
"She ran, we're looking for her."
Troy nods seconds before he falls to the ground at Sean's feet. I scream again, but this time I can't hear the screams. It's as if I'm not really present as I watch Troy slip slowly into lifelessness. I have so much I need to say to him. I'm not ready to let this go yet. I'm not ready to lose him.
I shift my gaze to meet Dylan's fearful eyes as he begins working on my bindings. As soon as I'm free I rush forwards, throwing my body over Troy's, ignoring my own pain.
"Call 911!" I scream until my throat feels raw.
"Shit, Kaci! You’re bleeding!" Sean rushes to my side, and tugs at my shirt to see the wound there.
"I'm fine! You have to help him!" I bury my face into Troy's neck, and inhale him deeply into me.
The sound of approaching sirens barely registers until hands are grabbing at me, and pulling me away from Troy. I thrash against their tight grips, and screams tear from my throat. A body moves in front of me, and blocks my view of Troy.
"Troy!"
"He'll be okay, but we need to get you looked at."
I focus on the calm voice in front of me. A woman in a police uniform is talking to me in a firm and reassuring tone. When she sees that she is finally getting through to me a small smile tugs at her lips.
"That's it sweetie. Listen to me." She runs a warm hand over my cheek, and I look around to see two male officers gripping my arms. They help lay me down onto a stretcher, and then push me toward an awaiting ambulance.
"Let's get you looked at. He'll want to know you're okay when he wakes up."
I hang on to her words. A part of me realizes she is probably only saying what she needs to in order to get me moving, but I don't care. I need to believe these words. I need to believe this isn't it for us.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Kaci
It's been eight weeks. As I sit in the uncomfortable wooden chair next to his bed I absently run my hand over my still flat stomach. Troy's still motionless, still unconscious. I haven't
left his room since they released me.
After a week in the hospital Addie had finally been Okayed to go home. Thanks to Troy both she and the baby will be fine. I had woken up with Dad and Sean sitting next to me. Both of their faces were pale and stubbled with a day’s worth of hair. I'd been out for twelve days, but the doctors said that I could have awoken sooner if my mind had let me.
Dad held me tightly to his chest, and whispered his love for me as warm tears streaked his handsome face. I've never seen my dad cry, and I never want to again. Sean stood stoically behind him with one hand clasped to his shoulder.
The doctor came in shortly after I woke up. He told me the bullet had entered into my left side and penetrated my intestines, but that they successfully removed the bullet and repaired the damage. I would be okay, and so would my baby.
The doctor told me that it was impossibly early in my pregnancy for me to even suspect, and that the baby still might not make it, but with blood test and ultrasounds they confirmed that I was in fact pregnant. Troy would be a father after all.
Addie's confession had been real, Troy wasn't the father. Turns out Addie had really tried to make it appear as if he were though. The real father's name is Travis, and his dark hair and blues are eerily similar, but even with the similarities, he doesn't come close to matching Troy's beauty.
Addie told him about the baby, leaving out the fact she tried to pin the baby on Troy. We all knew that would never be spoken of again. If there is one thing this family is good at it is keeping secrets.
The machine bleeps with Troy’s heartbeat, and the sound of his IV drip is natural background noise to me now. I pray constantly for him to open his eyes, but so far he's had no change. The bullets punctured his lung and a kidney. The damage was extensive, but they managed to stabilize him in a medically induced coma.
They lifted the comma two weeks ago, now we are just waiting for him to wake up. I need him to wake up. I need to tell him how much I love him. I need to tell him how sorry I am. I need to let him know that I’ll never leave him again. I can stay here forever, as long as I have Troy. I can deal with everything else as long as we are together.