by B C Morgan
Me: I swear to god if you touch a hair on her head Dante, I will fucking end you. I may not believe in murder but I’ll make an exception for you.
I shouldn't have messaged him, but what else can I do? I haven’t heard anything from her and Bella keeps trying to get me to go on stage tonight, yet another reason I don’t fucking trust her. She’s supposed to be the nice one, yet she won’t stop hassling me, I don’t even want to read her messages anymore. They’re just pissing me off.
Psycho: I have no idea what you’re talking about pretty girl, I told you I was done with the shit show you call a life. I’ve been replaced and I’m wise enough to know not to stick around whilst Devon has a chip on his shoulder. Although you do have me curious, who am I supposed to have now?
Me: Don’t play games with me you fruit loop, as if you would just walk away.
Psycho: The pay isn’t worth it. Look girl, I am a psychopath. I’ve had the test and got the diagnosis, the majority of my family is this way, inherited trait I guess. I do what I want, when I want and the consequences can be damned. However, I like my life and killing you isn’t worth the aggravation. Besides, they’ve got my cousin on the case now. You thought I was bad, I’m a pussy cat in comparison. I may play with my kill but she destroys them, and if someone has gone missing you should probably look her way not mine.
Me: I don’t even know who she is, unless you feel like giving me a name?
Psycho: Where’s the fun in that, get your ‘brother’ on it. I’m sure he’ll figure it out eventually, but will you still be alive to use the knowledge? Bye Henleigh, don’t bother messaging again, this number won’t work.
“Sawyer, we may have a small problem,” I shout out of my room and he is wasting no time in coming to me. He’s very efficient.
I pass him my phone and his look could curdle dairy, why is he angry with me? Oh yeah, texting Dante is probably the cause.
“Devon is not going to be happy Henleigh, and no doubt I’ll get the blame for this. How can I keep you safe when you’re doing stuff like this?” He’s clutching my phone so hard that I keep expecting it to break apart in his hand and I don’t appreciate him waving it around in front of my face.
“I don’t care about that right now, Ivy is gone. I’m so…” I can't get the words out as my panic overwhelms me and my pitch goes supersonic.
It’s weird that Sawyer is wrapping his arms around me and moving us side to side, but at least my throat isn’t clogging over anymore. I can hear as he hums a nonsensical tune, and it helps to smooth away my jagged nerves, my fear hasn’t gone but at least I can think straight again.
My arms wind around his waist and I’m closing my eyes trying to fool myself into believing that for a simple moment, it’s Elliott holding me. We pull away and look at one another when the front door opens, we can’t even see it from here and I don’t think Sawyer is going to take any chances this time.
“Hide, and stay hidden until I come and get you,” his eyes are hard and his jaw is set as he pulls a gun out of his waistband.
“Be careful,” I whisper and all I can hope is that I won’t soon be met with the sound of gunfire.
I don’t have anywhere in my room that I can hide, so I guess under my bed is my only option. It’s like a horror film or a messed up dream that I can’t wake up from. Sawyer takes one last look at me before moving out of the room and all I can do is watch the doorway from my hiding spot.
Time is moving by at a snail's pace and I can feel the seconds tick by, I don’t know if I should be worried that I can’t hear anything. Another couple of minutes pass by as the sound of wood crashing into something fills the flat and my heart is hammering within my chest, I almost cry as a pair of boots come into my line of sight.
“It’s okay Henleigh, you can come out,” Sawyer says and I slide out and get to my feet.
“Who was it?” I ask, my voice shaking worse than a house made of sticks as the wolf huffed and puffed.
“I’m not sure, they ran into Ivy’s room. By the time I got the door open they’d already gone out the window, but they did leave something behind,” his voice is dark and his hands are clenched around an envelope and I’m surprised he hasn’t ripped it yet.
“Will you open it,” I ask, stuttering between the words, I have no idea what it is and I don’t know if I’m strong enough to check it out on my own.
He looks conflicted but he shakes his head before tearing into the envelope and pulling out a piece of paper, as a Polaroid flutters to the ground.
We don’t even need to pick it up, seeing as it has landed up for the whole bloody world to see as clear as day. Ivy tied to a chair, her face a mosaic of bruises and a cloth around her mouth keeping her gagged.
My hand is over my mouth as my stomach contracts and I fold over in two as my other hand clutches at my abdomen and I can’t contain the cry that breaks free. I think I could give the banshees a run for their money, Sawyer is beside me rubbing up and down my back but nothing can warm the icy chill that is taking over me.
“Henleigh, there’s more. Come on, let's get you sat down,” he says gently as he leads me out of my room and onto the sofa in the living room.
I thought he was going to give me even more bad news, but he’s walked off. Maybe that’s a good thing, I don’t think I can take anymore right now. I curl up on myself and lay my head on the arm of the sofa, whilst clutching my knees to my chest.
Sawyer comes back in after five minutes, sporting a heaping mug of hot chocolate, with squirty cream and even a chocolate flake on the side. I appreciate the effort, but I don’t think I can stomach anything right now.
“I don’t think I should show you this, but I won’t keep things from you little lady. You don’t deserve anymore secrecy in your life, but you cannot make any decisions until we talk it over with Devon,” I’m too numb to say anything, so a head nod will have to suffice.
Dear Henleigh
I have your little friend, I wondered if you’d figure it out by her little note to you, but clearly you aren’t as intelligent as I first thought. Here’s the deal, you’re going to die either way but her life is still debatable. You want to save her, all you have to do is perform tonight. Go out with a bang darling, strange request I know but why push you too far. Your choice, play guitar and she’ll live, refuse and she dies. Also I expect perfection, no wrong or missed chords from you tonight, and you can be sure I’ll be there watching. See you soon.
DEVON IS MISSING the big picture, no matter how much I tell him that I will not risk her life, he won’t listen.
“Don’t you get it, you don’t want anything to happen to me and I feel the same way about Ivy. I won’t let her die because I was too scared about myself, I’m doing it and there isn’t a damned thing you can do to stop me,” I’m shouting, so sue me.
“I’ll have Sawyer lock you up if I have to,” he growls down the phone and Sawyer comes to stand behind me.
“I won’t do it Devon, I’ll face your wrath if I have to but I can’t just sit back and let something happen to an innocent kid. Because that’s what she is, if Henleigh wants to do this then that’s her choice and I’ll be right there with her,” the growl from the phone is louder than before and it would make a grown man tremble in fear.
“So will we.”
My heart has stopped, how did I not hear the door open, then again I couldn't hear anything over my shouted words. I get to my feet, my legs trembling as I launch myself at Noah and Harrison and my eyes near enough pop out of my head as I watch Elijah enter the room.
“We’re all here for you Hen, whatever you need we’ll support you,” Elijah says as he pulls me out of their arms and into his own.
I won’t get the chance to enjoy my guys before the show, no little moments of love and closeness. There’s too much at stake and I can’t risk being distracted by them, but having them here is instilling a little more faith and much needed bravery. I think I can get through this, I have them. How could I not?
&nb
sp; There’s one loose end that I have to tie up though, I can’t pretend that I don’t face an unknown danger and everything can still go wrong. If I’m going to die, then I need to reply to a message that I have made myself forget about.
Me: I don’t forgive you Amias, I don’t know if I can. I want to, because I have never stopped loving you. I don’t ever want to not love you, I hate you sometimes and I hate the way you can make me feel but I love it just as much. Thank you for giving me the space I craved and letting me go, even if you haven’t given up on me. (Ignore that part if you have, I don’t expect you to wait for something that may never happen) I honestly didn’t expect myself to message you back, I thought it would be too hard, and that hasn’t changed but the circumstances are different now. I always thought if I did message it would be to ask you a question, but I don't think it's all that important considering everything that is happening. Ivy has been dragged into this shit storm that is my life and I have to do something to ensure she’ll be okay. There shouldn’t be any risk, but this life is unpredictable and I have no idea what this new threat can do. I just didn’t want anything to happen and to have you thinking I hated you. Because I don’t hate you Amias, I love you and I hope one day you can see the guy you could be, the same guy I have always seen when I look at you.
SIXTEEN
I CAN’T BREATHE, my chest is tight and all I can think about is Ivy. Bella gives everyone a run for their money in the art of deceiving, she isn’t acting any different, you’d never know she has someone tied to a chair somewhere out there.
I don’t think I can do this, there’s too much pressure. If I don’t she dies, if I mess up, she dies. What am I supposed to do? I’m bent over at the waist, with my hands pressed against my knees. Sawyer looks beyond awkward but I can’t be dealing with his issues and I have no idea where my guys are, I really need them right now.
“Where are they?” I push it out through gasps as my lungs constrict and threaten to cut off my oxygen. It’s like someone has them placed within a vice and they just keep tightening them.
“Noah is talking to someone called Mattias, they’re trying to work out who could be targeting you this time, if Dante is telling the truth. Elijah is getting you a drink, but there’s a bit of a crowd forming and I’m not sure where Harrison is. They’ll be here soon though, it’s okay,” he says weakly, he really isn’t good at offering comfort and I’m hyperventilating worse than before.
“Sir, you can’t go back there,” a voice calls from the other side of the door as it's pushed open and my eyes pop open wide as they take in Amias.
“What are you doing here?” Sawyer asks, coming to stand in front of me, as I sink down onto the floor and gasp like an asthmatic after running a marathon.
“I’m not sure, Roxie invited me. I can’t explain it, and I wasn’t going to come but then I had a text from Henleigh. What the fuck is wrong with her?” His tone grows harsh as he storms over to me, pushing Sawyer out of the way and crouching down before me.
“You shouldn’t be here, she doesn’t need more stress,” Sawyer is severely lacking in the dominance today and part of me is wondering if it's because he doesn't think Amias should have to leave.
“I can help,” he says sharply, before focusing all of his attention on me.
“Henleigh, I need to find the guys. Will you be okay and can you let him stay until I get back?” I nod with a quick jerk of my head and he gives us one last look before leaving the room and in return, me and Amias completely alone.
“Little cub, you need to calm down. Breath in through your nose for the count of five and then out of your mouth, nice and slow come on.”
I’m shaking my head, this isn’t going to work, I can’t function at the moment. He drags his hand through his hair before shaking his head and pulling me into his arms. I go as stiff as a board and stop. Stop breathing, thinking, moving. Everything is done and I can’t string a complete thought together until my head snaps onto the fact that Amias is holding me and I pull back before pushing him away.
“What are you doing?” Is that pain I hear in my voice, I don’t deserve to be feeling that right now.
“Whatever I can to distract you from your panicking, I thought a hug would be less intrusive than grabbing you and slamming my mouth against yours,” his voice goes deeper and his eyes flash with an intense hunger that is all Amias.
A shiver courses its way through me as memories of the two of us slam into my mind and take over my senses, but I have to remind myself why I was angry at him. That’s the thing though, I was angry but I’m not anymore. With my life on the line, I don’t see any need to hold on to it anymore, but the pain is harder to let go of.
“Don’t,” it comes out as a whisper, but the pleading in my tone can’t be denied. I just don’t know what I am pleading for.
“I will leave if you ask me to, although I would like to stay and watch the show if you’ll allow me to. I’ll go after and I won’t bother you again,” he rises to his feet and holds his hand out to me.
I think for a moment before I slip my hand into his, electricity shoots up my arm and my hand tingles from his touch. The feel of him is leaving me breathless, just like it always did before. He’s standing so close and I can’t move away, his eyes are darting from side to side, searching mine but I can’t say or do anything.
“Henleigh,” my name falls from his lips like the sweetest melody, although his tone is beyond gruff and it sends more chills darting up my spine.
“What the fuck is going on?”
Amias turns around and I move to the side so Harrison can see that I’m okay. His eyes search me thoroughly before returning to Amias, I can see so much anger within his stare but they soften slightly.
“I’m not sure you should be here right now, she has a lot going on,” he says carefully, moving closer to me and taking my hands within his. He’s being gentle and I’m not sure what to make of it, although I appreciate it more than I can say.
“Yeah, good luck tonight Henleigh. You’ve got this, you can do anything you put your mind to,” he says as he walks over to the door.
“Amias,” I call and he stops to look at me. I’m not sure what I want to say but I have to say it now before he leaves. “You can stay for the show if you want,” I say softly and he smiles slightly before nodding his head.
“Thank you,” he says quietly, keeping our eyes locked before he leaves the room and Harrison wastes no time in pulling me into his arms and wrapping me up within him.
I SPEND the next half an hour backstage in a room with my three guys, holding them and being held, we share kisses and tender moments but nothing more. I still don’t know if I can do this, but what choice do I have? I keep hoping that Ivy will turn up and it will all be a sick joke. I think I’d even forgive her for it, as long as she was okay. It’s wishful thinking though, I know she would never do that, not to me or anyone.
“You’re going to be okay my love, we’ll be right here with you. No one is getting you tonight,” Noah says, but I can’t help but wonder if any of us believes his words. Can they really stop an enemy that we can’t recognise? Sure I keep thinking it’s Bella, but I can’t know for sure and something does feel off about it.
There isn’t anything I can say in response and I don’t even get the chance as Roxie comes sashaying into the room, with a massive smile on her face and excitement shining within her eyes.
“It’s showtime baby girl, let's go show them how amazing you are,” she blows me a kiss and leaves the room with the same grace and confidence that she always enters one with.
“Wish me luck,” I say to the room as I pick up my guitar and leave to find the girls, Sawyer following close behind.
We’ve already discussed how this will go, Elijah is going to stand close to the back exit, he’ll still be able to see and hear us but he wants to make sure that no one can sneak up on us. Noah will be at the front of the crowd and Harrison will be close to the front entrance. Sawyer will be off to th
e side of the stage so he’ll be close at all times and they seem to have everything covered. So why don’t I feel safe or even a little reassured? If anything, this ominous feeling is only growing in strength and it feels like the kiss we shared before I left the room, is the last one any of us will share again.
The lights are almost blinding as we ascend the stage and take our places, Roxie wastes no time in introducing us all and the crowd goes crazy with her energy.
“Hello Norwich, are you ready to get your minds blown,” she shouts out before bending at the hips slowly and blowing a kiss into the crowd.
“You have no idea how lucky you are about to get, we only have the one and only Henleigh on guitar and she is crazy talented,” she winks at me and the crowd continues to cheer.
“And who could miss the gorgeous Bella over on drums and we’re not even going to get started on me,” her voice takes on a husky pitch and I can’t believe how crazy these people are getting. I just want to get this show on the road.
The lights go off and we begin to play, the lights blare up the moment our tempo hits a high point and I lose myself in the music. I forgot how much I love performing, although I love it even more when it’s just Harrison. How is that possible? My eyes are scanning the club and I can’t get the smile off my face. I take in my guys and then I zone in on Amias, he isn’t even trying to pretend to look anywhere else. His eyes are only on me.
We play until we’re about to drop and I’m really starting to feel the strain but Ivy is in my mind and I cannot think about stopping or making a single mistake which is only cranking up the pressure. I just don’t know how much more I can take of this? I’m so distracted that it takes me a minute or two to realise that Roxie is talking for longer than we had planned, and I think she mentioned my name. What the fuck is she playing at?
“So girls and boys, who would love to hear our sexy guitarist sing?” she’s looking right at me and I want to scream. Why would she do this? She’s the singer not me, I can’t afford anything to go wrong and I am not a singer. I think I’m going to kill her.