I wakeup locked in a cage with other people. I can’t see anyone, but I can hear them crying. My head is throbbing and I have crusted blood drying along my skin. My arms are shackled and I’m freezing. I wait for someone to come, or to tell me what’s going on, but no one does. When the room stops spinning, I open my mouth.
“Where am I?” I ask, and someone shushes me.
“Please, they will hear you,” a cracked voice says from behind me.
“Who?” I whisper back and the person crying next to me starts to sob.
“I just want to go home. I want my mommy,” another girl says and I feel sick. Heavy boots thump down some metal stairs and a light flicks on. I gasp in horror at what’s revealed.
“You,” one of the guards shouts, pointing at a young woman. She can’t be older than sixteen. She’s naked, like we all are, and her skin is filthy, as though she hasn’t showered in weeks. I take in everything that I can see before they leave and the light is extinguished again.
“Where did they take her?” I ask, and the person behind me laughs, but it’s hollow.
“To the auction. Young thing like her will fetch them a pretty penny.” My stomach rolls and I vomit down the front of myself, wincing at the pain in my temple.
What the fuck is happening? How did I get here?
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Iknock on Rooke’s door and wait for him to open it and let me in. I’ve been sneaking in here the past few nights, and I can’t sleep without him. Plus, I want to talk about what happened tonight. Check that he’s okay with everything. I know he loves Patience, but seeing us together was new. I mean, I enjoy watching him fuck her, I find it extremely hot.
I wait a few more minutes, but he never answers. Where is he? I walk over to Nate’s room and knock. He opens the door with a toothbrush in his mouth.
“Have you seen Rooke?” He shakes his head and holds up a finger. I wait as he spits out the toothpaste and returns.
“No, I heard him come home though. I think he showered too. Maybe check the kitchen?”
Fuck, I am so dumb. He’s probably getting a snack. I know I could use one. I walk down the staircase and over to the pantry, but the lights are off and no one’s in there. Something seems off and I’m starting to worry.
I race back to my room and grab my phone. I text Pay to see if he went back over there, but she says no. Dialing Rooke’s number, I wait for him to answer. It rings and rings and rings, but no answer. I move back to his room and knock again.
“I’m coming in,” I warn, then turn the knob. His bed is still made and his bathroom light is off. I flick on the lamp next to the bed. His dresser drawers are wide open and his clothes are gone. What the fuck?
No! I leave his room and rush downstairs to make sure his Jeep is still here, but it’s also gone.
“Nate,” I yell and he comes flying out of his room, panicked.
“What’s wrong?” I don’t answer him as the tears fill my eyes. How did this happen? Did I just lose one of my soulmates?
* * *
I pacethe room that smells like him and keep calling his phone. It no longer rings and brings me right to his voicemail. Every time I hear his voice, I break a little more inside. How could he leave? If it was about the threesome, I never would have pushed it.
I love him. He’s my guy. I need him. I call again and this time leave a message.
“Baby, please, come home. Talk to me. Let me fix whatever I did. I need you, Rooke. I’m sorry I ever doubted us. I love you. You’re my guy.” I hang up and sit on his bed, then sob. Patience has tried to talk to me, and I know she’s also hurting that he left.
They had just started something, and I think she loves him. How did one of the best nights of my life go to shit so quickly? What did I do wrong? I need him to come home. I need him to stand up with me as I marry the girl of my dreams. I need him to cuddle with me at night. I need him to hold me because I fear I might shatter without his love.
Chapter Thirty-Nine
“Hey, baby,” my rabbit says as she comes up to me and gives me a kiss. I smile against her lips and pull her into a hug. I love that she doesn’t shy away from me now. All I have ever wanted is to hold her, kiss her, fuck her. It’s still not the best idea to kiss me in public, but Cal has been pretending to be me this week, so I could have a turn with our girl. As long as my dad isn’t around, people don’t bat an eye.
When he walked into the kitchen the other morning, moping and sporting a matching lip ring and eyebrow piercing, I almost choked on my waffles. But when he called me Cal, I nearly lost it. I know he’s a mess over Rooke just disappearing off the face of the earth, but I never thought he would want to be me.
“Hi, rabbit. You seem to be in a good mood,” I comment and she gives me a huge smile.
“I’m happy. For once.” I grin and give her another kiss. She pulls away and glances around.