Page 29 of Bound by Adoration

My body tensed, and I ripped out of Raid’s arms and turned to the space where the bedroom door used to be but was now hanging off its hinges. “What?”

Screech looked me up and down and rolled his eyes. Whatever that was about. “He said he was outta here and told me to have a good life.”

“You’ve got to be shittin’ me,” Raid growled behind me, but panic hit me.

I pushed through Screech, ran down the hall, and into the main room of the house. When I didn’t see him, I went to the door which was steel and slowly pulled it open. As soon as I did, I ran like my ass was on fire, going straight to find Liam.

“Nyx! Stop!” Raid called, but I didn’t stop.

I needed to find his truck. Maybe he just went for a walk around here to get some air. He wouldn’t actually leave, would he? He couldn’t. He said we’d make a plan before he left to meet with his aunt.

Boot steps were behind me, running as I went through the tunnel we entered through. Once I got to the final door, I turned the lever, but it wouldn’t open. “Fuck!” I screamed and pulled on the door, then hit it with my fists. But it did no good, only hurting my hands in the process.

“Nyx.” Raid reached out and took my hands into his, stopping me from punching it and probably saved my hands from breaking.

He put a code in a side panel that I didn’t see, and the door started to open, but Raid didn’t let me go. Instead, he wrapped his arms around me. “Wait. Let me go look. Remember, you’re underground now. You need to stay hidden.”

“But…”

“I need you to do this. I need you to help me keep you safe. Please.” His words hit me hard and stilled my movements. Wasn’t I just asking him to stick with me and give this a shot? Yeah. So I knew I had to stop.

“You come right back here, Raid, and tell me if the truck is gone,” I ordered him.

“If you would’ve waited, I could’ve brought up the security screens to show you. But since we’re here, I’m gonna check it out. I’ll come right back.”

Only then did the air leave my body only to be followed by this twisting hollow pit taking root in my soul. He couldn’t be gone. He couldn’t leave me again. Didn’t I just tell Raid I didn’t know if it was love? This sure felt like it. “Okay.”

He stepped away, went through the door, and shut it behind him.

I moved to the side of the tunnel and rested my back on the concrete. I wished things in my life were different.

“You’ve got yourself in a fuck ton of a mess, Nyx… Way to really fuck up your life,” I muttered to myself.

“You need to give them time,” Screech said, and my head popped up. I didn’t hear him approach. Fuck, my senses weren’t on alert. Not good for a woman in my position.

“What?” I questioned.

“You love them both. Anyone with fuckin’ eyes can see it,” he started, and I swore my mouth fell open. He hadn’t been as direct with me as he’d been today. “Grouchy doesn’t like anything out of his control. Reminds me of you.” He gave a soft smile. “Liam just popped up out of the blue, laying some claim to you that Grouchy thought was his. Time. It’ll be hell, and since I’m stuck here with you, I’m fucked in that I get to live through it. But it also means that I’m here for you. That makes it worth it.”

Without thinking, I went to Screech and wrapped my arms around him, and my head hit the bottom of his chest. Fuck, he was tall. It took him a few moments until he hugged me back. He must’ve been as stunned as I was, but it felt right.

Yes. This man was my best friend. “What would I do without you?”

He scoffed, “Be a bigger hot mess.”

I pulled way and looked up at him. “Hey!”

Screech chuckled, and I felt my lip tip up.

The door opened, and my gaze went to it, seeing Raid come through it. “He’s gone.”

“I have to go get him.” I pulled away and started to move to the door.

Raid grabbed me around the stomach. “Okay, little tiger. How about we go get the supplies from the main house and you and tall boy over here put them away while I go look for the princess.”

My eyes narrowed, and Raid tipped his lip. I didn’t see anything funny here. Liam was gone. No! I didn’t want him gone. I wanted him here with us. With me.

“You won’t hurt him, and you’ll bring him back?” It came out more like a plea than a question.

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