Page 83 of Forever Always

CHAPTER 30

BECKETT

I threw some ice-cold water on my face, hoping it would help. Shockingly enough, it didn’t. The circles under my eyes were so dark they looked like bruises. Hell, I’d had bruises that didn’t look as nasty. The only way I’d slept these last few weeks was with the pills Jay had gotten me, but they made me feel all fucked up the next day. I couldn’t work at the factory like that, so I only took them on my off days from there. And since I’d had work the last four days in a row, I was all kinds of fucked. Even with Riley literally on top of me, I could only sleep in fits and starts, always waking up with fuckin’ nightmares.

It was all because of the news. About a week after we’d told him everything, Wes had reached out, saying he had enough and asking if we were good if he got it in the hands of his contacts at the police department. After talking it over with Ri, we’d agreed. Wes had implied they found other kids that he’d . . . yeah. Anyway, there were others. I couldn’t deny or hope otherwise anymore, so we told him he could do his thing.

Later that night, Riley had got a text from an unknown number that had turned out to be Luca. He’d sent a link to a news report. The story had leaked, and everyone was talking about the child therapist who was accused of molesting kids.

That had been fuckin’ bad enough, having to see Mr. Chase’s face plastered everywhere. But with the exception of a few of the more conservative channels, it seemed most of them believed the victims. Also, none of our names were out there, so I could watch it sort of as an outsider. Wes had promised us mine and Riley’s names wouldn’t be revealed, and I was starting to believe him as more and more stations had picked it up without ever mentioning me.

But then, in the middle of the night, I’d gotten a news alert. One that would haunt me for the rest of my fuckin’ life.

Child Therapist Wanted on Charges of Sexual Assault of a Minor Currently at Large

Mr. Chase had fled. They couldn’t find him anywhere. Riley had tried calling Wes, but he hadn’t answered, still in South America. Later, he’d called Luca on the number that had texted us. Luca had confirmed it wasn’t them that took him out. The fucker had really bailed.

One of the kids he had hurt had come forward. He was 19 now and was getting fucking eviscerated by the media. He couldn’t go nowhere without them hounding him. The constant nightmares and ridiculous fear that Chase was gonna show up had been bad enough. I didn’t need people up my ass and in my business 24/7.

It had been nearly three weeks and they still hadn’t found him.

I opened the medicine cabinet and pulled out the bottle of anxiety meds Jay had gotten me. I wondered if he was gonna quit his little side hustle now that he was with Dakota. I was pretty sure Dakota could lose his nursing license if they ever connected them. It was probably smart, but I wouldn’t lie and say I wouldn’t miss the free meds. Sure as fuck beat shelling out the money for a doctor.

After I popped a few, I shuffled into the living room where Riley was on his beat-up laptop. When he saw me, he slammed it shut a little too quickly. I narrowed my eyes at him. What the fuck was that about?

“What’re you doin’, butterfly?”

“Nothin’. Just looking up some stuff.” Okay, vague. “How’re you feelin’?”

I shrugged. “Tired, but okay.”

“What do you think about going out?”

I frowned and sat next to him on the couch. “Out where?”

He grinned at me, those blue eyes glinting with trouble. “It’s a surprise.”

I scowled at him. “I hate surprises.”Ri pushed up to his knees and leaned over and kissed me.

“You’ll like this one. I promise. When was the last time you showered? You should probably do that.”

He was still right in my face, so it was easy enough to close my fingers in his hair and flip him up and over so I was on top. Of course, in my head, he’d end up with his back on the cushions and I’d be straddling him, but the couch was too narrow so we both tumbled to the floor, knocking into the coffee table as we went. Riley’s half-drank cup of water rocked and eventually tipped, landing right on my back.

“Ahh, fuck! Why the fuck is that so cold!”

Ri was laughing so hard he couldn’t breathe. Literal tears streamed down his face. “Oh my god! That was the biggest fuckin’ fail! That wasn’t what I meant when I said you needed to shower.”He was wheezing as he talked so it took a long ass time for his words to get out, and I was wet, cold, and grumpy.

I leaned down and bit his collarbone. Hard.

“The fuck?” he snapped, pushing at me.

“That’s what you get for laughing.”

He shoved at me again, this time half-heartedly. “I only like bitin’ during sex. This ain’t sexy.”

I lowered myself so I was right over the bite mark, where I could still make out the imprint of my teeth. “Oh, I don’t know, butterfly. This looks pretty fuckin’ sexy. I like seein’ my marks on you.” I licked along the outline, making him shiver.

His eyes glazed over and I thought maybe he’d forget all about this surprise that would force me to leave the apartment and take me right there. Instead, he took advantage of me letting my guard down and dug his nails into my neck, which forced me to get off him.

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