Page 60 of Crave Me

He cocked an eyebrow.

“I pulled it out. I need to get out of here, I need to know what’s going on and be a part of the effort to bring Caleb back.” I looked away, hating admitting it. “I just… I can’t… stand on my own, all right? That’s why I messaged you. I… I need help.”

“Seb, I get it. I do. But I really think it’s best if you just stay up here and rest for now, regain your strength.”

“Damien—”

“Listen.” He eased his arm from my weak grip and blew out a breath. “It’s not just about you being like this right now. It’s because they’re all worried you’re gonna put Caleb not being here now on yourself. That kind of heavy guilt and grief with what happened to you a couple of years back… it’s not good for you. It’s dangerous, in fact.” He gestured at the other bedside table. “I told Skylar about the sorts of books you like to read—all that fantasy stuff—and she had a load brought in for you this morning. Why don’t you immerse yourself in that, keep distracted, then rest as well? I can also have the staff set up your video games in here too if you want.”

“I can’t sit this out.”

“You’re not the only one. I’m on the sidelines too. Except for heading down to that mansion, I’ve been thrown off to the side. And it’s okay, they’ve got a lot of people working on bringing Cal back. Even that hot piece, Asher, is here.”

“Caleb’s Asher?”

“Shit, don’t let King hear you say that.” He dropped his voice to a conspiratorial whisper. “But, yes.”

“Wow, that’s… really something. Cas working with him? Shit.”

“So, you see? They’ve got all the help they need.” He sat down on the bed beside me. “Skylar’s keeping me updated, so how about I pass all that along to you, so you’re at least kept informed? She’s gonna keep it from you to protect you.”

I sighed and slumped back against the headboard, needing the support. “Okay. Putting up a fight about it all is just gonna slow them down with what needs to be done for Caleb anyway.”

“Yeah, little bro, it probably will.”

The next thing I knew, he was wrapping his arms around me and helping me back into the bed properly. And then he reattached the IV.

“You want me to get out of your space, sit on the chair?” he asked.

“No.” I patted the space beside me.

He couldn’t hide his surprise at the invitation.

And then he was hurrying over and settling beside me, leaning back against the headboard. “So, I’ll tell you what I already know, about what happened at that mansion, all right?”

I settled in and listened as he informed me of them arriving at the place and finding it empty. I jolted as he mentioned the chains and a long table that had been covered in hair and fluids, and then the words in blood on the wall.

“It wasn’t Caleb’s blood,” he told me quickly as he saw me about to freak out in a major fucking way.

“What? You’re sure?”

“Yeah, King took some samples and had it tested. It wasn’t his. They looked into it and it belonged to some recent missing persons.” He grimaced. “They were found earlier this morning in a ditch. Six women, all dead.”

“Jesus Christ.”

“I know, that Elijah is another level of demented.”

“And Caleb’s still in his clutches.”

“He won’t be for much longer. Everyone is working together to locate him. Asher even has this program, code, algorithm, or some kind of script—not sure of the exact technical details—that’s pulling all the pieces together from every lead, surveillance photos, every single thing and person involved to amalgamate everything into a full picture. King is pulling on his street-level connections, ex-military contacts and basically everyone he knows. They’ll find him, Seb. I know it.”

“Telling me this and also what you did for Sky… that’s the big brother I’ve hoped for.”

His eyes shone at me.

He was in disbelief for several moments.

And then he reached out and gave my shoulder a squeeze. “I’m just sorry it took so long for me to live up to that. Despite the distrust still there—especially from King—I am here for you now, Seb. I am. I won’t ever fucking hurt you again. And I’m gonna keep doing whatever I can until you can believe that all the way.”

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