Page 44 of Van

“He should run. He’s gonna wish he was runnin’ when we get a hold of him.”

“Heard that. Now it’s just findin’ him. She doesn’t remember exactly how to get to the house he had her at. She has a general idea, though.”

Chapter 20

Chyanne

“We need anything you can tell us, Chyanne. Anything at all.” Mask states. I’m sitting in the office with the guys surrounding me and Van at my back. He keeps his hands on my shoulders, massaging them gently as I talk to them.

“I can tell you the general location. I didn’t see an address. I’m sorry. I should have paid better attention,” I tell them, feeling useless here. I didn’t pay much attention because I was too busy panicking, and now I regret that. I regret not looking where we were going.

“Don’t be sorry. You were dealin’ with a lot.” I nod my head, but I still feel like shit. All they’re trying to do is help me, and I can’t even help myself. I’m angry at myself for not having more to go on.

“I just wish I would have paid better attention. I mean, the first time, I was scared to death, and the second time, I was worried about the baby.”

“This isn’t your fault, baby. We’re gonna find him.”

“Are you sure we’re safe here?” I ask, looking over my shoulder at Van. He nods his head and gives me that sexy smile of his.

“He ain’t gettin’ in here.”

“Yeah. There’s no way in fuck he’s that stupid,” Free says.

“Not a chance,” Mask confirms. I nod my head as I sit back in the seat and try to remember anything, any tiny detail of what the house looked like. I describe it the best I can to them.

“That’s good. We’re gonna get guys out lookin’ for the house,” Mask says but mainly talks to the guys in the room.

“Are you sure about this? I don’t want anyone getting in trouble over me.” Now, there’s laughter in the room. The guys laugh as Van squeezes my shoulders.

“We live for trouble, baby. This is gonna be a fun one,” he tells me.

“Fun?” I question.

“Don’t ask. You don’t want the answer to that,” he tells me. The others laugh once more before I look back to Mask at the center of the room.

“He’s right. That’s on us. We’ll handle that. You just worry about you and the baby. How is the little guy?” he asks.

“He’s good. Thank you for letting us stay here.”

“Lettin’ you? Shit, Van isn’t lettin’ you leave,” he laughs. I look up at Van, and he just smirks at me.

“Well, I appreciate it anyway. I know having a baby here probably isn’t ideal for you guys.”

“We’re grown-ass men. We can handle it,” Mask says as he glances at the others. We talk a little more before Van tells me I can leave. I stand, and he spins me around, kissing me roughly before patting my ass on the way out.

When I walk back into the main room, I see Nic holding Nate. I can’t stop the smile that crosses my face seeing my best friend holding my little boy.

“You should get one,” I tell her as I walk closer to her.

“Oh, hell no. They’re cute to hold and play with but not to keep, girl. I couldn’t handle a baby in my life.”

“Van said the same thing and look at him,” I remind her.

“You’re right, but I’m dead serious. He wasn’t,” she laughs.

“You think it’ll last?”

“I think he has a good heart, and so do you. I think he cares about you more than he’s letting on, too. He’s ready to burn the world to the ground for you, Chyanne. I think that says a lot.”

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