Page 53 of Intertwined Souls

Dropping her shirt, she grabs my wrists, meeting my eyes with hers.

“I didn’t survive alone. I wouldn’t have survived alone. I’ve made it this far because of those people out there. Everyone in the club. My family. They have shown me over and over again how worthy I am. The only thing I had to do? I just had to believe it.

“If my scars don’t make me weak and vulnerable, then yours don't either. Remember that when you look at them. It’s not an easy process. I still have times where I feel ashamed or weak because of my scars, but that’s when having people in your corner matters most. That’s when learning to trust the people in your corner is important.

“You're not alone. You have people, but our words will only do so much. You have to not only believe in us, but also believe in yourself.”

“I can try,” I whisper, sniffling slightly.

She smiles at me with glossy eyes. “That’s all you can ask of yourself. That you try. Don’t feel weak for these things. You are one of the toughest girls I know. Not only in the literal sense, but in your heart. Learning to trust after being betrayed is not an easy task, but you take it on with your head held high, and when you feel like you’ve taken five steps down, just remember that you have people ready to bring you right back up.”

Chapter Thirteen

Grayson

“Can I just check in with Nerds and see how things are going?” I ask, a little frustration seeping in my tone.

Raven shakes her head from where she stands blocking off the hall I had been going to head down towards the office. “No, you can’t. Rage already talked to you about that this last weekend. You aren’t to worry about all the other shit that’s going on and just enjoy this once in a lifetime experience.”

“Come on, Gray, you know she isn’t going to give in,” Ryker drawls as he tosses an arm over my shoulders.

Raven smirks at us. “Exactly. So off you go,” She shoos us towards the back door. “The guys are already at Rage’s. Go get ready for prom.”

Sighing, I let Ryker lead me away from Raven in the main room towards the back door, trying not to think of everything that has been happening over the week. Ever since last weekend when we checked out the warehouse, we haven’t been allowed to have anything to do with it this week.

I know Rage is mostly doing it for Harley. He wants her to have some normalcy in all the chaos that’s going on. That doesn’t mean it’s easy to not think about it.

We sat there and watched a girl who had clearly been tortured get dragged out of the warehouse and shoved into a van going who knows where. The image of her tiny frame will forever be burned into my brain, and the fact that we more than likely will never know what happened to her is both heartbreaking and infuriating.

I want to throw myself into everything and see what else they have discovered this week. Guard cycles, routines, who they have seen… but we know nothing because Rage won’t let anyone tell us until prom is over this weekend.

I’m pulled from my thoughts as a tiny voice squeals behind us. We glance back and see Presley coming out the back door with a very hyper Jayce wiggling in her arms. “You guys heading to Rage’s?” she asks, and I nod. “Perfect. Take this monster with you, please. Tell Axe he just ate and is refusing to go down for his nap.”

“No nap! No nap!” Jayce begins to scream over and over again, making all of us wince.

The little bug is the sweetest boy you will ever meet. He has all the softness that Presley does, but then he also is an absolute wild animal when he is hyper. Which seems to be the current situation.

Ryker takes him from Presley and tosses him up in the air before catching him. “Alright, little rascal, let's go find your daddy.”

Presley gives a quick thanks and then spins around and heads back inside. I’m guessing to head upstairs to where Harley is getting ready with the girls.

When we get to Rage’s house, everyone is sitting at the kitchen table or standing around the room drinking beer. Even Cade has one. As I raise a brow at him, he merely shrugs and gestures towards Rage.

“Jay, buddy, what are you doing awake?” Axe asks as he walks around the counter and snags him from Ryker.

Jayce plants a very sloppy wet kiss against Axe’s cheek and grins, “No nap.”

“Apparently, he didn’t want to nap, and Presley asked us to bring him to you,” I say by way of explanation.

“Ah, being a troublemaker, are we?” Axe playfully narrows his eyes at him.

Jayce shakes his head and then wiggles, wanting to be let down. Axe sets him on the floor, and we watch him run in circles around the kitchen island squealing and trying to tickle everyone.

“You know, I never really thought you guys would end up going to prom,” Axe remarks as he leans back against the counter with his beer again, watching Jayce.

Ryker chuckles, “Neither did we. But it feels right taking Harley. Plus, under all her nerves and nonchalant attitude, she is excited. I can tell.”

“Parker and Stone are going to be tailing you guys tonight,” Rage says. “They will keep their distance. Parker is taking time to work with each of us so we can see how well he handles things before his prospecting year is up.”

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