Page 99 of Crush

Amber had messaged to say she’d be back at the mansion around four and I wondered about buying her a gift. Flowers or some shit like that. I didn’t want to come across as cheesy but I wasn’t the best at choosing presents for women. What can I say, the real gift was between my legs. What, I’m a smug twat so sue me.

After talking to her on the phone last night, I had come to a decision. No more messing around. I would ask Amber to be my girlfriend and tell her how I felt about her.

I was in love with my little Antichrist. Who would have thought it? If she didn’t say it back, I’d just have to take it like a man.

Not seeing Amber every day had been tough, to the point where I’d started to pine. Something that I hadneverdone over a woman.

Amber was now so deep under my skin that I couldn’t be without her.

What if she doesn’t love you? And are you really ready to date?

Was I terrified at the thought of starting an actual relationship? Yes. But the excitement of sharing my days with her outweighed my fear.

Amber kept me on my toes. She didn’t put up with my bullshit and I needed a strong woman. She was honest and kind and most of all she had courage. Amber had scars that ran deep and I would be the one to help her heal. I intended to draw out all her demons and we would fight them together. Hopefully, Harker had taken a hike and fucked off like she must have told him to.

After taking a couple of painkillers, I threw myself on the couch and relaxed my eyes. I so needed to feel better before I saw Amber.

Just as I was about to doze off, my phone rang. I decided to ignore it. The shrill noise cut off and then started again. That happened around six times and I lost my shit and snatched it from the floor. Turning it over, I could see the call was from Gabe. I was not in the mood for any shit, I swiped the screen.

“What the fuck dude, take a hint. I have the biggest hangover of—” I began, but my friend cut me off. He sounded anxious.

“Did you sign for a package at mine?” his words ejected from his mouth like gunfire

My head swam as I tried to establish what he was talking about. “What?”

“A package came here; did you sign for one recently?”

I wracked my brain, thinking about when I was at his apartment. Weeks ago.

My thoughts jumped back to that day when I was alone with Leonie waiting for Gabe at his apartment and had signed for an envelope for him. He must have meant that. I remember the day well as I gave it to Leonie. Gabe then turned up and was a complete mean twat towards her.

“Max!” he yelled down the phone.

“Fuck. Err, yes. A while ago though, a big envelope. I gave it to Leonie. Why?”

A beat of silence fell down the phone and I pushed to my feet, now feeling worried. What the hell was going on?

“Stay on the call,” Gabe grunted.

I started pacing around my apartment, completely at a loss as to what was so fucking important in that package.

“What’s in the package?” I shouted into my phone. I could hear Gabriel banging around wherever he was calling me from.

“Gabriel! Are you there? Talk to me damn it!”

Nothing.

I was just about to hang up when Gabe came back on the phone and his words chilled me to the bone.

“Leonie has been taken,” he said in a strained voice.

WTF? Taken? Like Amber was taken? Kidnapped. Panic shot through me.

“What do you mean? When? Where?” I snapped, adrenaline pumping through my chest. I gripped the phone so tight I was surprised it didn’t crack.

Gabriel told me to stay by my phone and I did. Placing it within hearing distance on my bed, I changed my joggers for jeans, pulled on a sweater and grabbed my Timberland boots. Gabe needed me and so did Leonie from the sound of things. The beast in me roared at the thought of trouble. Conflict was my middle name and I was ready for a fight.

As I was searching for my wallet, Gabriel called back and I grabbed the phone, swiping quickly to answer.

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