Page 23 of Psycho Boys

“You didn’t know,” she interjects softly, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears. “But you saved me anyway. You guys made it possible for me to escape, even if it was just a chance. You have to know that.”

Hope ignites in me, but it barely withstands the winds of doubt swirling around my thoughts. “You shouldn’t be here. We need to get you somewhere safe, away from this mess. They’ll come looking.”

A deep frown creases her brow as if the gravity of our situation is suddenly sinking in. “I can’t go back to the apartment. They’ll find me there. They’ll find all of us.”

“What were you doing here?” I ask, pushing the panic aside. “Did you follow me? If they see you?—”

“No,” she interrupts as she wipes a tear from her cheek. “You don’t understand. I was hiding, waiting for you to come back. I thought I could get us out, but I didn’t know how to reach you. I thought…” Her voice trails off, and the pain of uncertainty dances in her eyes.

“Thought what?”

“I thought you..." She hesitates, as if grappling with the weight of every word. “I thought you might not come back.”

Her honesty wraps around my heart, and my stomach churns. “I would’ve clawed my way back if I had to. You mean everything to me, Cali.”

Her lips curve up slightly, the corner twitching into a shaky smile. “Then we need a plan. They’ll be after me, after those who helped me escape. We can’t sit here forever.”

I nod, already sparking with thoughts of what comes next. “We need to move somewhere remote. Somewhere they won’t think to look," I encourage, feeling the rush of urgency coiling inside me. “But we have to be smart. If we slip up, it could cost us everything. The guys are already planning to move too.”

I look around my small apartment, suddenly acutely aware of its inadequacy—a cage rather than a sanctuary. But Cali forces my eyes onto hers, grabbing my face in her hands and turning my head, smiling as if nothing happened to her or to her friends, smiling as if everything is fine in the world. And then she leans in and captures my lips like the first night we met, slipping her tongue inside my mouth and owning it like she has so many times. And I let her.

For a short moment, the weight of the world lifts, and it's just us—lost in our kiss. Her warmth spreads through me, igniting forgotten feelings and wrapping around the raw edges of my anxiety. I need this—this connection, this assurance that she’s okay. The chaos of our lives dims against the backdrop of her presence, and I realize how desperately I need her.

But as the kiss deepens, a harsh reminder of our reality pulls me back. The cold metal of fear coiling around my heart tightens once more as I break away, breathless.

“We can’t stay here,” I say, pressing my forehead against hers. “Not even for a moment. They'll come looking for you.”

“Then we leave. Now.” Her voice regains its urgency as she glances toward the door, eyes darting around the apartment as if anticipating the worst. “Do you have a place in mind?”

My mind races through options, but every location feels tainted by the threat of discovery. “There’s an old cabin a couple of hours from the city. It’s secluded, and not many know about it. It'll give us time to think and plan.”

“Let’s go, then.” She stands, her determination igniting the fire within me. I jump to my feet, quickly scanning the room to gather essentials—my wallet, a knife I keep hidden for security, and my phone, which already buzzes with a text from Killian.

Killian

We need to discuss a new location. Meet us at the old diner.

I type a quick response.

Me

I’ll be there. Don’t talk about Cali. She’s with me.

I lock my phone, shoving it into my back pocket. I look at Cali, who’s already setting her mask back in place—cowardly comfort cloaking her face. “Are you ready?”

Her eyes narrow through the mask’s eye holes, and she nods, steeling herself for whatever may come.

“Just remember,” I say as I unlock the door. “If you hear anything... anything at all, you stay low and keep silent. I’ll get us out of this.”

She taps her waistband, grinning beneath her mask. “I'm a big girl, Five. If it comes down to it, I can hold my own.” She winks, and I already know she's strapped, and for some reason, it turns me on more than ever.

We slip into the night, the darkness enveloping us as we navigate the familiar streets that now feel foreign, like a maze filled with the ghosts of our pasts. Adrenaline surges through my veins, heightening my senses as I scan for any signs of danger.

After what feels like an eternity, we reach a car perfect for stealing—a ragged old sedan that’s seen better days but still hums with life. I open it, glancing over my shoulder every second to ensure we aren’t followed.

“Get in,” I say, my voice firm despite the trepidation swirling in my gut.

As she slides into the passenger seat, I can’t help but steal a glance at her—she’s just as beautiful under the moonlight, despite the fear shadowing her eyes. Without a key, I work my magic and spin a nearby flathead screwdriver in the ignition, and the engine roars to life as we pull away from my building, heart pounding harder with every mile.

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