Page 25 of Psycho Boys

“I’m trying!” I respond, weaving through parked cars, knowing we’re in a race against time—past the clamor of the diner and into an uncertain future. No longer just about saving Calista. It’s about survival. The stakes have never been higher.

NINE

COMFORT

ADDICTED: SIMPLE PLAN

DOMINIC

Afew stars flicker just beyond the towering trees encircling the cabin, yet the few I can see glow brighter than any I’ve encountered in ages. The air is crisp and invigorating, filling my lungs with each breath and stinging my chest with its chill.

I lean against the car parked behind the cabin, puffing on a heavily laced joint. The drugs numb my lips and tongue, while warmth spreads through my core. I watch as the tendrils of smoke escape my mouth, merging with my exhaled breath and drifting upward into the dark expanse of the sky.

While everyone else is inside, unpacking and fortifying the cabin with weapons and traps in case we’re discovered, I embrace the cold, relishing the shock that reminds me I am profoundly alive.

I’ve never been on the run before—not like Cali has—and the gnawing paranoia that someone might be watching us threatens to unravel me. Yet, knowing she’s safe and with us alleviatessome of the anxiety clawing at me, even though I’m acutely aware that everything could shift in an instant.

I glance down at my cast; the memories of the accident surge back, threatening to bring me to my knees. The relentless replay of how I lost Cali and how I let her down fills me with a heavy shame and deep regret, and I feel fucking powerless to stop it.

The uncertainty of what lies ahead transforms me into a jumbled mess, yet I know this is necessary. We must see this through to the end so we can finally begin to heal—every one of us. Cali seeks closure and vengeance, just as Ash, Killian, and I do. Our fathers must pay for their sins. Though I was initially against it, I’m resolved now. I'm dying to feel my father's heart stop beating beneath my hands and to watch every shadow of life fade from his eyes as I exact my revenge. And when he’s gone, I want to experience safety for the first time, liberated from the fear of glancing over my shoulder for his next cruel intentions.

I take one final drag from the joint, dropping it onto the frosty ground and extinguishing it beneath my shoe. I look up, trying to spot the glimmers of stars peeking through the trees. Just then, the cabin door creaks open, slamming shut as it hits the frame, followed by light footsteps growing closer. Without turning around, I feel a smile breaking through the frown on my lips, inhaling Calista’s fresh, clean scent before I even see her face.

"What are you doing out here all by yourself?" she asks, stepping in front of me, arms crossed over her chest, her wet hair framing her face as she hugs herself for warmth.

I pull her into my embrace, pressing my face against her chest, feeling the steady thump of her heart against my cheek. I breathe deeply, imprinting her scent into my memory, determined never to forget what she smells like.

"I needed some fresh air," I admit, knowing it’s unnecessary to burden her with my struggles when she’s endured so much herself and there’s nothing I could do to shield her from it.

"I’m sorry about your leg, but damn, Dom, I’m so fucking glad you’re okay after that crash. I thought you were dead, and you were all I could think about—even when I was chained in that basement, and Gunnar..." Her voice trails off, and I notice the emptiness in her usually bright eyes as she stares up at the dark sky, trying to bury the memories of her torment deep within her mind.

Right away, I sense that something unspeakable happened to her in that basement, and my blood boils at the thought. All I can do is hold her tighter, hoping my silent affection offers her some comfort, at least for now.

"Look at me, Calista," I demand in a firm tone, compelling her to meet my gaze. "None of this was your fault. Do you understand?"

I gently cup her cheek, brushing my thumb across her pouty bottom lip, noticing the tears welling in her eyes that she’s desperately trying to hold back.

"Dom, you don’t know?—"

I cut her off, my hand instinctively finding her throat, craving the sight of her surrendering to the intensity of the moment. I can see her eyes fluttering with conflicted emotions as I tighten my grip just enough for her to feel the weight of my words. Her hands slide down my sides, and her fingers hook into my belt loops, tugging me closer, seeking the comfort she craves.

"You can always talk to me, but even when you don’t want to, I’m always here," I remind her, uncertain if she remembers everything I told her before the crash.

Instead of responding, she leans in and kisses me. For a brief moment, I hesitate, reluctant to take advantage of her vulnerability. But she presses on, deepening the kiss, hungerradiating from her. So I yield, letting my tongue intertwine with hers, pouring all the urgency of my desire into the kiss, reminding her just how profoundly I want her.

The world around us fades into a blur as I lose myself in the intoxicating heat of her body pressed against mine. The chill in the air is replaced with a fire ignited by our shared longing, and everything else—the weight of our pasts, the looming danger, the scars that mark our souls—fades away, if only for a heartbeat.

When we finally pull apart, her breath mingles with mine, and I catch a glimpse of her vulnerability—it’s like silent whispers waiting to be heard, memories just beneath the surface. I trace her lips with my thumb, and the moment hangs between us, thick with unspoken words and unresolved pain.

Silence settles around us, the darkness pressing in with its weight. I can hear the crackling of the fire inside the cabin, faint voices mingling with the faint rustling of leaves. For a moment, I consider the risk we’re about to take—the danger that lies at the end of this road—but not for long. Cali stands before me, filled with conviction, and the prospect of retribution becomes more of a necessity than a choice.

"Do you want me as much as I want you right now?" she asks with a sultry tone, biting her bottom lip like she knows I go fucking feral for.

I nod, pulling her back towards me, my hands on her waist as I gaze at her fiercely. No more games. No more pretending that we can escape these feelings. There's something brewing between us, and not even the bullshit she's been through lately can change that. But would it be wrong of me to pursue her?

As we stand there, surrounded by the stillness of the night, I can sense the electric energy starting to hum between us again. This time, it carries the weight of purpose. It’s not just about our desire for vengeance. It’s about claiming our lives back fromthe arms of our pasts, about breaking the grotesque patterns of family legacy that have haunted both of us for too long.

“But real quick, I need you to know that whatever happens in there... I won’t let anything happen to you,” I say, my voice a low growl filled with sincerity.

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