Page 87 of Chokehold
“She’s mine,” he says, snarling the two possessive words.
“Who?”
“Rachel,” he replies, hiccupping again. “He has no claim on her, she belongs to me. I married her first. I loved her first. She’s been mine since we were fifteen years old.”
“You beat her and abused your title as a parent,” I say, laughing bitterly. “The only reason you’re not in prison is because of your badge. I hope loneliness feels good and worth all the shit you put us through.”
“You little asshole?—”
Hanging up, I let out the heaviest, most audible breath ever. I lean forward, head dropped between my knees, needing this anxiety to fuck off already. Between my dad and Blaise, and Jackson being an asshole, I feel like the world is closing in on me and I don’t know how to stop it.
My phone rings again, but I ignore it, rocking back and forth on the seat. I’m dizzy, and my eyes burn. I stay like this through five missed calls and message pings. The sound of the vibrations nearly drowns out my deep, rushed breaths.
I eventually sit up, just as the next call ends, and I catch the number I still haven’t saved, but I recognize it. Grabbing my phone, I see I have ten missed calls from Mia and multiple messages begging me to call her back.
I swipe away from each notification with a groan. She’s probably drunk and thinking we’re in love – or maybe she wants round two without the third person involved. How the fuck do I get her to leave me the hell alone? Tell her I’m into her ex and that I’d rather fuck him?
Then another message pops up.
It’s about Blaise, it reads.I think Jackson and your friends are up to something.
Quickly getting to my feet, I throw on my hoodie and shove my feet in my sneakers, grabbing my keys on the way out of the front door. I call her back, but of course, the idiot doesn’t pick up.
It starts ringing ten minutes into me driving to the house. “What’s going on?” I skip the introductions and manners. “Where’s Blaise?”
Music blares in the background, then it grows faint. She must be trying to get somewhere to hear me. A door closes. “Cole?”
“What’s wrong?”
“They’re about to play that chasing game again, but something doesn’t feel right. Allie was making out with Jackson in the bathroom, and I walked in. I overheard them ask if the plan was set and if Blaise was taking part. They’re putting him in the runners and they’re the chasers.”
I frown. “I don’t understand.” It doesn’t help that she’s drunk and falling over her words. “Where is Blaise now?”
“I don’t know,” she replies. “Are you coming here? Can you pick me up?”
“I’m coming for Blaise,” I tell her. “I’ll drop you off at the dorm.”
“Can I come to your place? Allie will go there with her professor again.”
I blink a few times, trying to think of a response.
It’s the least I can do. She obviously isn’t comfortable where she is, and I’m not a complete and total asshole. But then again, she’ll be expecting something, especially after what happened between the three of us.
“Go grab Blaise. Tell him I’m coming for you both.”
“Okay,” she says quietly. “I know, by the way. I won’t say anything.”
I pause my breathing, staring at the road as I turn a corner, five minutes from the house. “What do you mean?”
“I love him too.”
She hangs up on me, and my Bluetooth reconnects and music starts playing, filling the silence.
Fuck.
How the hell does she know?
The rest of the drive is a blur, until I reach the house. Parking, I narrow my eyes on all the people standing outside.
