Page 65 of Forever Midnight

I push back a little. “Fuck. Yeah. I remember now.” Squeezing my eyes shut for a second, I blow out a breath. “Ugh. It’s all coming back.”

“How did he get to you?”

“I was…Hold on a sec.”

“Are you sure you’re alright?”

“Yeah. Yeah, I am. There’s just a lot of clutter in my head. Memories and shit that don’t feel a hundred percent mine.”

Midnight watches me with concern. “Take your time. You’ve been through an ordeal.”

I nod, still clutching his hand, waiting for my thoughts to slot into place. “I was at home with my mom. I called a car to come pick me up and bring me back here.” Shaking my head, I scoff. “I saw the car and I just got in. I just fucking got in. It was Vinni with some other guy. Once I realized what happened, I tried to open the door to get out, but the other guy held a gun on me.”

Midnight’s expression is as dark as his nickname as he listens to me.

“Vinni was throwing so many questions at me that didn’t make sense. I stayed strong and told him I wasn’t going away until I got the tapes back. He pulled over somewhere, way out, and the next thing I know I have a bag over my head.”

I can literally feel rage pouring off of Midnight.

“We drove a long time after that. Vinni kept telling me he was gonna kill me and then sell the tapes to the highest bidder. He said no one would be able to find me where we were going and even if they did, I’d be dead.”

“Fucking hell,” Midnight murmurs through gritted teeth.

“They dragged me into a building and tied me up. He intentionally left my phone. He wanted me to suffer, hearing people call me but being unable to answer it or call for help. Vinni made me swallow a bunch of pills. I tried to spit them out but the other guy kicked me and told me to swallow them or get a bullet to the head.” A shiver runs down my spine as I remember. “I actually asked Vinni why pills and he told me he wanted me to suffer. Thank fuck. It gave me time to free my arm.” I glance at my wrist, which only has faint marks.

“That’s how you were able to call me?”

“It was just a dummy phone I had. I know they went through it. I keep my real phone separate. He left my bag, I guess ’cause he thought I would be dead. The dummy phone doesn’t have any special numbers saved. Maybe Vinni thought the cops would write me off as a suicide or accidental overdose.”

“He’s not very smart, apparently.”

I nod, rubbing my wrist. “I think I should feel a lot worse than I do.”

Midnight’s expression softens. “Vivienne gave you medicine. You vomited the pills mostly undigested.”

“That Viv is special. I need to buy her flowers or something. Second time she’s helped me.”

“She does so with happiness. As soon as you feel better, we’re going to hunt Vinni down and kill him.”

“I know.” I smile as relief pours over me. “All I could think about was seeing you again. I didn’t want to die. Didn’t want to hurt my parents, didn’t want to fail Lucia, but mostly, I didn’t want to leave you.” I grip Midnight’s hand as he gazes at me with intense affection in his eyes. “I told my mom. I told her I’m gay and that you’re special to me.”

Midnight’s mouth falls open. “What?”

“I told her,” I repeat as my eyes well with tears. “She kind of already knew, but I confirmed it.”

“How did she react?”

“So good. She’s happy for me and told me my dad would be fine with it. We can handle any shit people throw at us. Midnight, it felt so amazing to say it, but I know it’s because I got to talk about you.”

He kisses my hand wrapped around his. “I am so happy for you. You must feel so much lighter.”

I laugh softly. “Yeah, a huge weight off my chest.”

“Good.”

“Do you understand that I had the courage to do it because of how much you mean to me?”

Midnight nods, but his face is screwed up with concern. “You mean a lot to me too. The world, actually.”

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