Page 23 of CHASE: Captive to the Dark

“Excuse me?”

“I’m Palo, your friend. Palo…ring a bell?”

I shook my head, keeping the weapon trained on him. Palo, it did sound familiar. “If you’re my friend, where the fuck have you been?”

Brown eyes narrowed, only to lower. “It’s not safe right now. That’s why I’ve come. Jeff called me. Rory’s pissed. Says you have his sister and you’re threatening him if he tries to come get her. That true?”

Although I wanted to glance at the basement door, I stayed focused. “Jeff, the old man from behind the store? He called you?”

“Old sounds about accurate. Father…do you have Rory’s sister?”

“Out.” I waved the gun. “If you were my friend, you’d call me by my name. Not my occupation.”

Confusion masked his handsome features, only to fade. A laugh surfaced while he brought his hand up to push back his long hair. “Son of bitch. Chase, we all call you Father. It’s your nickname. Father…as in…” He squinted and shifted on his feet, studying me. “You don’t remember anything?” He grew silent as he seemed to go through his thoughts. “What about that time when we went to Denver and you saved my life from that biker gang at Rusty’s? Or,” he paused, “how about when that crazy bitch Maddie nearly took me out with her car because you broke it off with her? She was trying to run you down, but she nearly got me. That doesn’t spark anything?”

The more he spoke, the more lightheaded I became. Nausea threatened and I shook my head quickly. I could see it, see what he spoke as if it were a movie playing before my eyes. Jesus. Was it real or just a projection from his words?

“Out. And tell Rory my threat is more real than ever. If he comes to my house, he’s dead.”

“Chase, don’t do this. Just give her back. You don’t want trouble with him. Let’s regroup and we’ll come up with a plan.”

“Tell me why I don’t want trouble? What’s he going to do that he probably hasn’t already tried to?”

There was awareness behind Palo’s gaze as it bore into me. He wasn’t what he appeared. He was like me, regardless of how much he tried to hide it. “Is he the one who hurt you? I fucking suspected as much. We all have.”

“I don’t know,” I said lowly. “All?”

“Dude, can you put the fucking gun down? You’re making me nervous. You probably don’t even know what the hell you’re doing anymore.”

When I didn’t budge, he rolled his eyes. “All, as in ninety percent of the population of Untold. This is your home, Chase. We fucking grew up together. Shit, we were neighbors from third through seventh grade. Everyone’s worried about you. We’re all just afraid of what will happen if we get too close. You…pissed a lot of people off. Not that that’s uncommon, but I think there’s more. More you never told any of us. Not me, Max, Ed, or…” He stopped, only to let out a sad sigh. “I bet you didn’t even tell Jim. Not like he could help now anyways. He went missing around the same time you were attacked and we don’t think he’s in hiding.”

My body jolted at the name. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t make a face or information appear.

“Jim…nothing comes back? How about his dad? Do you remember Abe? He raised you, for fuck’s sake.”

Sweat began covering my skin and I had to slow my breathing. “Get out of my house.” The threatening tone was worse than ever. I was on the brink of something. A breakdown? A fucking murderous rage?

“Get out! I can’t do this right now.”

Palo took a step, only to retreat further into the living area. “I’m not leaving without the girl. I can’t. It’s for your own good. We can’t risk something else happening to you.”

I had no clue what the hell he was talking about. Nothing was processing right. My arm rose as I wiped the wetness from my brow.

“Listen, I don’t know you, but I’m telling you right now, if you don’t get your ass out of my house, I’ll throw you through the front door, head first.”

Palo laughed. “Wouldn’t be the first time. Fourth of July this past year. You held a party for the crew and I got so drunk, I fell into your glass coffee table. Shattered it to pieces, along with my arm. Becky was pissed. I got the door treatment. Had to buy you a new coffee table, too.” He lifted his arm, pulling his jacket up to reveal multiple light scars. Loud voices echoed in my ears and I took a step back, blinking past the images of the blood covering the man before me.

“You see it,” he whispered. “You’re remembering. Fuck, you’re really pale.”

No, I was parched. So fucking thirsty and panic-ridden I couldn’t think to speak. I should have asked to know more, to tap into what I was learning, but all I wanted to do was run from the evil aura I felt coming from me. Was this who I truly was? Yes, it had to be. It explained how I was acting. Who I felt lurking inside.

My hand flew forward and I grasped the collar of Palo’s shirt, jerking him to the door. The man didn’t stand a chance against my size and strength. He hit the ground hard, jumping back to his feet. “Promise you’ll get rid of the girl,” he yelled. “Promise!”

The word grew in length as he charged forward. I caught his jacket, launching him through the air again. I quickly slammed the barrier shut, immediately setting the alarm. Pictures kept coming, flashes of another time. Of another me. No matter had much I wanted to stop them, I couldn’t. Had I wanted to know who I was? I didn’t anymore.

The reality wasn’t worth remembering. The lies. My sins. Most importantly…my secrets.

Chapter 9

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