Chapter Twenty-Six

Theo

Six Years Earlier

-Mid January-

I warned you and you didn’t listen. Now you will pay the price for your arrogance. I meant what I said before; end it with the girl or I will end it for you. I told you there would be consequences, and when I said you wouldn’t like the consequences, I meant that too. I gave you plenty of chances to call things off, but you continue to ignore my warnings while you run in circles trying to figure out who I am. . . I promise you, that is something you will never be able to figure out. But, since you couldn’t man up and do the deed, I will do your dirty work for you. Just remember, you were warned. . .

“B aby, call me . . . please. . .” My voice cracks a little as I hear the signal that the voicemail recording has ended. I have been driving around for hours, desperately searching everywhere with no sign of my girl. After she raced out of my apartment earlier this morning, I followed suit as quickly as I could. There was no sign of her at Finn’s place. Her roommate at the dorm says she hasn’t been home. She didn’t go to the gym. I can’t fucking find her and I am panicking. She fucking ran away. From me. I rub at the tightness in my chest with one hand before slamming my steering wheel in frustration. “Fuck!”

Sitting on the side of some random ass road in the middle of Seattle, I’m unsure of where to look, desperately waiting to hear back from my girl. From Finn or Caleb. Anything to give me a sign that she is fucking okay. How could I have been so fucking stupid? The letters I had been receiving for months had become more and more ominous, each threat more blatant than the last. I naively assumed that between me and the guys we would have been able to find out who this fucker is by now, that it wouldn’t be an issue. I was such a goddamn idiot.

My phone rings, and I almost jump out of my seat, dropping my phone in my haste to pick it up. Shit ! The ringing continues. I scramble to reach down by the floorboards, answering just before the ringing cuts off.

“Hello? Baby? Hello, I’m here!”

“I’ve got her.” Finn’s voice is quiet. Grim. It’s not a tone I hear from him often.

As I release a shuddering breath, tears prick at the back of my eyes in relief. “Is she- is she okay? I’ll be right there, where are you?” My words are urgent, as pressing as the stabbing pain in my chest.

A long pause comes over the line, the weight of the silence sitting thick between us.

“She doesn’t want me to come.” A statement. Not a question.

“Just give her some time.”

I run a hand through my hair, shaky from adrenaline over my worry and the infinite relief that she is safe. She’s with Finn. And then a wave of anguish hits me. She doesn’t fucking want me there. She doesn’t want me to come to her. Sitting back and waiting is not a skill I have ever been good at, but I know if I force this, if I push her right now, I could lose her for good.