“We wait.”
“We’ve been waiting for more than ten minutes. It looks so quiet and lonely. Like no one lives there.”
“That’s exactly where people like them live,” his voice is heavy with memories.
“Her mom would be at work. Hope told me she works a lot. So that means her dad…” Marie shakes in her seat. Her hand covers her mouth as she stares intently at the house.
“Marie, hey, look at me. Calm down.” Sebastian reaches over and places a kiss on her temple and wraps his arm around her.
“Hope is alone… with him,” she whispers.
“We don’t know that.”
Marie takes a deep breath. Turning her head she looks at him. “We need to help her, Sebastian.”
“We can’t. This is a dangerous situation. You could get hurt.”
“It'll be worth it,” she replies.
Sebastian cups her face and leans his forehead against hers. “I’ve been through shit like this. You know that, baby. Because of me you got hurt and it killed me. You know itkilledme.” He meets her gaze. “If that man hurts you, Hope will be devastated and she will push you away to protect you. Just like she’s done for the past months.”
“But who will protect her? Who will save her? She’s so… fragile. How can he hurt her?”
Those questions feel like arrows hitting me in the chest.
“For fuck’s sake.” Moving back from the centre of the front seats, I open the door when Sebastian grabs me by my arm.
“Heath, what the hell are you doing?”
I give him an annoyed look. “What does it look like? I’m going to check up on her.”
He tugs me in forcefully. “You’re the last person to be going anywhere near that house.”
“I don’t care, because I need to see her,” I reply, my voice tense.
“I know but I think?—”
My eyes clash with his and I’m shaking in anger. “I haven’t heard back from her. Not a single fucking word. I’ve called her. I’ve texted her. Nothing. I don’t know if she’s okay or not. And I need her to be okay. Because if she’s not, then I…” my voice cracks and I hate how weak I’m looking in front of the two of them. “I just need to know that she’s okay.”
Sebastian watches me intently with worry glistening in his eyes. He’s afraid for me.
Between the three of us, he’s dealt with fucked up shit the most, especially with parents so he can relate to Hope. Even back when I suggested that we swoop in and save Hope he was rational enough to think things through and not let me take a wrong step. I hate him for it but deep down I know things are complicated and I need to proceed with caution if I want to protect Hope.
“I don’t think you should go but I also know that you won’t listen to me.” He sighs heavily. “You care too much about her.”
Yes I do.
I care a lot about Hope.
More than the limit. If there is any.
Without saying a word, I exit the car and start making my way towards her house. As always, I can sense that something is wrong in this place. Maybe it’s the eerie silence or perhaps the lack of life spilling out of it. Just by looking at it you can tell that this is not a home.
I’m five feet away from the driveway, hoping to go toward the back and climb up to her room when I see a slight movement in the kitchen.
A chill travels down my spine and I prepare myself to face that asshole again.
Sebastian will get so mad at me.
