Wreck Me - Page 193

Going downstairs to the kitchen, I grab a glass of water and see Blake there. Head downcast, he grips the edge of the table, every muscle in his body tensing.

“Blake? Why did you and Celine sneak out?”

“You didn’t see us, got it?”

“What does this shit even mean? We have a plan.”

“And everything changed.”

A heavy silence follows.

“Why don’t you just move in with us already? Dude, it’s like you’re everywhere.”

“Changing the topic? Do you know what would happen to you if Abigail were in her place? You reek of guilt, mistakes, and regrets.”

“Fuck off, man. You know nothing.”

Blake stalks off, and I return to bed even more restless.

***

When I enter the house, I know something is off because Abigail is not there to greet me.

Commotion from the kitchen catches my attention, and when I rush inside, Kaden has Blake pinned against the wall. Abigail looks ashen, Bailey is frozen, and Hunter’s hands are curled at his sides. Mia blinks at Blake while he looks at her, an apology written in his eyes.

“I don’t want to fight,” Blake says.

Kaden pushes at his chest. “You don’t want to fight, asshole?”

Hunter says, “Tell us everything.”

“All I did was to make sure you wouldn’t be on their radar. All of you with your tough bullshit going against the Family as if you had a chance. I’m surprised they didn’t find out about the money we’ve funneled from them, but that’s likely because the hacker is brilliant. And even if we faked our damn deaths, they would have found us. They have watched us twenty-four seven because, except for Bailey and Celine, we’re all fucking chipped. I had to buy us more time by any means necessary.”

I move to drag Kaden away from Blake.

“Sugarcoating betrayal, asshole?” Kaden spats.

Blake flinches. “You wanted out, but none of you would like what I had to do. So stop fucking looking at me as if I am a traitor. We have had the same end goal. My tactics were just different.”

Abigail crosses her arms over her chest, staring at him with an icy glare.

Hunter says low, “If something happens to Celine, you can enjoy your eternal freedom.”

“She knew. It was her choice.”

“You knew she would,” Kaden screams, fisting his collar.

“Celine was the piece we were missing. Fuck, man. I know you love her. She is family to me too. Now, let me fucking explain how things will go so we can get her back.”

“Back doesn’t mean she’ll be the same,” Abigail says, trapped in that place of her past again, making me feel murderous.

“How long has she been there?” Kaden asks.

“Eight hours.”

He roars and pushes Blake against the wall, pummeling him repeatedly in his stomach before taking a jab at his chin. Blake just takes it, not wincing and not fighting back. No one moves to help him. Maybe it’s the shock or desire to want him punished after what he did, but if I were in Kaden’s place, I know no one could have stopped me either. Yet, I move to him in case things get out of control. Right now, we should focus on getting Celine back.

“I’ll never fucking forgive you for this.”