Page 56 of Forged Forever

Huh. We ascend the final set of stairs slowly with Jake, Will holding his arm in support. Jake does wonderfully, and we’re soon entering Alex’s apartment. Will ensures Jake is good before Alex shows him to the movie room downstairs, and I get hugs from E and Seb.

Will has been slowly distancing himself from Jake as he gains more and more independence. It’s a natural progression, but I know when the time comes, Jake will dearly miss him.

Setting the cupcakes and muffins on the table, we take seats along the couch. Today is just a hangout day since we didn’t do the typical party after prom. Alex and E have the table full of snacks, drinks, and junk food, and the game consoles are on the coffee table. I ask Jake what food he wants and, after filling a plate for both of us; I take a seat between him and Alex on the couch. Seb wants a movie marathon today, so Alex cues up the first movie as we settle in.

Mounds of soda and snacks later, Bay joins us. It’s been a happy, relaxing afternoon of vegetating with everyone. Alex gets a text that his dad ordered dinner for us and is bringing it upstairs. A few minutes later, Steven opens the door with boxes of food, Will behind him. “Hello everyone,” he smiles, making eye contact with each of us.

I walk with Jake to the table and then introduce him to Steven. They shake hands as he takes a seat beside Jake at the head of the table. The boxes contain various types of burgers, fries, and onion rings, along with coleslaw and pickles. We grab what we want as conversation flows around us. Steven is asking Jake about his rehab and future plans while E comments on the delicious food. It’s from a restaurant I haven’t been to yet in Charleston.

Steven was visiting friends this afternoon and texted Alex, offering to bring us dinner. Alex must have told him to grab Will on the way up. Once our bellies are full, we take turns changing into swimsuits.

We all walk Jake to the elevator on the second floor, and then meet him in the first floor hallway. It’s a short walk to the pool house from there. Since it’s Jake’s first time in the water since the accident, Will and I follow him into the shallow end. Jake quickly dunks himself, then lies on his back to float around. He tells Will to go have fun, which he declines twice before agreeing.

Seb and I tread water around Jake as the other guys dive. E and Will are on the lower platform while Alex and Bay climb to the taller one. The three of us call out scores for the dives, our numbers getting larger and smaller as we go.

When Alex and Bay do a triple somersault, I yell out a 9.5 while clapping. Seb gives them a negative 3 for the splash. Jake hollers out a 4, telling them they weren’t in sync. Laughing, I encourage Jake to join me in the hot tub as Seb leaves to dive and Will joins us.

The guys get crazier and crazier with their acrobatics, and we have a lot of laughs. The guys end up diving for weighted discs, and it turns into a competition, and Jake is smiling and laughing along with everyone else. I'm so glad everyone gets along so well.

As the sun begins its descent to the horizon, we get out. Alex runs upstairs to get clothes for Jake, Will, and me so Jake doesn’t have to climb any more stairs today. Once we’re dry, I hug each guy goodbye and then drive Jake and Will back to his condo.

I say hello to Ray before giving Jake a hug and a kiss on the cheek. “I’m so glad you joined us today, handsome.”

“Me too, Sum,” he smiles, kissing me on the lips. “See you tomorrow and drive safe.”

“Will do.” Waving, I take the elevator back downstairs and drive myself home for a shower and sleep.

Chapter 34

I’m sitting on my bed reading on Tuesday night when my phone dings with a notification. Picking it up, there’s a link listed and Fawx's phrase. Oh no, is Nick okay? My heart rate skyrockets as I quickly click on it, and it brings me to a message board. Someone writes the phrase again, so I type out my portion that Nick asked me to memorize.

Summer?

Yes. Fawx?

Yes. Message from Nick. His boss is planning your kidnapping tonight. Surveillance is already on you. Eddie informed. Go to the safe room. Let it play out.

Is Nick okay? Who’s surveilling me? We can leave here right away.

Stay. Let them come. Needs to end tonight. Nick en route. Use safe room, FBI will be there. Gotta go.

The chat room closes, and I’m left stunned. It’s already late. What do I do? Are they watching the house right now? I can hear the tv on in the living room, so I casually go out and grab a glass of water from the kitchen and take a seat in the couch corner. “Hi darling. What are you doing back out here?” Dad asks.

“Okay, so don’t freak out, Dad. I need you to act completely normal. Don’t respond to what I’m about to say,” I smile. “Nick’s hacker friend, Fawx, just messaged me. We verified who we were, then he told me I’m going to be kidnapped tonight, and there’s already surveillance on me. He told me Nick’s on his way, and Eddie knows. To let it play out because it has to end tonight. The FBI will be here and to go into the safe room.”

I see Zander go still, but he looks over and smiles at me. “Timeframe?”

“Just tonight. Nothing more specific. What do we do?”

“We do as he said. If we are under surveillance, we need to act naturally. Dammit. I don’t want to use my phone. Eddie will contact Troy, I’m sure. The main thing is that you’re safe. It’s already after dark, so we don’t know when they’ll strike. I’ve got a SAT phone and a burner phone in the safe room and a laptop we can use,” he says, running his fingers through his hair.

“Darling, why don’t you get ready for bed? Do your routine, and I’ll be here. Close your curtains. Grab your second tracker, your knife, and pepper spray, then get into bed and turn off the lights. Once the lights are out, crawl out and quietly stuff the pillows under your comforter to make it look like someone's in there. Crawl into your closet and wait. I’ll come get you once the house is dark.”

“I’m scared, Dad.”

“So am I, darling. Focus on Nick coming home. They may not even show up for hours yet. We’re just being cautious. Now go. I won’t let anything happen.”

Nodding, I put my glass in the sink and then go to the bathroom to get ready for bed. When I enter my room, I close the curtains and go into the closet and change into jeans and a tee, adding the second tracker to my shoe. Dumping all my pillows on the floor except two, I flick off the light and get into bed, grabbing the pepper spray off the edge of the desk. After waiting a few minutes, I hear nothing, so I slide off the bed onto the floor and stuff my extra pillows under the comforter like Dad told me to do. Grabbing my knife off the nightstand, I crawl into the closet. I pull Jake’s hoodie off the shelf and tie it around my waist. Sitting in the back corner, I wait. The lights go off in the main area, so Zander must be heading to bed too.