Page 62 of Captive

I can’t leave them. Yeah, the sex is great, but it’s not just that. It’s so much more I can’t even begin to explain. I’ve never felt complete before, even prior to my sister’s suicide. All the crushes, the hookups, the dates while hoping for more; none of it can compare to what I feel for these guys.

They’re my new home, my new family. They are everything to me.

You know, I might even love them.

Which is just insane to me. I never thought I could feel such warmth, such peace, ever again, but here I am. So maybe it’s not so outlandish of me to believe I’ve fallen for these guys. Maybe all these years, this is right where I was always meant to be.

Ezra glances up, and he clearly has no idea where my mind is, because he asks, “You want to take a look? I think we have a route inside the house figured out, but we’d like to hear your thoughts.” He scoots to the side, opening up a space in between them for me to sit.

I push off the door frame and join them on the bed, and Royal hands me the paper with the printed-out layout. As my eyes rake over the page of the first floor, I can’t fight the bubbly feeling rising inside.

Oh, yeah. This is where I’m supposed to be. Right here, with them, in this house, planning out a murder. It’s the stuff dreams are made of.

Chapter Twenty-Five – Abby

The next eight days pass in a blur. There’s both so much to do and so little to do. Time drags on, and yet it passes so quickly. I’m caught in a stage of disbelief, like I still can’t believe we’re going after Connor and that I’m no longer wearing the tracking bracelet.

It means I’m no captive anymore. It officially means I’m a part of their team. I’m Mrs. D.D.K.

There’s a lot of stress relief that happens in that week, but the night before we head out, we each sleep in our own beds, alone, and we head to sleep early, using blackout curtains to help us drift off. I take a combination of sleepy time tea and some melatonin gummies to really knock myself out. Double dose myself with the sleep aids, and for once, the stuff actually works.

When it’s time to head out, we funnel in the car with our bag of disguises and weapons, we say goodbye to Hawthorne—though only one of us gives him a goodbye kiss—and we leave.

It really is a long drive, but Royal is a good driver. He doesn’t speed, doesn’t break any traffic laws that would cause us to get pulled over. When you have a bag that includes some bone saws and some creepy old Friday the 13th-esque hockey masks in it, getting pulled over and searched would end things real quick.

I doze off in the backseat for a while, and since I’m the only one in the back, I spread out a bit. By lunch time, I’m fully awake, alert, and ready for everything tonight will bring. We stop at a fast-food joint on the way, though we end up going through the drive-through after filling the gas tank.

Royal is a master at eating while he drives, same with Ezra. I, on the other hand, make a bit of a mess in the backseat. It’s a good thing I’m back there alone.

“So,” Ezra speaks, glancing back at me. He holds onto a half-eaten hamburger. “You excited about tonight?”

I shove a few fries in my mouth. “I am, although excitement might not be the best word.”

It’s not a strong enough word. How can I possibly explain the way I feel right now? The way the anticipation surges through every single vein in my body, how my heart is running a marathon in my chest. Everything is heightened.

But it’s Royal and Ezra, and if there are two people I don’t need to explain it to, it’s them. They felt this way when they took care of their demons. They know exactly how I’m feeling right now.

“I’m glad I don’t have to do it alone,” I say. “Don’t get me wrong, I was prepared to do it alone someday, but… it’s nice to have you guys with me. It’s good to know Hawthorne’s at home, rooting for us.”

“Rooting for us?” Royal harrumphs. “You think he’s sitting there with a cheerleading uniform on?”

I chuckle and lean forward, gently giving him a smack on the shoulder. “You know what I mean. It’s just nice. Maybe I don’t say it enough, but I am grateful you guys are here.” Smiling to myself, I glance down at my lap. “I’m glad it was you two who broke into that house after me and not another pair of killers.”

It’s Ezra who says, “And we’re glad we found you, too.” His blue eyes find me when he turns around in the front seat, a soft smile pulling at his lips. “You’re one of us now, Abby, and you always will be. You’re…” Whatever he’s about to say, he quiets, almost as if he can’t say it.

Royal is direct in what he says next. “You’re ours now.”

I don’t know if that’s what Ezra was going to say or not, but it doesn’t matter. Hearing Royal say that fills me with warmth and happiness and every other romcom-worthy emotion, things you wouldn’t normally associate with people like us.

I’m theirs. I’m theirs and they’re mine.

Huh. It has a nice ring to it, you know? Both sweet and possessive at the same time.

The smile I wear after Royal says that is one that sticks around the rest of the drive, to the point where my cheeks hurt, but I don’t care. It’s so good to know they’re taking this seriously, that this isn’t some emotion-free hookup. Ironic, some might say, since that’s what I suggested in the beginning.

Not once in my life have I ever been so thrilled to be wrong.

The rest of the drive passes in a blur, or what can vaguely constitute a blur since there were still hours to go after lunch. It’s dark by the time we get close, and well past any acceptable hour when we finally pull into the neighborhood.