Page 29 of Forever Found
“I told you to keep your damned phone with you. Why didn’t you answer?”
“Maybe because I’m sick of answering just to hear you yell at me!” I hit back, anger filling me. “I’m home, Kane. There are security guys, all of whom you vetted to within an inch of their lives all around the house. Eli, Adam, and Asher are all here too. What the heck do you think is going to happen to me? You’re acting insane!”
“I wouldn’t be yelling if you’d just done as I said and answered the first time I fucking called!” he yelled angrily.
“You know what? I’m done with this, Kane. You don’t have any right to tell me what to do, and you certainly don’t have the right to yell at me like this.”
“Of course I have the right. You’re mine, Addy,” he growled, lowering his tone a little.
“You are mine now, pet. You might not know it now, I’ll be sure to make sure you learn.” Hilton was looming before me as I lay bloodied and beaten on a cold, concrete floor. I lower my head as he moves to hit me again, but this time he doesn’t make contact. He laughs as I flinch and fold even tighter into myself, enjoying my reaction. He delights in knowing I cower at his every movement after only being held by him for less than a week. It’s what he wants. For me to fear and obey him. He wants total control of me. He truly believes he owns me, I realize in that moment.
The memory receded as fast as it had come to me and I found myself once again laid on my bed with my phone pressed to my ear. My hands shook and my breaths were coming too fast.
“I d-don’t belong to anyone,” I said shakily, then I ended the call and tossed the cell phone to the carpeted floor, not caring if he tried to call me back.
The tears came as my phone started to vibrate once again, and I knew it would only be a matter of time before Kane came storming in with more anger and overbearing demands. I couldn’t handle any more of it. I knew deep down he only wanted to keep me safe, but he was suffocating me when I could barely freaking breathe as it stood.
I got to my feet and realized it wasn’t just my hands shaking, but my entire body. I felt the familiar tingle in my fingers and toes as I fought to keep control and not let my panic attack grip me any tighter.
I was gasping for air as I clumsily stumbled down the stairs on my shaky legs, but I made it to the bottom and instantly turned for the garage. I had to get out, get away from all of it. I needed to be out of the house that only served as a reminder of what had happened to Adam out on the front step. I had to get away from Kane and his control, and Adam and his hatred. I needed to be somewhere I could just get a full breath in!
I had the door to the garage halfway open when I heard footsteps behind me.
“Addy? Where are you going, sweetie?” Eli asked. Knowing I was busted I turned around and looked at him through my glassy eyes.
“I h-have to leave,” I gasped breathlessly. Eli hurried forward and grabbed my forearms as he looked me over.
“You’re shaking. Is it a panic attack?” he asked as he pulled me closer and supported my weight and my shaking form against him.
“Please Eli. I…I can’t breathe here. I h-have to leave…I have t-to get out. I n-eed to be able to breathe,” I pleaded desperately. “I…I’m drowning, Eli. I’m drowning and they…they make it worse. You have to… understand. You have to l-let me go!”
“Who makes it worse. Talk to me,” Eli begged as he placed his hand on the side of my head and lifted it so I was looking at him.
“Adam…a-and Kane. He want’s to keep me safe, but I…he…he’s suffocating me, and Adam….I don’t even know. Please….please let me go.” I tried to pull from his hold, but he wasn’t letting me go and I knew it, so instead I sank against him and fought to breathe through my panic.
“Ash!” Eli called startling me. By the time I looked up Asher was hurrying towards us from the kitchen.
“What happened? Addy, are you alright?” he asked all at once and I felt his hand running up and down my back.
“She needs to get out of here, Ash,” Eli told him, and I looked to Asher pleadingly, just needing him to give me this.
“Why?” Asher asked.
“Just trust me, brother. Get her to your car and I’ll grab the keys. We’re getting out of here,” Eli said firmly as I was handed off to Asher who scooped me up into his arms.
“I’ve got you, sweetheart,” he soothed as he held me close and walked into the huge garage. “Just try to slow down your breathing, okay? We’re gonna get you out of here, but you need to breathe for me.”
Eli reappeared beside us, keys in hand. He unlocked the Range Rover and Asher opened the back door and lifted me into the back seat.
“Eli, you sit with Addy. I’ll drive. Where are we headed?” Asher asked as he rounded the car. The trunk thudded closed, then Eli was climbing into the back seat beside me.
“Mom’s cabin,” Eli replied.
“We haven’t been there for years. It’s probably collapsed by now.” Asher looked from the driver’s seat at us both in the rearview as he spoke, and Eli just shrugged.
“Addy needs some space and fresh air. It’s the perfect place. No one will be around for miles,” he added when Asher looked unconvinced.
“Fine, but we’ll need to stop for supplies. I don’t want us getting stuck up there with nothing if it snows,” Asher compromised and Eli nodded his agreement. I didn’t care where we went as long as we left the house before Kane arrived, or Adam came out of the gym again. I couldn’t bare to see either of them in that moment. Being before them would be my complete undoing and I knew it.