Page 24 of Madness & Mayhem

“Please. Please don’t say we’re here.”

His jaw clenches, and his eyes glance to Kyler a moment before he grips the doorframe, giving it a slap before walking off and down the stairs.

“This shit is so fucked up,” Kyler whispers as he makes his way out of my bedroom.

Posie stands there, in the hallway, staring at me. Her gaze is a little empty, hurt, betrayed. Worried, for sure. Every emotion I can think of runs through her eyes.

“Posie,” I whisper.

She shakes her head instantly, cutting my words off. “Don’t say anything right now, Lakyn. It all just…hurts.”

I open my mouth, but not a word comes out besides a weak breath. I stare at her as she walks up to the door, her hand going to the knob. “Just stay here for a second. Don’t… do anything stupid,” she mumbles before shutting the door quietly.

I turn to Reign, and he stares at the closed door, his jaw clenched, his body corded tight.

“Reign,” I whisper, panic filling me.

He shakes his head as his eyes swing to mine. He says nothing, his jaw clenching. I watch the million thoughts roll through his mind, the different scenarios and options.

I shake my head when I see his gaze go dark. “No, let’s go. Let’s get the hell out of here.”

He takes a deep breath as he turns to the window before backing up quickly. “They’re outside, Lakyn. We aren’t going anywhere.”

I bite at my lip, a whimper seeping out as I sneak to the window. Peeking outside, my eyes widen when I see a police officer walking along the side of the house, one of his flashlights scanning the perimeter of the yard.

“We’re fucked,” I panic, my palm pressing against my chest. My heart pounds erratically against the hollow cage of my chest. I want to scream, but I swallow it down, my ears thumping, sweat glistening the back of my hairline.

A shadow steps in front of me. Reign grips my jaw, tilting my face toward his. He doesn’t look panicked, but instead calm as ever. His eyes are sure, his features smooth if not a little angry as he gazes at me.

“We’re going to get through this, Lakyn. I won’t let either of us go down,” he rasps.

The door suddenly swings open, and both of us jolt as we turn toward the doorway.

Fear lances through me as I stare at Archer, wondering if a horde of SWAT is going to come up behind him.

He nods toward my window. “Kyler’s got them preoccupied for a minute. Go out the window.”

My brow furrows, and I turn to Reign, seeing his face equally as shocked.

“What?” I whisper.

His eyes narrow. “Don’t fucking ask any questions, Lakyn. Get out of here before I change my mind.”

I swallow over the emotion, feeling Reign’s warm fingers as they wrap through mine. He grips me tightly as he pulls me toward the window. My hand snaps out, and I grab my phone, pulling it along with the charger. The cord snaps loose from the cube, and I tear the cord out of my phone, tossing it aside as I’m hauled to my window.

“We have to go, Lakyn. Now.”

I nod, my eyes still locked on Archer’s.

“Now, Lakyn,” Reign growls.

I bite my lip through my whimper as I make my way toward the window.

“Lakyn,” Archer snaps.

I listen as the window slides open softly, my eyes connecting with Archer’s possessive ones.

“I’m doing this for you, baby Lake. Not him. Remember that.”