Page 66 of Hold Me Down
“No…”
We both flinch when my phone starts ringing, and that only intensifies the paranoia snaking its way through my body. I pull the phone out quickly, hoping to just shut it up, when Kade’s name flashes across the screen. Ashia and I both look to one another again, interested and freaked out.
“That’s a little too weird for comfort,” Dr. Von mutters and stands back up, dragging her chair back behind the desk. Ashia nods lightly, silently telling me to answer it. So I do, and bring it to my ear, almost instantly regretting it.
“Hey, Kade.” I keep my voice as nonchalant as I can manage, not wanting to alarm him before we even have the chance to look into this new discovery.
“Hey, D. It’s good to hear your voice. You sound better,” he says in a friendly tone, though there’s a dismissive edge to it, like he’s alsotryingto sound normal.
“Thanks, I feel better.” There’s a brief silence, worrying me even more. Ashia scrunches her brows, curious about what he’s saying. “Do you need something? Sorry, I’m kind of in the middle of something important—”
“Oh, um, not really,” he interrupts me, just to go silent once again. I try to focus on the sounds in the background, but then he gulps and starts talking again. “Uh, do you know when you’re coming back yet?”
“Hopefully by next week. Why? What’s wrong?” I try to keep my voice on a more concerned level, and not like the paranoid mess I am.
“Nothing’swrong…” He pauses again, but for not as long this time. “I just think it’s best that you at least stop by—let all of the guys see you, ya know?”
“Would you like to elaborate, or should I send Zeke to pick you up?” I threaten, quickly losing my patience. Why does he want me out of the house so badly? Is he trying to lure me out?
“No. Hell no. I just… I think authority is getting a little confusing around here, and now that you’re feeling better, the men might benefit from seeing your face,” he says quietly, like he’s trying to keep others from hearing him.
“Satori?” I question, already feeling the anger churn again.
“Yeah.”
“I’ll tell Carter to go ahead and reactivate us, and I’ll be there by next week. Give me a few days to look into some things.” I glance to my wife, silently asking for her approval, but she’s already nodding her head, reading my mind.
“Okay. Thanks, D.”
I hang up the phone, not bothering to respond. Ashia runs her hand over my back, but it’s not so much in a comforting manner. It’s her silent way of showing me her support, preparing me for another battle that’s inevitably coming.
“Do you think you’re ready to go back?” Dr. Von asks with a confident grin, charging the determination already brewing in my chest.
“Hell yeah, I am.”
Chapter 23
Ashia
Six Days Later
Six Days Later
Ashia
Riding in a car should not feel this good. Damien sits beside me in the driver’s seat, steering with one hand and rubbing my stomach with the other. The new Charger vibrates with energy, sending a calming hum throughout my body. When he ordered this car, he added the all-glass roof, and I wasn’t sure why before. I get it now, though. It’s cold, cloudy, and rainy outside, creating the perfect cozy atmosphere with the leather seats and the heat turned on. The water tapping on the roof as we drive almost lulls me to sleep, but I try my best to stay awake. It’s only a ten-minute drive, after all, but my eyes continue to droop shut anyway.
“I can keep driving if you want, baby,” Damien says quietly, as if he could ever disturb my peace. I shake my head and open my eyes to look up at him, admiring how strong he looks driving such a powerful beast.
“No, it’s okay. I’m not really tired. It’s just relaxing.” He grins softly at my confession and turns into the Attic’s entryway. The car stops just beside the security gate, and the scanner reads his hand almost instantly, like it missed his touch as much as I did.
“Should we walk in the front or through the training room bay doors?” He looks over at me as he rolls the window back up.
“When have you ever been subtle?” I ask back, giving him a small, curious smile. His mouth sprouts into his own shit-eating grin, and my chest inflates at his joy.
“You’ve got a good point.” He turns the wheel to drive around to the back. It feels bittersweet returning here. It’s good to come backtogether, but the property has my sadness seeped into the foundation. For weeks, I came here with nothing but desperation and anger, begging to whatever higher power to help me find him. There are also good memories, though: when he first opened the building,exploringthe observation room, and all of the times he’s made me feel strong—that all lives here, too.
He pulls into a spot in the first row of cars, but down a little further than necessary. There are probably three or four spaces between us and the nearest car, and I find that a little odd. He does like the new Charger, but he’s never been worried about a paint job before today. Once the car is in park, he doesn’t turn it off like I expect. Instead, he takes off his seatbelt and lays his seat back to match mine, then stares up at the sky through the glass, just living in the moment with me.
