“I’m back, Caleb.It’s raining so hard outside.I know I can’t remain in the house though.If Darren wakes up and finds me, he’ll continue beating on me,” I inform Caleb as I step outside and close the door behind me.
“Do what you feel you have to, Cali.You know to trust your gut and if it’s tellin’ you not to stay in that house, don’t.Can you see anythin’ to let us know where you are?”he questions me and I know I have to look around the area in the dark.
“I can barely see anything out here.In the distance there are street lights.It’s toward the left of me as I stand on the front porch.I’m surrounded by trees and the driveway is completely grown over.The truck I saw Darren leaning up against that day is parked here next to the house.This place looks as if it’s stood empty for years and a good breeze will knock the damn thing to the ground,” I state, looking around even more as I try to focus on the details despite the haziness of my vision.
“Okay, Cali.We got footage of him at an abandoned house on the outskirts of town.It should take us less than ten minutes to get to you.We’re headin’ out now, Reina,” Caleb promises me as I hear more movement from Caleb’s end of the call.
Loud voices and shuffling fill the call as I try to process what’s going on while putting one foot in front of the other one.Caleb lets me know he’s gonna be silent for a second as he puts his helmet on and the Bluetooth connects the call to his helmet so he doesn’t have to hang up on me.Caleb would remain on the phone with me even if he didn’t have the Bluetooth in his helmet.I can’t even begin to think of how worried he’s been since being told I was taken from Kreed’s house.I always knew he’d come save me.Caleb has always been my knight in shining armor.
“I’m back, Cali.Are you okay?Can you keep movin’?”he asks me as I hear the sound of so many bikes starting filling the call.
“I don’t know.I’m trying to move forward but it’s so hard.My body feels like it’s shutting down and each step is getting harder and harder to take.I’m so tired, Caleb.I’ve never been this tired in my life,” I answer, feeling myself fade with each small step I take.
“Stay awake for me, Reina.You’ve got this.You’re so fuckin’ strong and can do anythin’ you put your mind to.Don’t let Darren take one more thing from you, Baby.”
“I’m trying, Caleb.The kids and you are giving me the strength to keep moving forward when all I want to do is lay down and close my eyes.I’m hurt, Caleb.Really hurt and I can’t even tell all the damage that’s been done to my body.I might have internal injuries from when he used that damn pipe on me,” I inform him so he knows how bad I’m about to look when he sees me.
“You’re not leavin’ me, Caliana!”Caleb shouts in the phone so loud I have to pull it away from my ear.“I’ve missed out on way too many years with you and I’m done feelin’ loyal to Darren.He’s proven he no longer deserves my loyalty.I love you, Caliana, and when I get to you, I’m never lettin’ you go again.You’re mine and everyone will know it.”
“I’ve always been yours, Caleb.I love you so much.I’m sorry,” I tell him as I make it to the road.
My steps falter just as I reach the cracked and broken pavement of a road long forgotten about.Caleb starts calling my name as everything fades to nothing.I drop to my knees and then barely manage to roll to my right side as the phone drops out of my hand and I start to lose consciousness.Caleb’s voice yelling my name is the last thing I hear when everything finally fades into nothing and I let myself sink back into oblivion to visions of Caleb and my children surrounding me with love.
Chapter Thirty-Two
Reckless
“CALI!YA GOTTA answerme, Caliana.Come on, Reina.You were just talkin’ to me,” I shout even though I hear absolutely nothing from Cali’s end of the phone.The only thing I hear is the rain we shouldn’t be riding in right now.
“What’s goin’ on, Reckless?”Manic asks me through the comms in our helmets as I continue to yell to gain Cali’s attention once again.
“She’s not answerin’ me now.I have no clue what the fuck happened, but she stopped talkin’.I don’t think Darren has her because I don’t hear him on the line.In fact, there’s nothin’ from Cali’s side of the call,” I state for everyone to hear as I speed up despite the wet road and rain still falling.
“Caleb, ya gotta slow down.I know you wanna get to Cali and make sure she’s okay, but right now you’re about to kill yourself.The roads are too fuckin’ wet to be ridin’ this fast,” my dad says and I know he’s worried about me but I can’t worry about that right now.The need to get to Cali is overwhelming everything else.
“I’ll slow down when I get to my girl.She needs me and I wasn’t there to protect her when Darren took her from Kreed’s house.I’ll be okay,” I say, not sure if I’m telling the truth because there’s a real possibility I’ll crash before I can get to my girl.
