Chapter 22
Henley
I hated watching Maverick walk out that door. I wanted to call him back, beg him to stay here with me, but I knew it was no use. He had so much going on with the club that I’d barely seen him over the past couple of days. I had too much time on my hands, and I was going insane. I felt useless. Having been around the brothers since the shooting, I’d come to really care for them. I was so tired of seeing the guys stressed. Their tension was palpable. Mostly, I missed Maverick. I craved the feeling of knowing he was always near me. I’d never had or wanted such undivided attention from a man before.
I couldn’t stop thinking about that guy in the hospital. Everything was going to shit, and I couldn’t take it anymore. I had been thinking about this for days, and it was time to take a chance. I needed to do this for Maverick.
I had no idea when he would be back, so I didn’t waste any time. If my plan was going to work, I would need Cassidy’s help, so I went to see if she was at the bar. Thankfully, she was there, filling the beer cooler when I walked up. “Hey, Sis! You got a minute?”
“What’s up?”
“I really need to talk to you about something,” I told her after a quick glance around the room, ensuring we wouldn’t be overheard. “You’re not going to like it, Cass, but I really need your help with something.”
She came around the bar and sat down on a stool beside me. As I started to explain my plan, Cassidy’s body grew tense with worry. When I was almost done talking, she sat up straight in her chair and leaned forward. She glared at me with an expression of total disbelief as she tried to make sense of what I was saying.
Her face flushed red as she spat, “Have you lost your damn mind? Do you honestly think that I would help you get yourself killed? What kind of sister do you think I am? Hell will freeze over before I help you do this!”
“Cassidy… I love him… I really love him. Do you honestly think I want to go and get myself killed now that I finally found the one? If we play this thing right, we can help them get these guys. But I can’t do it without you. I need your help with this. It’s the only way. I’ve thought it through. You have to trust me.”
“I just don’t know, Henley. What if something goes wrong? I’ll never be able to forgive myself if something happens to you,” she said. However, I could tell by the sound of her voice that she was about to give in.
“We’ll get in and we’ll get out. Just trust me on this.”
“Fine… I’ll help you, but I’m not happy about it.” Filled with relief that she agreed to help me, I jumped up and hugged her tightly.
“Thanks, Sis. I knew I could count on you,” I whispered. “We need to go before Maverick gets back. Let me go get my stuff and I’ll meet you in your room in five minutes.”
After I grabbed my purse, I headed down the hall to Cassidy’s room. I didn’t take time to think about what we were about to do. I knew I just had to swallow my nerves and get this thing done. I walked into her room. She was sitting on the edge of her bed waiting with a pained expression on her face.
“Don’t go backing out on me now, Cass. This is a good plan.”
“I’m not backing out, Lee Bug. I’m just worried, that’s all. Come on,” she said as she stood up and reached for her keys. “Let’s get this thing over with.”
Cassidy was quiet while she drove me to the campus parking lot. My car was still parked in the front row of the Fine Arts Building. It had been sitting there since the day Clutch took me to the club. I prayed that the tracking device was still there and working. It was the only way they’d know that I had returned home.
I put my things in my car and sat down in the driver’s seat. I looked up at Cassidy and said, “I’ll park the car in my usual spot. You pull around back and wait for me there. I’ll come down the fire escape once I get everything ready.”
“What if someone is already there, waiting for you? This is crazy, Henley. I should’ve never agreed to go along with this.”
“No one is going to be there, at least not yet. Now, stop worrying.”
“That’s easier said than done. Just make it fast, okay?” she said with a shaky voice.
“Promise. I’ll call you once I am inside, so we can talk the entire time I’m in there,” I assured her.
My mind was racing as I drove to my apartment. I tried building up my courage by reminding myself that I was doing this for Maverick, for the man I loved. Unfortunately, it didn’t help settle the nerves that were causing my hands to tremble against the steering wheel. I took a deep breath and tried to concentrate on all the things I needed to do. I tried to convince myself that there wasn’t much to it. I just had to park the car in front of the apartment and then rush inside to get everything ready. I needed to try to make the place look like I was returning home. I needed to turn on the lights and TV, straighten the place up a bit, and then arrange the bed to look like I was lying under the covers. Once everything was set up, I’d slip out the back down the fire escape. Cass would be waiting for me in her car, and we’d wait to see if anyone showed up. The plan was simple. The problem was, nothing with me ever seemed to go like it was supposed to.
Several cars were parked in front of my small apartment complex, but thankfully, my spot was still empty. I eased the car into park and slowly opened my door, looking around for anything that might seem suspicious. The streetlights gave off just enough light to create an eerie feel to the entire parking lot. I really wasn’t sure what I should be looking for, but I let my eyes roam over the area, hunting for anyone or anything that might be lurking in the dark. I was still searching the area, for God knows what, while I walked up the steps that led to the front door.
Before I walked inside, I looked to make sure Cassidy was pulling her car around back. After I saw her taillights heading down the back alley, I stepped anxiously through the door. My legs felt heavy as I walked over to the main elevator. I tried to push back my terror as the doors closed behind me. There was no time to let my fears get in the way. I had no idea if that tracking device on my car was actually even working, but I didn’t want to take any chances. If these guys thought I was back home, who knows how long it would take for them to come looking for me.
When the elevator doors opened, I stepped out into the empty hallway and crept over to my door. I didn’t know what to expect, but I never thought it would be like this. I felt like an intruder in my own home as I unlocked my door. The familiar smell of lavender and fabric softener surrounded me as the door creaked open, but being here didn’t feel familiar. I was scared. I felt so out of place, and I hated that I felt such fear in a place I’d always loved to be.
As promised, I took out my phone and called Cassidy. “I’m here.”
“Please hurry, Henley,” she pleaded.
“I’ve got to straighten up a bit. Just hold tight,” I told her as I looked around the room. Several of my school papers were scattered along the floor, along with several overturned lamps and chairs. I quickly started cleaning up the mess, trying to make it resemble the place I’d called home for the past three years.
Once I had everything picked up, I turned on several more lights and the TV, setting the volume loud enough for it to be heard out in the hallway. My adrenaline was in overdrive as I raced to my room and stuffed several pillows under the comforter. I tried my best to make it look like a body was lying there under the covers. I happened to remember a wig Cassidy bought the year we decided to be twins for Halloween, so I pulled the old costume box out from under the bed, hoping the wig was still there. Luckily, I found it buried at the bottom of the box. I quickly grabbed it and kicked the box back under the bed. I placed the wig at the top of the pillows, spreading out the hair in hopes it’d help, but I wasn’t sure anyone would truly believe it was me. I glanced around my small apartment. Everything was set.
I picked my phone back up and said, “Cass… you there?”
“Yes! Are you done?” she asked.
“Yeah, I’m on my way down.”
“Keep your phone on until you get in the car,” she ordered. “And be careful.”
“Okay. I’m coming now,” I told her as I eased the window up leading to the fire escape. Holding tightly to the ledge, I stepped out onto the railing.
The stairs clattered and shook as I ran down the steps, and I thought I had made it free and clear until I saw a man standing in the shadows. I froze. Panic surged through my body when I realized he was staring right at me. My breathing became rapid, and I thought I might pass out from fear, but I took a deep breath, forcing myself to stay calm. There was still a chance I could make it to the car without him catching me, so I took another step down the stairs. When I did, he began walking toward me… “Holy shit! Cass! Someone’s here!” I whispered into my phone.
“Get your ass to the car! Now!” she cried.
“I can’t! He’s coming this way! Call Maverick. Call him, now!” I was in trouble. He was one of them. I’d run out of time, and there was no one here to help me.