DOMINIC
I had never been this terrified in my life.
The others said it was nothing. That Caleb was an adult. That he could take care of himself. That he was —
Goddammit! I hated hearing those. I refused to hear one more word.
I clenched the champagne glass so hard I heard a tiny crack.
"You good?" Valentine came up beside me, looking ever like the gentleman she wasn't.
I took a sip and grimaced. The wine was expensive and pretty sure tasted as heavenly as hell but it felt like paper on my tongue. The music was full on blast, the partiers were on the dance floor and everyone I knew was enjoying themselves. Why wouldn't they? Their friend, Marilyn, has gotten married now. They were happy but I was miserable.
"Don't worry. He'll come around." She slid on the stool next to me and took off her blazer. Unlike the other girls in our group, Valentine preferred men's clothing.
I kept the glass on the counter and dropped my face in my palm. God, this whole thing is going to shit.
"Your sour mood is polluting the joy in the air." Vincent dragged a drunken Lauren with him and they sat beside Val.
I rolled my eyes and scoffed. "Please."
Lauren giggled. "Hey. Where's Cameron?"
"Making out with some fairy on the dancefloor." Val replied.
"Wait," Lauren turned around and gasped. "Wait. That isn't just some fairy. That's Brynn! Hey, get your paws off my man!"
She stormed off before we could stop her.
"Nothing suspicious yet. I'll let you know as soon as we get a hit." Brynn said as she occupied the seat Lauren had left.
Wait.
"Weren't you making out with Cameron?" Vincent asked, eyebrows pinched.
She arched her brow. "Do you see him anywhere around me?"
"Who the hell did Lauren see?" Val laughed.
"Who?" She frowned.
I pressed my thumbs to either side of my temples. I didn't come here to listen to them talk nonsense.
I turned to Brynn and she straightened her spine, as if remembering why she joined us at the counter.
"There's nothing suspicious yet but I'll let you know as soon as we get a hit." she repeated what she'd said earlier.
If she was a guy, I would've punched her square in the face.
She hesitated, then said, "Listen, I know you like Caleb, but my fairies and I are using —"
"I don't wanna hear it." I leapt off the stool.
"Where are you going?!" She called behind me.
"The bathroom!" I called back.
I had made it out of the hall when an idea popped into my head. It wasn't a new idea but I decided to try it again for the umpteenth time that night.
I dialed Caleb's number and waited. It rang for a couple seconds before the dial tone clicked.
Relief washed all over me and I waited for a heartbeat, expecting him to tell me where he was and what happened. He dashed those expectations immediately.
"Dominic." Caleb's voice cracked.
Ice doused the warmth that'd flared in me.
Something was wrong.
I skipped the useless questions—are you okay? what's wrong?—and cut straight to matter. "Where are you?"
Despite my calm voice, my hand curled so tight around my phone I heard it crack.
"I - - " His reply was barely audible.
"Stay with me," My blood roared in my veins as I loosened my tie and left the hall.
"Dominic… it's cold." He mumbled.
"Come on, baby. What do you see?" I asked calmly.
"I can't… It's dark," He whimpered. "There's a light —"
"Save your strength. I'm on my way."
I brushed past mother and signalled to the valet who was quick to toss me my car keys.
"Dominic!" I heard her yell behind me but I ignored her and climbed into the car.
I had to save Caleb.
I didn't give a damn about the traffic regulations here. My mind screamed at me to drive faster. Caleb was in danger. That I knew. The way his voice cracked, the way his breathing shallowed with each whisper. Caleb. My Caleb. He was hurt. Goddammit!
I pulled up to a driveway and bolted as soon as my boot hit the ground. "Caleb!"
"He should be on the Fifth!" Brynn's voice cut through my mindlink.
"Okay. Thanks." I mumbled.
"Caleb!" This time, my panic was audible.
I knew he was here but that didn't stop my stomach from hollowing at the silence.
Goddammit, sweetheart, where the hell are you?
"Dominic?" A faint whisper echoed in the dark and relief washed all over me in waves.
"Caleb!" I dropped my phone and rushed towards the direction of his voice.
There, I found him lying on the cold ground.
"I got you," I put my hand to the back of his head and lifted him gently into my arms. "I got you."
"T - Thank you." Caleb trembled, snuggling closer and I engulfed him in my warmth.
I was right. He had been hurt but who — Who would've hurt him? I wanted to ask those questions but now was not the right time.
I scooped him into my arms, wrapping my arms protectively around him.
"Caleb." I said softly.
He didn't respond. I figured he had passed out.
My heart shattered. He must've clung to life with every last ounce of strength, refusing to let go.
I could almost hear him, in the suffocating darkness, calling out for me, holding on with a desperate hope—waiting… waiting for me to come, even as life slipped from him.
I planted a soft kiss on his forehead. "You did good, love. You did good."
Now that I was closer, I could see the red rimming his eyes and coloring his nose. The thought that I couldn't be there to protect him made my heart ache in the most painful way.
"Caleb…" My body trembled as I pulled him close.
I've done enough terrible, unforgivable things in my life to know better. I even promised myself I was done with that version of me. But that was before I found out someone had hurt Caleb.
Now? All bets are off.
No one. No one except me touches what's mine. And I will make them regret every second of it. Whoever thought they could get away with this is about to learn exactly how far I'll go to make them pay.