Code: 16B

Chapter Twenty Four

    “Are you okay?” he asked after Abigail started the engine, and I could feel the van’s speed increase.

    “Yeah.” I rasped, my voice sounding like a chain smoker, but at least I wasn’t shivering. I coughed, hoping to clear my throat and get my voice sounding normal. “I’m okay.” I added, this time my voice was a little less gravely.

    “Good.” He said before he bent to kiss my forehead.

    “What happen? Where’s Victor?” I said, the panic slowly came back into my voice as I tried to peek out the back window.

    “He’s dead. This time for good.” Cyrus said with a firm tone.

    “What about Missy?”

    He pointed towards a large lump under a blanket, and for a moment, I thought that it was a body bag. But when I see Missy’s head poking out, her eyes closed, the peaceful look on her face, and her breath coming and going, I knew that she’s asleep.

    “Hopefully, she won’t remember anything that happened at the warehouse.” Cyrus said, and he gave a look towards Violet, who’s sitting right beside Missy’s sleeping body, and is also wrapped in a towel. She nodded at him once, her look showed nothing but seriousness.

    “Amanda,” Cyrus’s voice made me look up at him. “What the hell were you thinking?” his tone was firm again.

    I gaped at him, shocked at what he said. “What are you talking about?” I blurted, having no clue what he meant.

    “Did you have any idea how worried I was when I came to the exit, and I find you weren’t there? I was lucky that we heard your scream, other wise we wouldn’t have found you.” He paused, waiting for an answer.

    I took a deep breath. “I didn’t do anything. I was ambushed when I was about, like, ten feet away from the door.” I couldn’t hold back the malice that entered my tone. Realizing it, I shook my head, and took another deep breath. “You were right about one thing though.” When he gives me a look, I said, “Victor wanted nothing but the chip.”

    “How…” he tried, but he just couldn’t get the words to form.

    “He basically confessed everything that’s happened in the last two weeks right before he tried to kill me.” I said, my gaze never leaving his.

    I heard a snicker coming from Garrett, but I ignored it as I continued to stare at Cyrus with nothing but anger in my expression. It wasn’t long until Cyrus’s once angry gaze begins to soften into a one of understanding.

    “I’m sorry.” He said softly.

    I slowly began to soften my expression, because no matter what, there’s no way I could stay mad at him forever. “It’s not your fault.” I whispered, my voice still not strong enough to speak even louder despite all the coughing I tried to clear all of the crud that keeps making my voice sound gravely. I carefully placed my hand on his perfect tan face. He flinched a little after my cold, wet skin met his warm, dry skin, but he placed a hand on top of mine, keeping it there.

    He shook his head. “Yes it is.” He said glumly.

    I balked at him, the shock beginning to make itself present in my expression. And when he sees it, he said, “If I hadn’t been so stupid, so cocky, I would’ve never let you go off by yourself, and with a weapon you don’t even know how to use…” he trailed off, letting the guilt fill the air.

    I didn’t know what to say. I looked at the others, but they don’t seem to be paying any attention to our conversation. Violet was resting her head on Garrett’s shoulder, who is sitting in the front passenger seat, while Abigail continued to drive, and I couldn’t help but notice that she looked a little nervous, but I dismissed it. I returned my gaze to Cyrus, and his pessimistic expression hadn’t change. It reminded me of the time when I asked him what brought him to Houston, when he walked me home after Missy’s party, before he kissed me for the first time, before I knew the truth about him, before everything was a matter of life and death.

    “That doesn’t matter.” I said my voice coming back to full volume. I didn’t want to talk about the negatives, especially after almost dying

    “Yes, it does.” He said, his tone firm, and his expression the same. “I should’ve never came here, and put you through this life and death situation. Which is why I’m still going to keep my promise I made to you earlier.” He added in a whisper.

    I stared at him, not sure what he meant, and when he sees that, he added, “I told you once the situation with Victor is over, we’ll take you home, and leave you alone. We won’t come back, and you’ll go on and live your life as if I hadn’t interfered.”

    I didn’t know what was on my face, but all I knew was that I couldn’t form the words I wanted to say, what I really wanted to say before I was almost killed when Victor tried to kill me. But, just when I’m about to open my mouth, Cyrus placed his hand on my shoulder, and pinched.