Vengeance by Kelly Carrero Page B

Aiden.
    “Be careful. I think he’s trying to see if you react,” Aiden said to me.
    “Why would he want that?” Dave asked.
    Nathan shrugged. “No idea. Maybe I’m wrong. But either way, we’ll definitely make sure Chelsea’s safe. The poor girl’s life has already been ripped apart thanks to Adam.”
    I choked back a laugh that thankfully went unnoticed. I couldn’t believe Nathan could so easily pretend to give a shit when he was the one who was making Chelsea’s life a living hell.
    “Are you guys all having another conversation?” Chelsea asked, getting a bit irritated.
    “Yes, Chels,” Lucas said. “But don’t worry. It’s just because we’re able to talk a lot quicker than when we’re actually saying the words aloud.”
    Chelsea slumped back in her seat. She wasn’t really offended. She just wished she could do the same.
    “How’s your mum doing?” Nathan asked Chelsea. I wondered if he was testing me to see if I would react to his sudden interest in all the atrocities he had perpetrated. He’d hardly spoken two words to Chelsea before I’d disappeared. But then again, maybe he was just taking some interest in the girl his son seemed to be spending so much time with lately.
    “There hasn’t been much improvement with her burns, but at least she’s not in any pain during the bandage changes, thanks to Aiden and Lucas,” she said, looking up into Lucas’s eyes. As she returned her gaze to Nathan, she tried to squash the smile that forced itself on her lips whenever she looked at Lucas.
    “Well, at least that’s something,” Nathan said, leaning back in his chair. “Hopefully, it won’t be too long before she recovers.”
    “Hopefully,” Chelsea agreed, as she thought about her mum’s wounds.
    God, I was sick of listening to Nathan pretend to care. I was certain he was laughing at us in his mind. “You know what?” I asked, sitting forward. “I think I’m gonna pop over to Mum’s and see if she is awake. If she’s not, then I’ll come back here and wait ’til the morning.”
    “I guess I’ll see you guys later,” Lucas said.
    “Actually, I think I might stay here, if that’s okay with you?” Chelsea asked.
    My heart began to pound inside my chest. I could feel Nathan’s eyes on me as he waited to see my reaction.
    “You’ve got to leave her here,” Aiden said. “Nathan will know something’s up if you no longer trust her with everyone here.”
    “Um, yeah. That’s fine,” I said then turned to Lucas. “Keep her safe, okay?”
    He gave a little laugh. “Yeah, yeah, I know. You’ve given me this same lecture how many times now?”
    I glared at him, wishing I could tell him that leaving her with him was probably one of the most dangerous things I could do, but insisting I take her was even worse.
    “Nothing’s going to happen to her with everyone here to protect her,” Aiden said, probably more for Nathan’s benefit than my own.
    I nodded. “Okay. We’ll be back soon.”
    Chelsea grabbed a cushion, tucked her legs up on the couch, and lay down. “See you.”
    Aiden nudged me. “Let’s go.”
    Instead of going to my mother, I transported us both to the doorless room, thinking that if Harry was going to be at her house, that room would be the best bet.
    “Jesus Christ,” Harry said when we appeared beside him. He was sitting at his desk, looking at a computer screen.
    “Sorry,” I said.
    He laughed. “You’re lucky I wasn’t in the bathroom again.”
    I looked around the room to make sure we were alone. “Actually, I didn’t transport to you. I transported to the room and hoped you were here.”
    Harry twisted his chair around. “Is everything all right?” He narrowed his eyes at me. “And I don’t just mean right now. What happened at lunch the other day? And why did you disappear without any warning?”
    Aiden put his arm around my waist. “I think you’ve got to tell him the truth.”
    I chewed my bottom lip. Harry had been the one to