Lea Moore [Sequel to Raine Walker] (ON-HOLD)

Chapter Twenty-One

Adam POV

"You need to go to the police with me," I sigh, rubbing the side of my face with my hand. I've been trying for almost an hour to convince her to come to the police with me. I wanted to go in and tell the truth of everything, from Holland to the text messages. Holland would be able to go back to her family and escape this lifestyle. Derrick would be a wanted fugitive. Eventually he'd be caught, Holland can go try to live a normal life.

"I can't. Not yet." She shakes her head filled with strawberry blonde locks. She's been giving me that answer every time I suggest her into going to the police station to end this.

Her reason is to stand by Derrick's side to gather information about his next moves. So we can all stay at least one step ahead of him. "If I go in now, I won't be able to figure out what Derrick is planning. It's safer if I stay close to him to help protect Raine and everyone else involved."

Holland's heart was set, and I knew it. But I have to argue. "You want to risk your life to protect Raine?"

"I mean, it's the least I can do," she sighs, looking down at the floor. I glance towards the main lobby of the mechanic shop, seeing that all the lights were turned off besides the lamp in the far corner of the room we're currently in. The repair shop is closed and everyone is gone, except for us. "Even though she kicked me to the curb because of what she thought, I know that she was just using clues and things that pointed directly to me. I know she just wanted to protect herself from getting hurt anymore. Raine's always been like that."

"She has?"

"Yeah. I remember a while back, when we were just sophomores in high school, when the popular 'clique' started talking to her, she pretty much told them to fuck off," Holland explains, which makes me laugh. I would've never imagined Raine doing such a thing. "She didn't trust them. Raine doesn't trust a lot of people with how she feels. But she's lucky to have you as a brother, Adam."

Holland's glance shoots directly at me, which makes me suddenly tense up as my heart begins to race. Her green eyes study the expression on my face. I don't respond to her statement with anything. What is there to say? A weird and awkward silence falls between the two of us.

"Well, I should get going," Holland sighs, moving past me to head towards the door. I know it was against her better judgment to leave simply by the tone in her voice. Everything about her confused me. She was betrayed by her best friend, practically left for dead, but she chooses to stand up for what is right - even if it can get her killed. A shiver shoots down my spine as that realization sweeps over me.

I reach out and take her arm. The softness of her skin beneath my grip makes me hesitate to speak. I watch as her eyes look down at my hand on her arm, then to my eyes. "Please be careful," I plea.

"You've said that before, Adam," Holland sighs.

"I know. I just..." My voice trails off as it is hard for me to admit the truth. "I just don't want you to get hurt anymore. God, I don't think this is a good idea, Holland. You going back to that asshole just doesn't sit well with me."

"Is there another option?"

It was more of a rhetorical question than I would've liked...

"I will go back to him and watch his every move. I'll try to figure out what he's planning next. Trust me, when he's drunk enough, he'll tell me anything. Once I figure out his next play, I'll find you," she tells me.

"You don't know how bad that sounds," I grip her arm a little tighter in my grasp, not wanting to let her leave. I want her to say where it's safe and out of that bastard's reach.