Stronger Together (bxb) ✔

Chapter 78 - Chase

Chase's POV

You could hear a pin drop. Everyone seemed to be holding their breath. This was it. The moment it all boiled down to.

My eyes flicker over to Mike and just the sight of his boots makes my stomach churn. I can feel his eyes digging into me, carving holes into the very essence of my soul.

Despite the voice in my head telling me not to meet his eyes, I succumb to the crushing weight of his gaze. The cruel betrayal of that night holds me hostage, while what I once thought of as beautiful honey coloured eyes, bludgeon me to death with a cold stare.

His lips quirk up at the side, lackadaisical cockiness oozing out of even that tiny action.

"We find the defendants..."

Three more pairs of eyes add to the already overwhelming weight strangling me. Three other mouths curve up at the corners, letting me know that they are victorious before the deadly words are spoken.

"Not guilty."

The words hang in the air, leaving a bitter taste in my mouth. My hands cover my mouth, forcing back the breakfast threatening to come up.

Tearing my eyes away, I frantically look to the seat next to me, hoping to see Diego, but find it empty. I whip my head to the other side, praying to find a friendly face, but to no avail.

I'm all alone.

An ear piercing scream is ripped from my throat as clawed, disfigured hands reach towards me, ready to drag me to the deepest, darkest pit of despair.

"Chase! Chase!"

My eyes fly open and I jerk myself into a sitting position.

"Hey," the same gentle voice that pulled me from my sleep says.

I turn towards Diego, noticing the eye bags under his eyes and the worry lines forming on his face. He offers up a smile, trying to downplay the fact that I've had nightmares for three consecutive nights.

"Do you want to talk about it?"

"It's the same dream," I force out, shifting to snuggle in his arms while I calm my shaking body. He presses a kiss to my hair and rubs soothing circles on my back.

More than the pain of reliving the horrors of that night, or testifying to said horrors in front of people, is the feeling of fear that claws at my insides when I think about the possibility of those men not being found guilty. I don't know how I would survive if they walk free. It would all have been in vain, and justice would have left me all alone to battle with the consequences.

My eyes squeeze shut and I try to focus on the soft thrums of Diego's heart. After a minute, its steady rhythm starts to calm me, once again washing away the recurring nightmare. We sit in silence, as Diego continues to quietly comfort me.

"I'll be okay," I mumble more in an attempt to convince myself.

Soft kisses in my hair every few seconds eventually bring the tiniest of smiles to my face. I take another deep breath and slowly exhale.

I'll be okay. They won't walk free. I'll be okay. They won't walk free. Those words repeat themselves in my mind, somehow morphing into the melody of 'Twinkle Twinkle Little Star' and a tiny giggle escapes me.

Finally able to calm down, I lift my head in search of Diego's face. When he sees the little smile on my face, his gorgeous dimples grace me with their presence, which only widens my smile.

"You're so beautiful, especially when you smile," Diego murmurs, cupping my face.

I produce a quiet giggle. "Even with these eye bags?" I tease, pointing to the evidence of going three nights with hardly any sleep.