His Ruthless Revenge (A Dark Bully Romance)

Chapter Forty Eight

April

"What's wrong?" Chase whispers, circling his arms around my waist. "Why can't you sleep?"
We're lying in bed together and it's the middle of the night. I've been awake for ages, unable to sleep as I keep staring out the window into the darkness of the forest.
"I'm just nervous." I admit, turning around to face him. "Well, I'm petrified really."
"Of what?"
"Everything." I sigh deeply. "I'm scared of going home and I'm frightened of  having to leave here."
"So we'll stay a bit longer." He replies readily, shrugging his shoulders as though it's no big deal.
"You know we have to go back and face the consequences and you also need to get back for Billy." I point out softly.
"I am missing him like crazy." He groans, raking his fingers through his hair.
"Exactly. We both know it's time to escape the bubble we've created. We have to face reality at some point."
"Tomorrow we have to face reality but tonight is still ours." He murmurs softly, tracing his lips across my neck. "Right now we're still here and we should make the most of it."
"And what do you suggest?" I enquire seductively, awaiting his response.
"I think you know." He growls posessively, forcing me onto my back so he's on top of me.
"Show me." I encourage him, biting on my lower lip as I feel my face flush with heat.
"Please show me." He swiftly instructs me, dominating me completely as he grazes his nose against mine.
Chase eventually lowers his mouth towards my own, capturing my bottom lip between his teeth. He's so gentle as his tongue enters my mouth and I inhale sharply, parting my legs so he can position himself between them.
My fingers make their way into his hair before tracing my nails down his neck. He shivers beneath my touch and presses himself against me. I can feel his arousal and instantly know how turned on he is. I shake my head slightly, still struggling to understand how I do that to him. It doesn't make any sense to me and I can already feel my insecurities starting to resurface.
"Maybe we should slow things down a little." I pant breathlessly, trying to catch my breath as I break away from his kiss.
"What's wrong?" He demands sharply, frowning with concern at me.
"Nothing's wrong. Everything's fine." I reply falsely, smiling weakly.
"Don't lie to me."
"I just don't want this to be about sex all the time." I tell him truthfully. "We're so much more than that."
"Of course we are but we've been apart for so long. It's only natural that we want to be together after all this time." He reminds me, stroking my hair back off my face.
"I know. I guess you're right." I respond quietly, getting lost in my own thoughts once again.
"So stop worrying so much and just be with me. That's all I want."
His arm circles my waist once more and flips me on top of him. I place my hands on his bare chest as he gazes up at me intently.
"What are you staring at?" I challenge him, failing to conceal my embarrassment under his intense scrutiny.
"My future." He whispers reverently, sincerity permeating his voice.
"Let's just hope it's a bright one." I add hastily.
"You bet it will be." He encourages me warmly. "I'm going to make sure of it."

We load up the car the following morning and we're all packed up and ready to leave within a few hours. I know we need to say goodbye but it's still really hard for me. This place has been my safe haven since we first arrived and I'm genuinely sad we have to leave it.
However, what I said to Chase last night is true and even though the thought of leaving fills me with dread I know we need to go home and face the consequences of our actions. We need to tell people that we're back together and nothing will ever come between us again.
"Are you ready?" Chase asks, taking me by surprise as he comes up behind me. "I've finished loading the car."
"Ready as I'll ever be." I reply quietly, taking his hand as we walk through the front door together.
"We can always come back here." He assures me, opening the car door for me. "The cabin is ours whenever we want it."
"That's good to know." I affirm happily. "I like the idea of this place being ours."
"You also know you can always move back home, don't you?"
"There's too many memories there." I sigh wearily, fastening my seat belt as the car pulls away.
"I understand." He replies kindly, squeezing my hand. "We'll just have to find a hotel or something until we sort out something permanent."
"I... I was actually thinking I should stay with my mum for a bit." I disclose hesitantly, hoping he doesn't hate the idea of us not living together straight away. "I should really spend some time with her and it will give us a little space to figure out what we're going to do next."
"Space? Why would we want space?" He demands roughly, glancing over at me as he keeps one eye on the road ahead of him.
"Chase, it won't be for long. Probably just a few weeks until I sort my head out."
"That is too long." He complains bitterly, sulking at the thought of it.
"You need to spend some time with Billy and I need to figure out what I'm going to do next. I still have to talk to Finn and decide what I'm going to do about work. It's not exactly going to be easy working with Miranda after all this and I can't just fire her either. I still care about her afterall."
"Just fire her. That's the easiest option." He retorts harshly.
"Chase, don't be so heartless." I chastise him firmly, worrying about Miranda and what she's going to say when she finds out I'm with Chase now.
"Ok, ok. Whatever you want. So long as we're together, nothing else matters." He concedes reluctantly.
I decide to take one final look back at the cabin, hoping to absorb all of my memories from it forever. The sun is shining through the car window so my view is obstructed but I still see something for a fraction of a moment.
I spot a brief glimpse of a shadow as it emerges from the surrounding forest and it sends chills down my spine. I blink a few times, hoping I was mistaken but don't see it again.

It was probably a trick of the light. I tell myself, shaking my head. You're probably tired from lack of sleep and imagined you saw something.

I keep telling myself these things over and over but it's not enough to convince me. I don't say anything to Chase and close my eyes instead, pretending to be asleep as we keep on driving.

You know you saw something... my subconscious taunts me.

I just don't know what it was and why I feel so terrified.