Locked once more(Book 2)

Chapter 40

In that instance, he sounded like Derek. Telling me he would protect me or die trying. But we still had no idea how long we had. And that scared me. What if we only had a couple of hours, and then he killed Dani? Don't think like that. We would be just fine. Derek and Adrian would protect you, and Dani. Adrian would get you out if things didn't go as planned.

I can still feel Derek's gaze on us. But I didn't care. I grab Adrian around the neck, hugging him, tight. Adrian wraps his arms around my waist, hugging me tight. In this moment I know, we both would have sacrificed ourselves to save the other. Caring about someone is more than just loving them. It was sacrificing yourself to save the other, it was making sure nothing bad happened because you don't know what you would do without that person.

After letting go, Adrian moves around me, walking over to Derek, to hear the plan. I stay behind, not wanting to be involved at the moment. I would be filled in soon. I needed to talk to my sisters. I know I was still upset with them, but somehow going into the lion's den, was much worse. And I didn't want to make it worse by being mad at them. So I motion Chloe and Riley over. They both walk together, stepping in front of me. I didn't want to stay angry anymore. We were going to be going into the belly of the beast soon, and I wanted to make sure they knew I loved them.

"Listen, I'm sorry, I get that you want to trust her and that you forgave her, but I just can't, and maybe someday I'll understand, but right now I just don't," I said. Chloe nods once, Riley looks at Chloe, and then back at me.

"We get that mom came in at the wrong time, and we would never let her take the place of you, I mean you raised us, she didn't, and we would not be grateful for you, we would never put her above you Addie, you were our mother, for a long time, I get that sh hurt you, she hurt us, but a part of moving on is forgiving those who hurt you, we don't trust her, but we forgave her, so we could move on," Riley says. She was always smart and caring. But when she said something she meant it.

"Yeah Addie, we could never let anyone replace you, you gave us what they didn't, a home, love, trust, and a parent, we could never not be grateful, You are more than a sister, you were our mom for years, and no one is going to come in and take that right from you," Chloe says, reaching for my hand. I take it, Riley takes my other hand, and then they grab each other's hand.

"We love you, Addie, so much," Riley said. We all grab each other in a hug, not wanting to let go. I knew two boys in particular were nodding to each other, glad that we weren't fighting anymore. And I knew my mother was watching, If it did hurt her, I didn't care. She earned her place as second best, in this case, worst.

"So," Chloe says letting me go and looking over to Adrian.

"Adrian huh? He is so nice looking, and Italian, I say go for it," She says. Riley shakes her head smiling and looks at me.

"Seriously though, he is gorgeous and that dinner, amazing, he has it all Addie, and he cares for you, maybe more than Wes or Derek did, he was willing to let you carry a gun," Riley says. I had forgotten about giving Adrian the gun. When we were told Damien was not there, I handed it off to him.

"True, Derek never wanted me to use one, always afraid I would lose my humanity, but honestly, Adrian has brought me back down to earth so many times, and more than Derek or Wes, he's zen, you know?"

"We know, the way he calmed you down in the dining hall, that was something I had never seen, he COULD be the one for you, Addie, I know you still love Derek, but maybe you should give Adrian a chance to show you what real trust and real love looks like, you deserve to be treated better than anyone, you took all of his bull shit for months, and rescued him, all to be broken up with afterward, Adrian is super nice," Chloe says. I nod, looking over at Adrian.