Running With a Bad Boy Rewrite || COMPLETE ||

Chapter 23

Zoe

All I could do was stare at the white house. Nothing else was on my mind in this moment except reuniting with my best friend and dragging her from the depressed situation she must be in. The driveway was empty so I was praying she'd be here and when I rang the doorbell I became anxious for some reason. My heart was speeding by the second to the point where I could hear it beating through my ears. The door finally opened revealing Casey with black bags under her green eyes and cheeks painted bright red. When she saw me it took her a few seconds to realize what she was seeing and then she gasped and began to cry.

"Oh my God!" she yelled and pulled me into her, hugging me way too tight. "You bitch! I knew it wasn't true. The stories seemed too fake."

"I am so sorry," I began to let the tears fall while holding her. "I had no other choice, I had to protect everyone else. But I couldn't live with the fact that you had to hear a lie. Please forgive me."

"I'm not mad Zoe. I'm just relieved that you're not dead. This whole time I had a feeling it wasn't true but when you disappeared I didn't know what to think anymore."

"I'm here don't worry," I assured and rubbed her back. "Don't cry anymore." I wiped her tears when we pulled apart and kissed her forehead. I missed her so much even though it wasn't that long we've been apart. It felt like ages though.

"Glad to see you Zoe," a voice stepped into the hallway and I lifted my eyes to meet gazes with Cole.

"I-I needed someone to talk to and I felt like Cole would understand," Casey shrugged but I don't think she understood the danger I was in right now. Because Cole was part of Drake's gang and he knows I'm alive, he could go talking.

"Isn't this awkward?" Cole smirked and I took a step back feeling unsafe, but I backed into a wall. Tilting my head up I spotted Blake grinning like a lunatic. He grabbed my arms and began to walk me forward but I thought quickly and elbowed him in the stomach then I made a run for it.

"Casey run!" I yelled behind me just as I watched Cole reach out and grab her too.

I was about to stop and turn back for her but someone else snatched me and covered my mouth with their hand. Brandon tightened a hold on my squirming body and dragged me back inside with Blake's help. I was seated in the living room on the couch while Cole restrained Casey's wrists together with hand cuffs, then threw her next to me. I grabbed her face with my hands to look at her.

"Shit Zoe I'm sorry, I didn't know this was going to happen. I didn't even know those two were out there!"

"It's fine," I whispered and placed a finger over her lips. "Whatever they do don't fight it because it will make it worse. They're here for me."

She only nodded and I saw her eyes swelling with more tears.

"So," Cole began and sat at the other couch, leaning forward. "You lied about your death. Does that mean Hunter is still alive as well?"

"I don't have to answer to you!" I spat. Brandon reached over and slapped the back of my head rather hard. I sobered myself from flashing up and punching him.

"You're right," Cole continued. "You don't have to answer to me, but you will have to answer to the boss. I'm just trying to make it easier for you."

"Why are you doing this?" I whined and Cole smiled then shrugged.

"He pays good," was all he said then looked up at the boys.

They both grabbed me again and I tried to scream but they shoved cloth into my mouth to mute me. I tried to wiggle free and Casey stood to run after me but she was stopped by Cole grabbing her again. He then slapped her so hard across the cheek that she fell to the ground with her eyes closed. I tried screaming out her name but it was muffled, and then she was out of sight when I was carried outside. Cole slammed the door behind him and walked with us to a car parked down the street a little way. How the hell was no one looking out their windows and seeing this?