Betrayal - The Matlock Pack: Book Two

Chapter 12_Part 2 - Bells

Friday 22 January

~*Bells*~

“Who’s there?” I called out, but there was no response.

My eyes searched the bushes to the left of me, but I couldn’t see anything in the darkness. I put my hand behind me to guide Kadin in a circle so we could rotate together. “Anything on your side, Kade?” My words were soft, just loud enough for her to hear.

“Not that I can see,” she muttered in response, as she turned with me. “We’re sitting ducks here. We need to move.”

“Which way?” We kept moving, constantly searching for any sign of attack. Another twig snapped, this time from the other side of the pathway.

I felt Kadin startle, but she kept her focus. “We’re closer to Building Two, but there’d be more people around at The Gap. It’s your call.”

“Building Two. From there, it’s a straight run to Takeshi at the packhouse.” I could only pray that he was in his office. Chances were high that he was still there, but what if now was one of those rare times he wasn’t?

“On go?”

“Go.” We immediately broke apart and fled for Building Two.

The sounds of branches being torn apart erupted, but neither Kadin nor I looked behind us while we ran. We pounded the walkway as we raced each other back to safety, not stopping at all until we made it to the well-lit safety of the foyer area of Building Two.

Only once we were well inside the foyer did we stop for breath.

“What the f**k…” Kadin was panting heavily from the mad dash back. She placed her hands on her knees and heaved for each breath.

I scrambled for the glass doors and locked them with shaking hands, before retreating to the centre of the lobby where Kadin was standing. We couldn’t see out of the doors or surrounding windows because of the reflection of the interior lights on the glass.

We both jumped when the window to the right of the door shattered. Tiny glass shards flew towards us, but because the window was made with safety glass, it didn’t collapse, instead holding together from whatever had been thrown at it.

“Jesus, Bells! What the f**k?!” Kadin yelled, taking a step backwards away from the windows.

I held my hands up in front of me in a vain attempt to ward off our pursuers. I held my ground in front of Kadin, but still far enough away from the windows so I could dart away if anyone got through.

Kadin ran over to the lobby console and grabbed the phone. “Come on, come on, pick—Takeshi! We’re under attack! Building Two!” She threw the phone down, not caring if it landed back in its cradle and darted back to my side, holding her fists in front of her, ready to start swinging at anyone who came through the glass.

“What’s going on?”

Kadin and I both jumped and turned around to see Murph behind us with wide eyes. As soon as she knew who had spoken, Kadin turned her attention back to the windows, her hands still up, curled into fists.

I shifted my right hand across to stop Murph from moving any further towards us. “Hold, Murph.” My back was to Kadin, my arms outstretched in opposite directions, my head constantly moving back and forth to make sure whoever was doing this didn’t blindside us.

Light suddenly flooded the courtyard on the other side of the windows, letting us finally see outside, yet neither Kadin nor I eased our stance.

It wasn’t until we saw Takeshi, Kennedy, Kelly, Charlie, and Casey run into the courtyard that we started relaxing. Takeshi pointed back down the walkway to The Gap, and Kelly and Kennedy took off, tearing their clothes off in order to shift. Takeshi pointed towards the shattered window emphatically, then ran his fingers through his hair. He looked around the courtyard with a severe look on his face.

Charlie approached the broken window and picked up a large rock that was obviously what had been thrown at the glass. She sniffed it, frowned, then sniffed it again. She turned back to Takeshi and said something to him, to which he placed his hands on his hips and nodded at; his shoulders rising and falling as he let out a huge breath.

As Takeshi made his way towards the door, I walked over to unlock it for him. My hands were shaking so badly it took me three attempts to turn the deadlock.

When I finally pulled the door open, Takeshi came in and put his hands on my shoulders. “Are you okay?” His eyes penetrated mine until I nodded, then he shifted his attention to Kadin behind me. “Kadin? Are you okay? Murph?”

They must have nodded, because he patted me on the shoulders once and stepped to the side to survey the mess. He let out a low, menacing growl as his eyes narrowed, his hands returning to his hips. “What happened?”

I looked over at Kadin, who motioned for me to start talking. “We were coming back from The Gap. Kadin and I were talking when we heard movement, but there was no response when we asked who was there. We made it back here, locked the door, and something was thrown at the window. Then Kadin called you.”

Takeshi looked over at Kadin for confirmation, and she nodded, her hands on her hips. “Murph?”

“Cody and I got back before them. I was on my way home when I heard the window shatter. That’s all I know.” Murph sounded flustered.

I studied him, only to notice that he hadn’t moved since I told him to hold. I stumbled over to him and let my hands rest on his shoulders. “You okay, man?” I looked him straight in the eye to make sure I got through to him.

He nodded slowly, his eyes still wide. “It was them, wasn’t it?”

I swallowed. “I don’t know.” Patting him on the shoulder, I turned to face Takeshi with a raised eyebrow, letting my hands drop to my side.

“Yeah, it was them,” Takeshi admitted angrily. “Charlie scented them.”

My hands started shaking again, so badly that the tremors affected my arms. I crouched down, placing my elbows on my knees, and pressing my hands to my head.

“Can someone please tell me who the f**k that was?” Kadin’s irate voice carried through the foyer. “Why does everyone seem to know who did this except for me?”

Takeshi looked at me before he said anything.

I threw my hands in the air. “It’s gonna come out, eventually. May as well tell her.”

Takeshi nodded, then turned to Kadin. “Tatum and Zelda have been targeting Bells and several others over the past few weeks.” He gestured to the broken window. “This was an escalation of those attacks.”

Kadin frowned as she studied me for confirmation.

Resigned to whatever was going to happen next, I nodded, letting my hands drop down in front of me, but still resting on my knees.

Silence descended on the foyer as no-one moved, all just taking in the events of the night.

“That’s why Murph left at the same time as you. He was going to escort you back…” Kadin said, putting all the pieces together.

I nodded again, completely and utterly miserable again. So much for a pleasant night out.

“This was the first night he’d left Building Two in weeks,” Murph said quietly. “We thought he’d be safe.”

“f**k…” Kadin slumped to the floor, her legs finally giving out on her. “And here I was thinking I had it bad with Uncle Spence and my parents…” She let out a manic laugh.

The door opened and slow, cautious footsteps made their way in. I looked up and saw Nat and Mac standing just inside the door, letting it swing shut behind them. Mac was wide eyed and stunned, while Nat looked around at the mess, seemingly unaffected. She focused on each person in the foyer before letting her eyes rest on me. “I’m assuming they’re back to their old tricks?” she asked patiently, never shifting her focus from me.

I wanted nothing more than to go to her and hold her tight to me, to feel her heart beat next to mine, to ease the anxious adrenaline rushing through my veins. Instead, I simply nodded.

She grimaced, swallowed heavily, then turned to Mac. “Where’s your car?”

Mac blinked before he realised what she’d asked. “Uh… Back at The Gap.” He paused when he looked around. “Why?”

Nat ignored his question, instead turning to Takeshi. “Is he safe to go back there tonight?”

Takeshi nodded. “Casey will escort him.”

Nat nodded and faced Mac, who was still floundering somewhat at the conversation being had about him, but not involving him. “Thank you for a wonderful night. Go straight home. I’ll see you in class on Tuesday.”

Mac shook his head. “It’s Australia Day on Tuesday. No classes.”

“Oh, right.” Nat’s hands scrambled into her pockets until she found her phone. “Give me your number. I’ll call you.”

As soon as Nat looked at him ready, he reeled off his details for her. “Are you okay, Nat? You seem…” he trailed off, not quite knowing what to say.

“I’m fine,” she said, putting her phone back in her pocket. “This is just another day in Matlock.” She turned him around and gently nudged him towards the door. “Once you get back to your car, go straight home. You’ll be safe there.”

“What about you?” He planted his feet to stop her from moving him any further.

“I’ll be fine. No-one’s getting in here.” She resumed her efforts to get him on his way again.

I swallowed my smile. I’d forgotten how stubborn she could be.

Eventually, Nat coaxed Mac out the door and handed him off to Casey. She returned to the foyer and stood near Takeshi, but stayed quiet until Mac was definitely on his way. “Please tell me I didn’t just lie to him,” she muttered, facing Takeshi, but looking directly at me.

Takeshi chuckled. “You didn’t. You’re safe in here.” He looked around the foyer at each of us. No-one had moved an inch since before Nat had walked in. “You’ll all be safest in your rooms.”

I let out a breath I didn’t realise I was holding, then climbed slowly to my feet. I watched Kadin do the same.

“Uh, Takeshi?” Murph raised his hand slightly. “I was going to head home, but my car’s at The Gap. I know I could have gone with Mac and Casey, but if it’s all the same to you, I’d rather stay here until the sun rises. Is that okay?”

“Sure, Murph.” Takeshi scratched his chin in thought. “There are spare rooms on the fourth floor—”

“Don’t bother,” Nat cut him off. “He can stay with either Bells or us.” She looked at Murph. “I’m pretty confident Cody will be okay having you stay in our apartment for the night.”

To his credit, Murph didn’t blush as much as I thought he would. His cheeks did still turn a shade of pink, though. He coughed, then looked at me. I shrugged at him. “Up to you, but if you come up with me, you’ll be getting the couch.”

And there came the expected embarrassed flush I was expecting from him. His entire face turned red as the implications of everyone in the foyer knowing where he would be sleeping tonight if he went with Nat became clear. “Oh… Uh…”

I chuckled and glanced at Nat, who shared my amusement. Her eyes twinkled when they met mine, and we forgot all our previous woes for a moment. “Come on, Murph,” she said, trying desperately to hold in her laughter. “I’ll take you to Cody.” She grabbed him by the elbow and guided him towards the stairs.

I watched with great pleasure as Murph barely fought her. Nat took one last look at me as they went past, her eyes still sparkling with mischief, before they disappeared.

“You two go on up,” Takeshi said, breaking my focus. “We’ll take it from here.” He shepherded Kadin and I towards the stairs as well. “It’s late. Get some sleep. We’ll talk more tomorrow.”

Kadin followed Nat and Murph first, disappearing through the door to the stairs without a word.

I dawdled for a moment, taking in the shattered window one last time. My shoulders slumped as I thought about what had happened over the past hour. “I’m sorry, Takeshi.”

He shook his head at me. “You’ve got nothing to worry about, Bells. This wasn’t your fault.”

I felt my teeth clench as I looked away. Takeshi could repeat that a million times, and I think I’d still believe it was all my fault.

Instead, I nodded stiffly as I left the foyer and headed for my jail-like apartment. “Yeah, I guess.”