"Carter... who were you talking with last night

and why did you actually sound like you were threatening someone's life?" I stated while taking a small bite of my pancakes.

It was 10am when we decided to leave our bed against our wills. I slept like a baby with Carter always spooning me and holding me tightly. I could still remember the sensation of his lips giving small pecks on my shoulder to wake me up in a peaceful and delicious way.

"Maybe I was?" Carter half joked. We were sitting on a couch occupying the living room with a tray of breakfast separating us. I turned my eyes off the movie we were watching before swallowing.

"Elle. This masked motherfucker hurt you last time! What do you think I'll do once I'm facing him? What do you think I'll do to someone bullying my girl? He will get what he fucking deserves." Carter replied before standing up and heading to the kitchen. I was automatically following him when a picture hanging on the wall made me stop on my tracks.

On the old picture were three kids playing in a garden, one of the kids was crossing his arms while he watched the kid on his right playing with a few toys. The kid on his left was smiling and waving at the camera.

"Is that you?" I asked after clearing my voice, pointing my finger to the boy with his arms crossed. Even as young as he was he looked pretty intimidating.

"Yes," Carter whispered before surprising me by circling my waist with his arms.

"And Madden?" I replied before leaning into him. All I got was a nod. I stared at the other kid, the one at his left and tried to guess who he was.

"He was my cousin, Hunter King. We were the same age..." Carter started before loosing up his hold on me and taking a few steps back. I glanced at him as he ran violently his fingers on his dark hair.

"He died two years ago in a car accident. He loved illegal races, it was his heroin. He was good at it to be honest but one day it didn't go well. It was fucking thundering so I told him not to do it but he never gave a fuck about other people's opinion." He closed his eyes while taking a deep breath before continuing in a lower voice:

"He had an accident... and didn't survive."

My heart was pounding on my rib age as my fingers played with the hem of my t-shirt.

"It's not your fault! Please don't blame yourself! Carter!" I took the remaining steps forward until there was no distance left between our chests and took my hand on his before kissing his palm.

"It's... maybe if I had stopped him. He would still be alive! When I got his text I was fucking partying at Sawyer's celebrating the end of the school year. I fuckin-" I stopped him with my finger placed on his lips before bellowing:

"It. Wasn't. Your. Fault! He was addicted to racing as you said so I'm sure you wouldn't have stopped him even if you tried! It was his choice that night! He was aware of the danger that night! It wasn't your fault, Carter! " I repeated before holding his face with my small hands. Carter inhaled after shaking his head.

"You're right." He finally muttered after kissing my lips. His phone beeped making our little trance stop. He took it out of his pocket before winking at me.

"Yes?"A laugh escaped his appealing lips as he looked at me." What the fuck? She really did it?"

"You made the right choice! Her parents would have hyperventilated if they saw her like that... you know them." Carter uttered the last few words.

"Carter! Who is that??" I commented as his conversation was starting to make me suspicious.

"I will see you later, Vaughn. Take care of her." He concluded after a while and I automatically crossed my arms while biting my lip.

"To sum up last night they went to a bar after the game and Nicole decided to get drunk." Carter confessed between laughs as my eyes widened and I literally shocked on my saliva. Nicole... my friend Nicole Reed?

"What? Why would she do that? She doesn't drink! I'm shocked! I can't believe that! Why didn't they bring her back home as planned?" I interrogated with anger.

"She told them she wouldn't mind coming with them. Elle, babe chill! He will take care of her."

"What? What? Who are you talking about? Don't tell me you're talking about Vaughn!!! Is she at Vaughn's? Oh my lord! I should have called her last night. Look what a shitty friend I am! I have to call her ASAP!" I was so ashamed and confused. I really had to save my friend from her tormentor.

"Elle. Look at me. She's fine! Vaughn will never hurt her, she's in good hands. If I trust him then you have to trust me." He begged with his hands holding my wrists. I didn't know Vaughn too well but I witnessed how he threatened her at school. But I had to trust Carter, Vaughn was his best friend so he knew him more than anyone else.

"She's asleep at his house now. It would be a bad idea bringing her home knowing her parents would probably be there. He sent a text with her phone to her parents saying she was sleeping at your house. Now get dressed we have to go to Nate's." He slapped my ass before I could nod.

___

Carter brought me home to take fresh clothes and feed Cali, Carter took him out while I changed. At 11:30 we finally arrived at our destination.

"Wow! His house is so gorgeous!" I admired as we entered Nate's castle without knocking. I followed Carter, who had our hands glued, until we reached a wonderful living room. My eyes caught sight of Sawyer and Nate as soon as we stepped in.

"Hi! I thought you weren't coming!" Sawyer announced as he smoked a joint while typing on his phone.

"Morning!" I bellowed still holding Carter's hand and tried to focus on the decorations of the room to avoid the boys' questioning looks.

"Hi. What's up? Jason should be here in a few," Carter added before joining the guys on the couch. I carefully sat on his right side before crossing my legs.

"My phone still doesn't give any signal so he must have broken it after last night." Nathan was referencing to the masked man.

"Carter... who is Jason?" I finally found my voice before elbowing him.

"He's a friend, he's going to help us finding he masked man. After all he's a good hacker so let's hope he will be able to find something." Carter articulated and all I gave him was a nod, I really hoped he would find something. Anything would help our situation.

"I'm so dumb! I should have known it wasn't you!" I mumbled as I stared at Nate and my phone started beeping before Nate could reply. My hands were trembling as I reached it out of my pocket. I exhaled before smiling to myself when I saw Maddie's number.

"Who is that?" Carter growled before approaching his ear to my phone.

"Hi Maddie!" I answered.

"Elle! Oh my fucking god!! How are you? Why didn't you tell me sooner? We have to do something!" Maddie shouted. While heading to Nate's I decided to tell Lila and Maddie the late events. Lila was shocked to hear it so she decided to take the first plane direction back home. I decided to be honest with them and tell everything that happened since I arrived , they deserved the truth. All of them were in danger. To be honest Lila was hurt I hadn't told her sooner and I could completely understand.

"Calm down Maddie! I'm safe now. We will find the person behind those texts." I elaborated while watching Nate taking the joint from Sawyer's fingers.

I was about to check my phone, thinking she hang up when I heard her small voice close to tears:

"What... what if it's him?"

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