(18): Dangerous Man

"Okay, Chelsea, I think you're gonna cut my blood circulation" Nicholas yelps "What's going on? Why are you holding me so tightly? Don't tell me you're falling for me"

Ha-ha.

I didn't realize how strong my hold was getting so I slightly ease it up "Uh sorry. It's just- Kyle told me to be careful"

"What? Why?"

"Big Ben is here" I say barely above a whisper.

Nick's eyes widen "What? And Kyle let you stay here?"

"He didn't want to" I quickly defend "But he said Big Ben would probably follow me home anyways so it's better if I'm with you guys"

"Are you okay, though?" Nick asks softly.

I shrug indifferent "Doesn't matter. Can we focus on the race now?"

I'm not trying to be rude, I just don't like talking about it.

As always, the blue car which belongs to Kyle is first, with approximately five more laps to go. The crowd is just excited and cheerful as they always are at the result; I'm guessing most of them betted on him. Nathan's green one is involved in an epic battle with a silver one that I never noticed the last time.

He's always fighting for second place, huh?

I can't help but look around for Big Ben, it's not that I want to see him I just can't help myself. A man as big as him would be hard not to noticing, leaving me with the conclusion that he's either hiding or he left.

Hopefully the latter.

I just want to have a good time with all my friends without worrying. Apparently that's too much to ask for this new life I've been exposed to.

"Hello? Why do you look like a zombie?" Kathrine asks, appearing from God knows where. I could hear her screaming Nathan's name though.

She's that loud.

"Leave the girl alone" Winnie defends, probably knowing my state of mind.

Kat gives me a look as if to say 'oh so you two are speaking now?' I give her one back that says 'I'll explain later'.

We communicate with our eyes sometimes.

Kat sighs "I hope Nathan gets second place. That dumbass silver car is just not giving up"

"It was like this the last time too and he got it in the final lap. Don't give up" Nico tries to reassure. I nod to try and act like I'm also giving the same advice. She was going to expect me to say something.

"Hey, do you guys know where Dee went? I haven't seen her since the race started" Winnie asks worriedly.

I also haven't actually.

"Oh yeah. I forgot to tell you that she left. She said she had an emergency" Kat informs her forgetfully. "Sorry, I really thought I told you"

Winnie just hums, looking a mixture of thoughtful and annoyed "Okay, thanks"

Dee is playing a dangerous game here. Sooner or later, Kyle is going to lose his patience and tell Winnie himself.

Before we can all dwell any longer on the suspicious acting Dee, the half naked girl waves the flag that signals that it's the last round. The racers pick up their speed, Kyle included even though he's easily winning. The crowd gets louder and my anxiety just bubbles. Who knows what will happen when the race is over? I think I just want to leave immediately.

Regardless, I find myself cheering a faint "Go Kyle"

I know he said he didn't need my support, but here it is.

Kat seems to hear because she says "I think you should be cheering for Nathan because Kyle is obviously going to win"

"Go, Nathan" I cheer to make her happy.

She grins and then joins me. This seems to work because her boyfriend does end up finishing second place, causing her to jump all over the show. "Woo! It worked!"

I can't help but smile at the sight.

"She definitely is his biggest cheerleader, huh?" Nick muses looking at my best friend "I wonder who's Kyle's"

Probably some girl he had sex with the last week. Actually Angeline has been the only one in a long time... or so I think. Sometimes I hear him come to the apartment really late. Maybe he takes his conquests elsewhere now. At least that means he's starting to gain a bit of respect for me by not doing it in the house.

Kyle and Nathan then both appear, looking kind of flustered. Kat immediately runs to her boyfriend, enveloping him in a hug and laying kisses all over his face.

"I think it's best if we all leave now" Kyle announces.

"What? Why?" Nathan asks.

Oh yeah, him and his girlfriend/my best friend still don't know about the altercations that have been going on with Zorro and his goons.

I don't think I want them to.

"You guys can stay if you want to" Nick suggests when Kyle has no explanation "But the rest of us are very much exhausted"

Kat looks at me suspiciously "You are?"

I nod under her questioning gaze "Yep. Long week, you know? Plus you said I looked like a zombie so I probably need all the sleep I can get"

This seems to convince her enough because she just shrugs "Okay. But I think we're gonna leave too. I don't like this place unless I'm drunk"

"Okay I'll see you tomorrow" I hug her.

Nick, Kyle and Winnie then wave at them before we make our way to Kyle's car. I'm guessing Nick is going to crash at Winnie's again because there's no way we're driving all the way to campus.

Which is where he lives by the way.

"I didn't see any signs of him" I say.

"Why were you even looking for him?" Winnie scowls unimpressed. We're both in the backseat and Nick is in the passenger with Kyle obviously driving.

"I saw him leave just before the starting flag was waved" Kyle informs.

I can hear Nick sigh "Dude you should seriously speak to your father. This shit is getting out of control"

"You don't think I know that?" Kyle snaps.

"So are you gonna talk to him then?" Winnie asks demandingly in the same voice that Kyle used to snap at Nick.

"Jesus, fine I will" He replies exasperated.

"Now would be the perfect time to fill me in, ya know" I blurt after we're enveloped in a tight silence.

"No" Kyle replies harshly "And you two can't tell her either or so help me God"

So they do know.

"Why not? I want to know" I demand.

Winnie puts a hand on my shoulder "It's just safer if you don't"

"Safe? Safe?" I snap angrily "I don't know what that word means anymore, remember? I'm constantly paranoid the whole fucking time and the three of you won't even tell me anything"

Winnie just frown sadly next to me.

"We will tell you when the time is right" Is the only thing Kyle says. We drive in silence until we reach the apartments with me taking very deep breaths to try and calm down.

We exit the car and walk up the few flights of stairs. Our room is two doors before Winnie's so they wait for us to enter first.

Wait... something is weird.

"Hey, we locked before we left, right?" Kyle also seems to notice. The door wasn't locked when he pushed it open.

I nod, my heartbeat quickening "Yeah. I watched you lock"

"Someone was in here" Nick says dreadfully.

Oh my gosh.

"You have got to be fucking kidding me" Kyle mutters agitates "Wait here while I go make sure they're not still in"

Winnie puts an arm around me because she can see that I'm scared. Nick just keeps telling me not to worry which doesn't really help at all.

A few minutes later, Kyle comes back with a note and shows it to us.

It's either you or the girl.

Time is ticking.

"I'm 'the girl', aren't I?" I gulp.

"It doesn't matter" Kyle replies "I'm going home tomorrow. The man has officially lost his mind"

"I'll come with you" Nick offers.

"Chels can stay at my apartment until you guys are back" Winnie offers too.

"Okay then it's settled" Kyle nods looking exhausted "I think we should all get some sleep for now"

"Okay, goodnight you guys" Nick and Winnie bid before walking to Winnie's room.

I hesitantly enter the apartment, slightly shaking and then Kyle locks behind me "Am I gonna die?"

"No. Why would you say that?" He scowls.

"Your father sounds like a very dangerous man" I reply pouring myself a glass of water and gulping it all down.

"He is but he won't kill you"

"Promise?"

He rolls his eyes "Yes, I promise"

I let out a small relieved smile. He doesn't look like the type to break promises "Okay, I'm going to sleep now"

"Err" He scratches the back of his neck awkwardly and I look at him curiously "Don't like, do something weird in there, okay?"

Apology, again?

I giggle shaking my head "Kyle. I won't kill myself. How many times must I tell you this?"

"I'm just making sure" He puts his hands up in surrender, looking amused too.

"I promise I won't" I laugh.

"Okay, good"

I smile walking away "Night"

"Night, Chelsea-Anne"

And just like that, I forget about the terror I felt at first.

Weird.

***

I can't sleep.

I keep tossing and turning. I slept just fine at first until a nightmare woke me up. Something about a snake chasing me. It was very scary. But at least it wasn't about Zorro or Big Ben.

I sigh, retracting my phone from the nightstand and playing a game to try and wear me out so I can actually sleep.

And then something crosses my mind.

I remember Nicholas mentioning Kyle's father's full name. Maybe I should search him on google. If those three musketeers won't tell me anything, then I guess google is my last resort.

I do just that. 'Jefferson Chambers' I type in and wait anticipatingly and dreadfully for the results. I don't think I'll like what I find.

I don't know how many times I click 'next page' because of all the useless articles I'm getting which have nothing to do with Kyle's father. I'm close to saying 'fuck it' and just sleeping until I reach what I think is the 15th page.

Jefferson Chambers, owner of Chambers Insurance and many other businesses, arrested for fraud.

Oh my gosh! He's an ex-convict?!

Jefferson Chambers, who was facing 10 or more years, released as victims suddenly drop charges.

'Suddenly'? Did he do something to get them to? Something dangerous?

Jefferson Chambers yet again deep in with the law. Police are trying to investigate a murder which may be linked to him. There is no evidence yet but police are convinced he is behind it.

I gape in fear and shock. Every time I try to click on the full article, it says that the site has been closed down. I'm not surprised, it did take me a long time to find them. I'm thinking that no one was supposed to. Although, most of them are from more than 4 years ago, I can't help but feel scared still.

I was right, his dad is dangerous.

Is this what Kyle meant by 'dirty money'? Is his dead running an illegal and dangerous business? Oh my gosh.

The most recent article is from 2 years ago.

Riley Jane Chambers, daughter of Jefferson Chambers, reported missing by her father, mother and 2 brothers.

What?! Kyle has a sister?

This is from 2 years ago! Why aren't there any new reports that say she has been found?

Oh my gosh, this was such a bad idea.

Oh no no no. Why did I do this? What am I supposed to do with all this information? I can't ask Kyle; he'll kill me and what I've done is very much an invasion of privacy (even though it's all over the internet). I can't ask Winnie or Nick, they've made it pretty clear that they wouldn't tell me anything Kyle related.

What am I supposed to do?

I've just found out two very shocking things:

1) Kyle's father is an ex-convict who is linked to a murder.

2) Kyle has a sister and she is missing.

If that's the case then shouldn't they be a united front now more than ever? Making each other feel better since their sister and daughter is missing? Why are they fighting so much?

My head hurts from all this thinking.

I remember passing out thinking what a bad idea this all was.

I hate the internet.

***

What do you guys think about everything?

Anyone have a clue or idea what Kyle's father does/did?

(tbh I don't either. I'm still trying to think it out 😂)

Let me know in the comments. ❤️