Trapped (Bullied Book 4) (Bullied Series) Vera Hollins (best large ereader txt) 📖

Sarah said. “He rushed into the gym and shouted that we needed to call the cops because you and Blake had been taken away, and Principal Aguda called 911. We immediately came here when we heard you were found.”

So the whole school knew about it. It was no wonder there were reporters outside who were trying to enter the hospital to get the scoop.

“I still can’t believe it,” Marcus said. “I thought that student was pranking us.”

“You can imagine Mrs. Aguda’s expression when she heard what he said,” Mel said. “We were at an anti-bullying festival while her students got kidnapped right under her nose! I can already see her organizing an anti-kidnapping festival to make sure this doesn’t happen again.”

“What happened there?” Sar asked with concern on her face that doubled the pain simmering inside me.

“Is it true that Blake died and was brought back to life?” Marcus asked, his eyes wide.

My chest hurt. I didn’t want to remember that moment. I didn’t ever want to talk about that moment.

“It’s true, but let’s talk about that later.” I continued toward Blake’s room. “I’m on my way to see him.”

“We’ve seen him,” Sarah said, walking in step with me.

“You have? How is he?”

“Hayden, Masen, and Steven are with him now. He’s awake, and he’s okay. He asked for you.”

My tears blurred my vision. “He did?” I quickened my steps. I wanted to pull him into my embrace and never let go of him. I felt like it had been weeks since I’d last seen him, and my legs couldn’t carry me fast enough.

“Yep. He even cried tears of joy for you and ordered a hundred bouquets of red roses to be delivered to your doorstep,” Mel said, pressing her hand against her chest dramatically.

I rolled my eyes at her. “Really now?”

She looked at me solemnly. “Cross my heart and never hope to die.”

Kev adjusted his glasses. “He was t-talking to the officers when we saw him.”

“The guys who did this to you are in for a very long time in prison,” Marcus said.

I truly hoped so. Unlike Bobby Q, who was in custody now, Lawrence and Isaac had been rushed to the hospital, but they were under surveillance and would be transferred to jail.

I was relieved Lawrence hadn’t died. Blake’s knife had ruptured his liver, but the paramedics had managed to treat him before he bled out. As for Isaac, the bullet had hit his spleen, but it wasn’t fatal, even though he’d lost a lot of blood. They were both going to recover, but I wanted them to receive the highest punishment.

My heartbeat quickened when we reached Blake’s floor.

“I love you,” he’d said.

His words ricocheted through my mind like fireworks, alleviating the pain. He’d managed to break out of hatred and love me back. We’d managed to find a way to each other. And now that the nightmare was over, we were finally free to get a new beginning.

I didn’t bother knocking, losing my breath when I wrenched the door open and found him lying in the hospital bed with bandages covering his head. He was smiling as Steven talked, and the sight almost made the ball of tension in me burst. For a painful moment, I saw him get shot, fall to the floor, and remain motionless in a heap of blood. My body swayed on my unstable feet as my vision blurred once again.

He’s alive. Alive.

His gaze met mine, and a sharp pang hit my chest. I was barely aware of everyone around us. I was barely aware of anything as I rushed to him, grabbed his shoulders, and pressed my lips to his like he was going to dissolve at any moment.

He responded immediately, his arms wrapping around me and pulling me in so that I was sitting against him as his lips molded to mine. I held him tighter, ignoring the pain in my abdomen, the intoxicating taste of him rolling over my tongue. I love you, I love you, I love you.

“Let’s give them some privacy,” I thought I heard Sarah say, but I couldn’t be sure because I was so lost in him.

The sounds of retreating footsteps filled the room, but we never broke our kiss. I couldn’t stop the tears from pouring out, both happy and sad. All I needed was for us to find some sense after everything we’d been through.

He surprised me when he cupped my cheeks and kissed my tear away, and then another, and then one more. My heart was so full of him.

“You died. You actually died right in front of me, and I thought I lost you forever,” I cried out, clinging to his shoulders.

“You didn’t lose me. You’ll never lose me.”

His fervent words hammered happiness into me, and more tears poured out, soaking my whole face.

“How do you feel? Does your head hurt?”

“Yeah, but it’s nothing serious.”

I let out a strangled chuckle. “Nothing serious. The bullet grazed your head. I can’t believe how lucky you were. So lucky.” I chuckled again and again, feeling like I was on the verge of hysteria.

“Hey.” He peered into my eyes with a crushing softness in his gaze. “Hey, I’m okay. It’s strange since that bullet didn’t do any damage other than leaving a nasty scar, but I think I’ll be able to live with that.”

He winked and smiled at me, but I didn’t return it, tracing each inch of his face with my eyes. He was covered in bruises and small cuts, and it hurt just looking at them.

“Are you okay?” he asked me.

“I’m fine.”

He shook his head. “You’re not okay. Come here.” He pulled me against his shoulder, snaking his arms around me, and I sank into him, seeking his comfort and warmth like it was the only thing that could keep me sane at the moment. I shook as I shed silent tears.

“I’m here,” he whispered into my hair as he stroked it. “It’s over now, and it’s going to be okay.”

I clutched his shoulder. “I’m