Page 288 of Fame & Chaos

Tortured.

Held for ransom.

All while I’d been celebrating the happiest day of my life.

A wave of guilt crashes through me… some fucking cousin I am.

I should’ve been there.

I should’ve…

I stand abruptly and begin pacing the room. My chest tightens until every breath feels too small, and anger floods through me so fast it almost hurts.

How could anyone do that to Annie?

My eyes land on my guitar, and without thinking…

I grab it.

With a roar that tears itself from my chest, I hurl it at the wall.

Wood explodes against the plasterboard.

The crack echoes through the house.

“Caleb!” Indi’s scream is followed by pounding footsteps.

The shattered guitar slips from my fingers onto the floor as I turn toward the bedroom door.

She rushes in, her eyes darting from the wreckage…

…to me.

And she freezes.

A tear slides down my cheek, and I don’t even try to wipe it away.

“Oh my God.” She rushes across the room. “Caleb, what happened?” She notices the broken guitar but doesn’t even acknowledge it. Instead, she cups my face, searching my eyes while I struggle to pull air into my lungs.

“Baby… talk to me.” Her voice trembles. “You’re scaring me.”

I lower my head. “Annie’s birth m-mother…” My voice catches.

Indi waits. “Yeah?”

I force the words out. “She kidnapped her.” I swallow hard. “Tortured her…

“Drugged her…

“Held her for ransom.

“It all happened while we were away.”

Her hand flies to her mouth. “Oh my God… is Annie okay?”

I nod weakly. “She’s in the hospital.” I rake a hand through my hair. “Broken thumb.” I shake my head. “And God knows what else.”

Without another word, Indi wraps her arms around me, and I hold on to her as tightly as she holds on to me.