Caught In You: A BWWM Romance (The Token Black Friend Series Book 2)

by Nia Arthurs

“Who?” He chuckles. “If it’s Kaz, I don’t—”

  “Grace.”

  He goes silent.

  “I know you and Monique know where to find her.” Sucking in a deep breath, I beg. “Look, Doc. I made the same mistake again, but I can’t make this one right unless I fix the first one.” I lower my voice. “Where is Grace?”

  Fifteen minutes later, I drive up the coast to a small town. Following Doc’s directions, I head up a grassy hill and stop at a small cemetery. The plot overlooks the sprawling ocean. Sunlight filters through the trees offering shade.

  I step hesitantly toward Grace’s grave and fall to my knees at her tombstone. “Hi.” The wind gently tugs at my hair. I swallow hard and gaze out at the sunset. “You must have the best view of the storms from here.”

  My heart cracks open and all the emotions I’ve been pushing down charges out of me. Reaching out, I lay down the flowers I’d bought for her. “I’m here, Grace,” I whisper. “I’m sorry it took me this long to show up.”

  A ray of light eases over the horizon and falls across my face. Closing my eyes, I think of Grace—her light, her laughter, her big blue eyes—and I let her go.

  After, I get up and return to the lab.

  My gaze snags on the portal.

  To the doorway that leads to another world. To Kaz.

  With determination, I fling myself behind the computer and get to work.

  31

  Conroy

  I slap on the motorcycle gloves, attaching the straps until they’re tight against my wrists. Shrugging on the black leather jacket, I zip it up and stride confidently into the hallway.

  Yvette dips her head. “Sir.”

  “Is Kaz through?”

  “From what we can tell, she went in.”

  I arch an eyebrow. “Alone?”

  If that knucklehead scientist chased after her, I'm really going to have to kill him.

  “Yes, she was alone.” Yvette hands a tablet over to me. “We were able to extrapolate the calculations we needed.”

  “Did it work?”

  “Yes.”

  “Don’t look so proud.” I gesture to the extravagant lab around us. “With all this technology available at your fingertips, you couldn’t beat a few measly scientists in a garage.”

  “Sir?”

  “They told me I’d gathered the best minds in the country.” I face her. “But the compliments were grossly over-exaggerated.”

  Her eyebrows pull together. “I believe that, if we weren’t under such a strict time limit—”

  “Are you blaming your incompetence on me?”

  Her eyes widen. “No, sir. Of course not.”

  “Forget it, Yvette. Just make sure there are no more mistakes.” I shove the tablet into her stomach. “If this doesn’t work, I will see to it that you are removed from this world,” I lean down and whisper in her ear, “in the most painful way possible.”

  She gulps audibly. “Yes, sir.”

  “Roderick!”

  “Yes, sir.” My butler steps out of the shadows and approaches me.

  He’s wearing his usual—a crisp white button-down shirt and tailored black pants with a crease that was ironed to perfection. He looks like a gentleman while I more resemble a thug in my jacket and boots.

  “What do you think?” I do a slow spin.

  “I miss the beard, sir.”

  My fingers rise to grip my chin. It’s strange not feeling the usual rasp of stubble, but I made sure to shave again to fit Kaz’s tastes. “So do I.”

  “Are you sure about this?” Roderick asks.

  “Of course.”

  “Sir, you’re putting your life at risk to step into that thing.” He points to the doorway outfitted in the middle of the white lab.

  Scientists circle the machine, attaching wires to the base and along the threshold.

  “He’ll be fine.” Yvette forces a smile. “We’ve already sent a tester ahead.”

  “See?” I arch an eyebrow.

  “But has that tester returned?”

  Her eyes fall to the ground.

  “Sir,” Roderick’s voice climbs in pitch, “I highly advise against this.”

  “We expect contact any minute,” Yvette says.

  “I’m the one pushing for us to move now, Roderick.” I clasp his shoulder. “I accept all the risks that comes with it.”

  He shakes his head.

  Yvette leads us closer to the doorway. Gesturing to it, she explains, “Our problem was simple. We were trying to access the world Kaz had escaped into.” Yvette holds up the tablet and swipes to a diagram with many earths. “We are here.” She swipes. "And the world we’ve been spying on is here.”

  “But you said he’d be going to that third earth,” Roderick snaps.

  I hold up a hand to silence him.

  “Yes.” Yvette swipes her thumb across the screen and a poster for The Heirs of Brighton Academy appears.

  My pulse quickens on sight. “Kaz.”

  A memory of that glorious moment I first saw her overtakes me.

  “Roderick, what kind of nonsense is this?” I bellowed, picking up my remote to turn off the television.

  “It was sent by the lab, sir. They claim it’s footage of a mirror earth.”

  “A what?” I snarled at him. “What nonsense is that. I’m paying them to make me money, not to spend it on nonsense. Cut off funding at once. We can use that money elsewhere.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  “And bring the head of the lab to me. I need to teach her a lesson.”

  “You’re going to kill her, sir? If so, should I prepare the cleaning crew?”

  “I haven’t decided yet. It depends on what she says when I speak to her.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  As Roderick withdrew from the screen room, something on the television caught my eye. A man sharing my face was on the screen. He was pushing away a small woman with dark brown skin, thick, curly hair and the most beautiful eyes I’d ever seen.

  “Miles, I love you,” the darling creature said to my lookalike.

  “Kaz, I told you to ignore me when we’re at school.”

  “How can I ignore my own fiancé?”

  He snarled. “Use that tiny brain you have to figure it out.”

  “Roderick!” I yelled, hardly believing my eyes.

  A moment later, he appeared in front of me. “Sir? I’ve already summoned—”

  “Look at that.”

  He turned and stiffened. “Sir, isn’t that… you?”

  “Yes.” I eased to the edge of my seat as the camera focused on Kaz’s tearful brown eyes.

  Something inside my chest fell apart. I felt as I did the first day my father took me out into the woodlands to kill. Like something precious was in the palm of my hands. Like it belonged there. For me to choose if it would live or die.

  But this time, I didn't want to kill.

  I wanted to possess and protect.

  My fingers dug into the arms of the chair. “I want her.” I licked my lips. “Play her scene again.”

  That day, Roderick played the movie ten times. The eleventh, I asked him to step outside so that I might have privacy.

  As I thought of the moment I would have Kaz in my arms, my imagination carried me away until I was desperate for her.

  It feels like my entire life has been building to this moment. Before I saw Kaz, I was on a restless path, wreaking havoc and destruction. With one look into her tearful brown eyes, I found heaven.

  This day was long overdue.

  Roderick turns to me, a worried look on his dark face. “Sir, I strongly advise against this.”

  “It’s not your decision to make,” I say, mounting the steps to the portal.

  Roderick tips his chin up and stares at me in consternation. “Your mother would roll in her grave if she knew you were doing something so dangerous.”

  “My mother believed in the power of love.” I narrow my eyes. “Why else would she marry a monster like my f
ather?”

  Roderick clips his mouth shut. We both know that he can no longer manipulate me using my mother as his prod. I’ve outgrown that tactic and it’s a clear sign that he’s grasping at straws.

  A rumbling beneath my feet has me looking at Yvette. She tips her glasses up and nods at me. “Sir, we’re ready.”

  “What if you can’t come out, sir?”

  “Then I’ll conquer that world.” I shrug. “With Kaz by my side.”

  A loud shriek erupts from the machine and, slowly, a purple-black vortex opens up in front of me. Heavy winds batter my jacket, pushing at me as if warning me to stay away.

  With a determined grin, I take a step into the doorway.

  Into my future.

  Into love.

  32

  Kaz

  The portal sucks me in and throws me into a pulsing vortex. I’ve never felt such a strong pull in my life and I close my eyes, holding back a scream of fear.

  In the blink of an eye, the portal spits me out into a cramped room. Streams of sunlight poke through the holes in the wooden slats.

  I glance around, trying to figure out where I am. I know I’m not in the garage any longer. There’s no Pavel. No McCarthy.

  My heart spins frantically as I search for any familiar signs. There are cobwebs on the wall and dust piled up in the corner. This is, obviously, not a room that is in frequent use.

  I huff out a breath, glancing behind me. There’s a large portal standing in the shadows. It’s not as sophisticated as Morgan’s, but it has the same structure and wiring.

  Weird. How did this thing get powered? Are the doors connected?

  Plodding out of the shack, I ease the door aside and spy a large clearing surrounded by thick foliage. Luscious green grass welcomes me to lie in it and a stiff breeze tosses my curls in front of my face.

  Moving cautiously, I glance overhead.

  Blue sky.

  Yellow sun.

  It’s earth.

  But which one?

  I take another step and hear the sounds of laughter coming from somewhere in the distance. Heading that way, I push past the foliage until I see a break in the leaves. Beyond that, there’s a path leading to an extravagant mansion.

  My breath quickens. I recognize that house.

  It’s Hawk’s place.

  Miles used to hang out here all the time, although I wasn’t invited. I would sit outside the gate and wait for him, leaving me plenty of time to study this castle.

  From a distance, it was majestic and intimidating, but up close it’s even more magnificent. My sneakers don’t make a sound against the grass as I navigate through a well-maintained garden.

  A giant pool splays before me and there are two people swimming in it. A beautiful girl with warm brown skin and curly hair wearing a yellow bikini mischievously splashes a handsome man I’d recognize anywhere.

  “Hawk?” I gasp.

  As his name leaves my lips, I’m suddenly thrust to the ground by a heavy force. My chin scrapes the dirt and a fist pounds into my back.

  I scream, noticing when the girl and Hawk glance up and see me.

  A big hand clamps my shoulder and hauls me up. I cry out, struggling against the man’s hold, but he’s got me tight. Panic engulfs me.

  I shriek, “What are you doing?”

  Hawk and the girl climb out of the pool and approach me. The sun slices through Hawk’s damp black hair and cuts against his sharp chin. His icy blue eyes sear me like a weapon and I automatically avoid his gaze.

  Hawk is as intimidating as his house. He stands a head and shoulders above me, water dripping down his abs. Grabbing a towel, he wipes his face and tosses it to one of the guards.

  “We found her prowling around the garden, sir. What should we do with her?” The man who’s got ahold of my shirt growls.

  “Question her. Then toss her out,” Hawk says in a firm voice.

  “Wait!” I plead. “Don’t you know me?”

  He arches an eyebrow. “Should I?”

  The girl approaches. She’s wearing a fluffy robe and slippers now. Her brown eyes widen when she sees me. “Kaz?” she whispers.

  My heart thumps in my chest. “You know me?”

  “I'm Shanel!” She squeals with glee. “Babe, that’s Kaz. Kaz!”

  “Who?” Hawk’s voice is still hard, but his eyes visibly softens as he looks at his girlfriend.

  She snaps at the guards. “Let her go at once!”

  “Let her go?” Hawk arches an eyebrow.

  The guards don’t move. In fact, the guy holding me tightens his grip.

  Hawk turns to Shanel and growls, “I can’t let this slide, babe. You have no idea how many girls have tried to sneak into my place. I can’t show mercy.”

  I snort. “I didn’t sneak in. I appeared here.”

  “You appeared?” Shanel pushes past Hawk. “You came back from my earth? Did you see Morgan?”

  At the sound of Morgan’s name, another slice of pain hits me, but this one is borne from regret. It’s too late for me to feel this way. I’ve already made my choice. Looking back will only make me miserable.

  Shanel whirls on Hawk. “If you don’t let her go right this instant, I’m going back home, Hawk.”

  His eyes sharpen. “No you won’t.”

  “Try me.” Shanel folds her arms over her chest and slants him a dark look.

  My breath gets caught in my throat. I’ve never seen anyone defy Hawk before. He’s not just the leader of B4, he rules the entire school. Everyone knows that one well-placed call from Hawk can ruin their entire future.

  But this girl has fire in her eyes and a smug confidence in her upturned lips. I find myself admiring her and wanting to be more like her almost instantly.

  “Let her go,” Hawk bites out.

  The guards drop me.

  I stumble, crushing my hands and knees into the grass. My blood is still pumping hard from the adrenaline of coming back home so abruptly and then being captured.

  Shanel kneels beside me and gently helps me up. To my surprise, she flings her arms around me and hugs me. “I’m so happy to see you, Kaz.”

  “Uh… you too.”

  Shanel steps back with a charming laugh. “You must be so confused about who I am.” She shakes her head. “But I’ve seen you on my screen so many times that it feels like I know you.” She gestures to Hawk. “You remember this ice king, right?”

  “Yes, how could I forget Hawk.”

  “Trust me, he’s not as bad as before. I’ve softened him up.” Shanel loops her arms through his.

  I expect Hawk to growl out his objections to her statement, but he sighs contentedly and presses a kiss to the top of her forehead.

  Of all the things I’d expected to find when I came back, it was not the leader of B4 head over heels for the girl who swapped lives with me.

  “Are you hungry?” Shanel asks.

  “Not really.” I haven’t been able to eat since that last conversation with Morgan. It’s like misery curled up in my stomach and stole every ounce of pleasure from my life.

  “You have not lived until you’ve tasted Linda’s rice and beans. Trust me. That’ll fix your appetite right up.” She breaks away from Hawk, who scowls at the separation, and pastes herself to my side. “I have so much I want to ask you and I’m sure you’ve got questions yourself.”

  “I’m more shocked than anything.”

  “About Hawk?”

  “About you.” I glance at her again as we head inside through sliding glass doors. “Why didn’t you come back to your earth?”

  “I fell in love.” She tosses a wink at Hawk.

  He smirks.

  Shanel returns her attention to me. “And there are some things that are worth giving it all up for.”

  I think of Morgan again and my heart pangs.

  Did I make the right choice coming here?

  “What about Miles?” I ask quietly.

  “Oh.” She comes to a sudden stop. “Well…”<
br />
  “If you’re with Hawk now, does that mean—” I stiffen. “You broke up with him as me?”

  “I’m sorry, Kaz. I couldn’t keep up the pretense. And Miles isn’t really my type…”

  My chest heaves. “What about my parents?”

  She winces. “About that…”

  I run a hand through my hair, pacing away from Shanel. “My mother is probably livid and my dad…” I inhale a sharp breath. "My father must be crushed. They were counting on that engagement.”

  “Yeah,” she plays with her fingers, “they disowned you—well, me.”

  “What?”

  Hawk slides his hands over Shanel’s back. “Do you need me for this part, love?”

  “No, I’ll handle it,” Shanel says softly.

  He kisses her and then glances at me. “Kaz.”

  “Hawk.”

  He nods and walks out of the room.

  Shanel falls into the chair beside me. “Is that why you came back?” Her brown eyes are intent on my face. “Did you come back for Miles?”

  “I-I don’t know.”

  “You don’t?” Her nose scrunches. “You seemed pretty obsessed with him before.”

  “I was.”

  “But?” She leans closer.

  “I don’t know anymore. I met someone…” I sigh loudly. “And now that I’m not engaged to Miles anymore…”

  “Was it Morgan?” Shanel asks softly.

  “How do you know?”

  “We only met for a short time when he got the portal to work. There was something… steady about him.” She shrugs. “Something magnetic. I trusted him with my life after meeting him only once.”

  “We got close.”

  “But you chose to come home,” she says softly.

  “And he chose to let me go.” My voice cracks.

  “I’m sorry, Kaz. About everything. I know I made things complicated with Miles and your parents and now you have to deal with your heartbreak.” She sighs. “You can be angry at me if you want to.”

  I shake my head. I’m not angry. I just feel… lost. Shanel did, in three short weeks, what I couldn’t do after ten years. Just like that, she shifted my life and wiped the slate clean. Gave me a new start.

  No wonder Miles started actively searching for me and chasing me. The moment Shanel raised her standards, he had to raise his too. It’s something I should have done a long time ago but never had the courage to.