Chapter 317: She’s Leaving Me?

David’s POV

We finally walked out of that station like survivors crawling out of a war zone.

The lawyer pulled us into a quick huddle right outside the doors…Norman, Justin, and me…talking fast about paperwork, statements, and how Manhattan was already lighting up the phones about the evidence.

I nodded at all the right places, but inside? I was a damn mess.

My mind wouldn’t shut up. Where the hell did Holly go with Tyler? Why didn’t she wait for me? After everything we’d been through…the ropes, the gun in my face, Rachel’s crazy ass grinding on me…she just dipped? My chest felt tight, like someone was still squeezing the air out of me.

Does this mean that she doesn’t want to be a part of my life anymore after seeing how messy it is?

Norman clapped my shoulder, pulling me out of the thoughts after we were done with the lawyer. “My car’s right here. I swung by that warehouse and grabbed it after the cops cleared the scene. That crazy lady really turned that place into a horror movie set, huh? Come on, I’ll drive you guys.”

We piled in as the engine hummed, and the city lights blurred past, but I couldn’t sit still. Justin leaned forward from the back seat, still wired from everything.

“Norman, can you believe my own brother thought I was the Dark Prince? Like, serial killer vibes? All those years? It’s quite easier to believe it was him all those years because he started acting shady at some point. But can you believe he thought I could kill someone?”

Norman gave this awkward little chuckle, eyes on the road. “Well… yeah, kid. Kinda.”

Justin exploded. “You too?! What the actual hell? What about me screams murderer? My face? My personality? I’m the guy who wants a farm and chickens, not bodies in the basement!”

Norman shrugged, fighting a grin. “You do act strange sometimes, Justin. Sneaking around, that deadpan stare…don’t blame us for assuming the worst.”

I cut in before it turned into a full roast session. “Norman, drop Justin at the house first. Police are on their way already to grab the evidence from the basement. He needs to oversee that.”

Justin groaned loud enough to rattle the windows. “No way! I wanna come look for Holly, make sure she’s good—”

“House,” I said, firmer this time. “Oversee it. That’s your job right now.”

He muttered something about “big brother dictator” but didn’t fight me.

We pulled up to my place, tires crunching on gravel. Justin climbed out, still grumbling, and slammed the door.

Then it was just me and Norman rolling again, the night pressing in heavy.

“Pass me your phone,” I said, voice rough. “Those bastards smashed mine back at the warehouse.”

Norman kept one hand on the wheel, fished it out of his pocket, and handed it over without looking. I dialed Holly. Straight to voicemail.

“Shit. Probably destroyed too. I don’t even have her smartwatch number.”

I cursed loud again, slamming the phone on my thigh. “It’s been the longest damn day of my life. It’s getting late as hell…where could she even go?”

Norman glanced sideways. “Her friend’s place? That Kayla girl we met earlier today. Worth a shot.”

I nodded. Anything. Just drive.

The ride felt like forever…every red light stretched into eternity, every shadow on the sidewalk made my stomach flip.

Finally, we turned onto Kayla’s street. Norman killed the engine, and there it was… Tyler’s car, parked right in front of his own driveway, nose-to-nose with Kayla’s place like it belonged there.

I didn’t wait. The second the car stopped, I bolted out, shoes slapping pavement. “Holly! Holly! Where are you?!”

The front door cracked open. And there she was…Holly…stepping out with a little boy clinging to her neck like he’d drown without her.

The kid’s face was buried in her shoulder, tiny arms locked tight. Holly looked wrecked but steady, eyes red from crying earlier, hair a mess from the whole nightmare.

She saw me and her face crumpled. “David…you’re here? I’m so sorry. I just… I had to find Kayla. I couldn’t wait. Everything was spinning and—”

I didn’t let her finish. I crossed the space in two strides, pulled her and the kid into my arms, and kissed the top of her hair like I could pour every scared, relieved second into it.

“Don’t ever do that again,” I whispered against her scalp, voice cracking. “Not without telling me. Not anywhere. I don’t care if the sky’s falling…I need to know where you are.”

She nodded with this shaky little sigh, leaning into me. The boy peeked up, curious but still holding on for dear life.

I pulled back just enough. “This Kayla’s kid?”

She nodded. “Yes. His name is Caden.”

I swallowed hard. “Thank you…for getting Ava involved again. You didn’t have to do that for me.”

Holly shook her head, eyes fierce. “I couldn’t stand by and watch you go to jail again. And Ava…she was grateful. Said you were right there beside me the whole time and you saved me, David.”

Saved her? The words hit like a gut punch. Inside my head I was screaming… I didn’t do shit. I was tied up like a useless idiot. She saved all of us. I was just… there. Useless.

If she didn’t have her smartwatch on, I could have been violated more than once by now. She could have been sold, and Justin probably rotting in jail.

I shook the self-pity off fast…couldn’t let it pull me under right now. “You guys okay here?”

She exhaled, long and tired. “Not really.”

“What happened?”

“It’s a long story,” she said, voice dropping. “But… I’m leaving for LA tomorrow morning. I’m going home, David.”

The words landed like a hammer and my brain short-circuited. Home? LA?

After everything we faced today…the warehouse, the confessions, the way she held my hand in that car like letting go would break us both…she’s just… leaving me?

Just like that?

Am I not good enough for her?