Glass Hearts [BL]
Chapter 52: Don’t Hang Up on Me

Chapter 52: Don’t Hang Up on Me

I burst out of the pawn shop like I’d been shot out of a cannon, the bell slamming against the door behind me.

People were moving all around me...cars honking, voices shouting, but it all muffled.

I ran down the first alley I could find, wedging myself between a dumpster and a brick wall streaked with old graffiti. The smell of trash and wet concrete hit me, but I didn’t care.

I pressed my back to the wall, trying to suck in a breath.

My chest felt like it was caving in.

In... out...

But the air wouldn’t come.

Nothing came.

Images flashed in my head...the serpent tattoos. Liam lying in a pool of blood.

The scary looking men.

My throat closed up.

I couldn’t breathe.

My fingers scrabbled for my phone in my pocket. It almost slipped out of my hand twice before I finally managed to unlock it.

I found Dominic’s name and hit call.

It rang once. Twice.

"Hey, Rivera." He sounded amused. "Aren’t you supposed to be..."

"I—I can’t—"

I doubled over, pressing my forehead to the rough brick. My voice came out in broken gasps. "Dom... I c-can’t... breathe..."

His tone changed in an instant. All the teasing vanished..

"Ash, talk to me please." His voice cracked.

My whole body was shaking so hard that I could barely hold the phone.

"I... saw... them... tattoo... the same... the guy who... Liam..."

"Omg, Ash. Where are you right now?"

My vision blurred. My voice cracked. "A... alley. Near... Shawn’s... pawn shop..."

"Good. Good. Just keep talking to me. Listen. Breathe in for four. Ready? In...one, two, three, four. Hold it. Now out. One. Two, three, four."

I sucked in a tiny gasp of air.

"That’s it. Are you okay?"

Tears spilled over my lashes. "I’m... I’m not okay. Dom, I’m not..."

"Shhh. Listen to me. You’re safe. Nobody’s gonna hurt you. I’m getting in my car right now. You hear me?"

I closed my eyes, pressing back harder into the brick, trying to stay upright.

"I’m coming to get you, Ash. Don’t move. Stay in the alley. I’ll be there as fast as I can."

I kept nodding even though he couldn’t see me.

"Keep breathing for me. Just like that. In. Hold. Out. I’ve got you."

He kept talking, his voice the only thing anchoring me as the city roared around me, and my world slowly started to pull itself back into shape.

Dominic stayed on the line the whole time.

"Where are you now? Tell me what you see."

"Um... a green dumpster... and a... a cat..." My voice cracked. "He’s staring at me like I’m crazy."

Dominic let out a tiny huff of laughter. "Well, you are a little crazy. But you’re my favorite crazy person."

I let out a shaky sound that might have been a laugh. Or a sob.

My breaths started coming a tiny bit easier, though my whole body was still shaking like I’d been electrocuted.

The smell of garbage made me gag, but I couldn’t bring myself to move.

"I’m s-sorry," I whispered.

"Hey, none of that is your fault." Dom’s voice sharpened a little. "Don’t apologize for being scared. You hear me?"

I nodded again, wiping my sleeve across my wet face.

I heard a car door slam through the phone. Then the roar of an engine.

"I’m driving now," Dominic said, breathless like he was moving fast. "Which alley are you in? Tell me exactly."

I peeked out from behind the dumpster. My voice was still wobbly. "Next to the barber shop on Third. Between the shop and... and that liquor store."

"Keep talking, Ash. Don’t hang up on me."

So I did. I told him every stupid detail. The color of the bricks. The cigarette butts scattered on the ground. The way the breeze smelled like garbage. Anything to keep my mind from sliding back into that pawnshop.

About ten minutes later, I heard tires squeal at the end of the alley.

I looked up to see a sleek black car. The driver’s door flew open so hard it bounced back.

Then I saw Dominic.

He jumped out of his car before he even finished parking, his hair was messy.

"Ash!"

I tried to say his name but my throat wouldn’t work.

He ran over to meet me, and pulled me against his chest.

I pressed my face into the warm cotton of his T-shirt. He smelled like clean laundry and cologne and something sweet, like cinnamon gum.

His arms wrapped tight around me.

"Shhh. I’ve got you," he murmured into my ear. "You’re okay. You’re safe."

My fingers twisted into his shirt.

"I... I couldn’t breathe. I thought—"

"I’m here now." He brushed his lips over my forehead. "I know, baby. It’s over. You’re safe."

He scanned me up and down, eyes flicking over my shoulders, my face, like he was checking for injuries.

"I...I saw them, Dom," I choked out. "The tattoo. It was the same as the guy who killed Liam. It was the same...."

"I know, I know." His hands were warm and firm on my back, holding me tight. "You’re safe. I promise. Nobody’s gonna touch you."

He pulled back just enough to tip my chin up. His thumb brushed a tear off my cheek.

"I’m so proud of you," he said. "You called me. You didn’t try to handle it alone. That’s huge, Ash."

I blinked, more tears sliding down. "I feel like I’m falling apart."

"Good." His mouth quirked in a tiny smile. "Means you’re human."

"We’re gonna figure this out, Ash."

"I... I sold my dad’s watch. I sold his compass, his awards. I’m a bad son. My mom is dying."

Dom’s brow creased. "Hey. Listen to me. None of that makes you a bad son. You’re doing what you have to do. You’re surviving."

"I feel like I’m drowning," I whispered.

He exhaled shakily and kissed my forehead. "Then I’ll swim for you."

He kept staring at me, wiping my tears. Then....He leaned in and kissed me.