Stranger in my Ass-Chapter 268

Kira’s POV

This was getting scary now. Really scary.

Where the hell was she? Was she okay? What if something had happened to her? What if she was hurt somewhere and couldn’t call for help?

I couldn’t do this alone. I needed backup. Someone who knew Olivia almost as well as I did. Someone who would move heaven and earth to find her.

Kennedy.

I was supposed to go out with him today anyway - we’d planned a casual evening date - but this was more important.

I quickly dialed his number, and he picked up on the first ring.

"Hey, beautiful," his voice came through, warm and slightly teasing. "Couldn’t wait to see me, huh? I knew you were missing me."

Any other time, I would have laughed. Would have flirted back, played along with his game.

But not now.

"Kennedy," I said, my voice serious enough that I heard his harsh intake of breath. "Olivia’s missing. I can’t reach her."

"What?" All traces of playfulness vanished from his voice. "What do you mean missing?"

"I mean she’s gone and she’s not answering her phone and I don’t know where she is." The words tumbled out in a rush. "I need your help."

"I’m coming over right now," Kennedy said immediately, and I could hear him already moving, probably grabbing his keys. "Where are you?"

"I’m currently at..." I cut myself off, thinking fast. "Let’s meet somewhere. I’m leaving the house anyway."

I definitely didn’t want Kennedy coming here. He didn’t know about the new house - didn’t know Maxwell had bought it, didn’t know Olivia had moved. And explaining all of that right now would take time we didn’t have and raise questions I wasn’t ready to answer.

"Okay," Kennedy said, all business now. "Where?"

We quickly agreed on a coffee shop that was roughly halfway between us, and I ended the call.

I grabbed my bag and the car keys to the sleek Mercedes outside, then paused.

The car. Kennedy would definitely notice the car. Would ask questions about the car.

"Fuck," I muttered, dropping the keys back on the counter.

Instead, I ran out of the house and practically threw myself into the first cab I saw, giving the driver the address and probably offering to pay double if he could get there fast.

The entire ride, I kept trying Olivia’s phone. Over and over and over.

Nothing.

By the time I got to the coffee shop, I was wound so tight I felt like I might snap.

Kennedy was already there, leaning against his rental car - because of course Mr. Sexy Lecturer had rented a car while he was in town - and the moment he saw me, his face shifted from concerned to alarmed.

"What’s going on?" he asked as I climbed out of the cab. "What happened?"

I took a deep breath, trying to figure out how to explain this without going into all the messy details about Maxwell and strangers and the absolute clusterfuck that Olivia’s life had become.

"I don’t know," I admitted. "Maxwell just showed up and told me Olivia went missing."

"Maxwell?" Kennedy’s eyes narrowed. "Why would he... wait, went missing? What does that even mean? Wasn’t she supposed to start work today?"

"She did," I said quickly. "But apparently something happened and now she’s nowhere to be found."

Kennedy was already pulling out his phone. "Do you know where she might be? Does she have any places she goes when she’s upset?"

"I don’t know," I said, feeling useless and terrified in equal measure. "This has never happened before. She’s never just... disappeared like this."

Kennedy started dialing, bringing the phone to his ear.

We both stood there in tense silence, waiting.

One ring. Two rings. Three rings.

I watched Kennedy’s jaw clench tighter with each passing second, watched the worry lines deepen around his eyes.

Four rings. Five rings.

"Come on, Liv," Kennedy muttered under his breath. "Pick up. Pick up."

Six rings. Seven rings.

And then...

"Hello?" 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝔀𝓮𝒃𝙣𝓸𝒗𝒆𝒍.𝙘𝒐𝒎

Kennedy’s entire body sagged with relief. "Olivia! Thank God. What’s going on? Where are you?"

I couldn’t hear her response, but I watched Kennedy’s face shift through a dozen different expressions - relief, confusion, concern, frustration.

"Are you okay?" he asked. "Kira said you were missing and... what? No, she’s right here with me. We’ve been trying to reach you."

More muffled responses from Olivia’s end.

"Okay," Kennedy said slowly. "Okay, just... stay where you are. We’re coming to you right now."

He ended the call and immediately started toward his car. "She’s at the hospital."

"WHAT?" My heart dropped into my stomach as I remembered Maxwell’s words about her being hurt. "Is she hurt? What happened?"

"She says she’s fine," Kennedy said, already unlocking the car. "But we’re going. Now."

I didn’t need to be told twice.

*******

The drive to the hospital felt like it took hours even though Kennedy was definitely breaking several traffic laws to get there faster.

My mind kept conjuring up worst-case scenarios. Olivia in a car accident. Olivia attacked. Olivia hurt because of whatever had happened with Maxwell. What had Maxwell said it was again? Yes, she’d fallen onto broken glasses. God, I hoped and prayed that was all it was, and nothing more serious.

By the time Kennedy screeched into the hospital parking lot, I was already unbuckling my seatbelt.

We ran inside, got the room number from the front desk, and I practically sprinted down the hallway.

And there she was.

Sitting on a hospital bed, looking perfectly fine except for a bandage covering her thighs. She quickly pulled up the hospital blanket to cover her legs when she saw me.

"OLIVIA!" I crashed into her, wrapping my arms around her so tight she probably couldn’t breathe. "Oh my God, are you okay? What happened? I was so worried..."

"I’m fine, I’m fine," Olivia said, patting my back awkwardly. "Kira, you’re squeezing me to death."

I pulled back but kept my hands on her shoulders, scanning her from head to toe for injuries. "Are you sure? Are you sure everything is fine? Are you injured anywhere else?

She shook her head.