Finn drives like a lunatic, speeding too fast and flying through red lights that he insists are still yellow. And I get why he's doing it, but the fact that he doesn't even get pulled over says a lot. It's probably the car. It radiates royalty, which makes parking it in a northside parking garage problematic.
But we don't have time to figure out another solution.
Lily is starting to freak out, something she relays to me via texts. Someone has been knocking on the bathroom door forthe last few minutes, and she’s veering toward a panic attack. It could be some drunk rando needing to take a piss, but I'm worried it could be Will. Not that I tell her that. I'm trying to keep her calm, and I offer to call her, but she's worried whoever's knocking will overhear the conversation.
So, I sit in the backseat with River, and he plays with my hair for most of the drive. Noah, Finn, and he are talking about Finn and River's mom, but I barely hear the conversation because I'm too fixated on messaging Lily.
I feel awful for Finn and River, though. Even if their mom took off on her own, the feeling of abandonment is a crushing sort of pain that makes it hard to breathe. And if their father did something to their mom, well, that I understand too. I've seen the man I believed to be my father do awful things to my mother and vice versa. And all the abuse, all the scams, the anger—all of the crap I had to endure was all for nothing.
How could Ellie let me go through that? Did she not care? Or was the alternative worse than me suffering through shitting parenting? That thought leaves my stomach churning.
"Are you doing okay?" River whispers in my ear after I let out a sigh.
I nod, glancing up at him. The glow of the lampposts lighting up the streets reflects in his eyes. "I'm fine. Areyouokay?"
He brushes strands of his dark hair out of his eyes. "I think I'll feel a little bit better when we get Lily."
"Agreed." This from Finn. He changes gears, the engine grumbling.
"I still don't get how she ended up in northside.” Noah is sitting in the passenger seat with the hood of his jacket drawn up over his head. He rotates to look at me from over his shoulder. "You said she met this Will guy, and he brought her to this club? But how did she even meet Will if he's from northside?"
I tap my finger against my phone screen. "I honestly don't know. From what I knew, Lily wasn't going to northside tonight. Maybe Will was dealing at the party she was at."
"Does Lily do drugs now?" Noah wonders with his brows furrowed.
"No," River replies. At the same time, Finn says, "Maybe."
Noah's attention bounces between the two of them.
"She's eighteen. She might," I answer for them. "But she doesn't do it frequently or anything hardcore. Trust me, I know what that looks like, and Lily doesn't fit the profile."
"Maddy's right." Finn slows down as we near the three-story parking garage I told him to drive to when we first got into the car.
River frowns but doesn't remark.
We remain quiet as Finn drives into the parking garage, which proves complicated when he has to take a ticket to lift the barrier. It's amusing to watch him figure it out like it's some sort of great unsolvable mystery. After snickering, I explain to him what to do. Once the bar lifts, he drives in and parks the car.
The parking garage is close to the club, so it takes us only a few more minutes to arrive at the entrance. It's strange to be walking around so late at night in this neighborhood and not feeling totally anxious. I may give the guys shit about being Royals, but their presence makes me feel safe. Not that I left my weapons behind. I have them tucked inside my pocket as I stride up to the roped entrance, where a massive dude with bugling, tattooed muscles is positioned in front of the door.
He won't ask for my ID. He's supposed to, but it's all for show. At least, that's how most clubs and bars in northside are.
"This place is full," he says as I approach him. He sidesteps, blocking the door with his bulky body. "We're not letting anyone else in." His gaze wanders over my head to where River, Noah,and Finn are standing, then lands back on me. "You can try The Zen of North Side."
"I'm supposed to be meeting someone here," I lie, batting my eyelashes at him. Maybe I can flirt my way in. "If you let me go find him, I can get him and leave."
He doesn't so much as react to my lame-ass attempt at flirting. "Sorry, sugar, but that won't work on me." He pauses, rubbing his jawline. "I can let him in, though." He looks over my shoulder again.
Right at Finn.
Okay, so we're going to have to work that angle then.
Finn points at himself. "Me?"
The bouncer nods, removing the rope from the bar. His gaze lazily scrolls up and down Finn. "Yeah, baby. You can go right on in."
Noah looks away, biting back a laugh while River's brows rise.
The corners of Finn's pouty lips turn downward as he steps forward. He gives me an uneasy glance as he passes by. Even if he can be charming when he needs to be, he's out of his element.
