“That’s a dump.”
“I know. But that’s where I want to be dropped.” I half laugh at the reality I’ve found myself in. My life’s a mess; it makes sense to stay in a dump. Plus, it’s where I’m least likely to be seen. If I’m right, and the news goes public, I’m going to be hounded, and I need time to think before I make a statement.
I need to say something that will keep Blair and… my sister out of the news.
My phone buzzes with another text from Cade, but just like the one before, I don’t even open it. It’s not hard to guess it’ll be some kind of big brother threat.
If I knew he’d show up here and beat the shit out of me, I’d welcome it. I deserve it. But I’m not stupid. He’d send Blair, and right now, she needs to stay the hell away from me.
For her sake and mine.
CHAPTER FIFTY-TWO
Blair
My bag gets caught in the door as I’m rushing outside to meet Cade, and my phone rings as I fight it, my panic rising with each tug.
“Goddammit. I hate you.” I drop the bag and reach for my phone, pulling it out of my pocket in time to catch that it’s Zane’s mom, not Zane, and she couldn’t have called at a worse time.
I glance up at Cade, my eyes pleading with him to help as I consider my options, but he’s no use. Sometimes he needs people to spell things out for him.
My phone stops ringing, but before I can sigh in relief, she calls back, and as much as I want to reject it, I can’t.Maybe she’s heard from him.I’ll try anything right now.
“Fiona, hi.”
“Have you heard the news?” she rushes out, her voice equally as panicked as mine, and my fears deepen.
“What news?” I play dumb since Kayla mentioned it wasn’t common knowledge yet.
“That kid that Zane beat updiedthis morning.” Her voice is somber but holds an edge I don’t like.
“Yes, I heard, but I didn’t know it had hit the media. I’m on my way to see Zane. He must be—”
“What? You’re seeing Zane?”
“Yes. I’m on my way to the airport. I promise, I’ll make sure he’s okay.”
“I thought the two of you weren’t speaking anymore. I didn’t know you knew where he lived.”
“What? Ah… we hadn’t spoken until recently. But now we are. It’s complicated but I promise to explain it soon.” I don’t know why I’m talking as though Ron didn’t imply Zane was dead to him last week, but I refuse to believe she feels the same until I hear it from her mouth.
“I’m shocked.”And there it is.“That’s really disappointing. After everything he’s done.”
My fists clench but I take a deep breath as Jenna opens the door, releasing my bag from its shackles.
I mouth “thank you” and stalk toward Cade’s car. “What is it that youthinkhe’s done?” I ask, throwing the back door open and shoving my bag inside. Cade opens his mouth to argue but when I glare his way, he thinks better of it.
“Zane’s the reason we’re constantly being hounded by reporters. And now this other kid’s dead, it’s going to be ten times worse.”
“Are they back?” I ask somewhat distractedly as I settle in the front seat, positioning the phone between my shoulder and ear as I try to buckle my seat belt. But just like the bag, it fucking jams.
Come on. You…stupid…belt.
“Not yet,” Fiona’s voice rings in my ear. “But they will be. It should have been him.”
I jolt and the seat belt snaps back into position as I let go, a deafening ringing in my ears. Surely I heard wrong. “Did you just say it should have been Zane?”
“I did. And I’ll say it again. He forced her to get in his truck. She hated driving that thing and he knew that. But he didn’t care. He was too busy trying to get God knows where.”
