“They’re dead, JD,” Prez tells me. “Blaise got attacked one night in his cell. He died the next day. Luke and Will killed themselves. That’s the official story anyway.”
Good. I’d probably kill them myself if I ever saw them.
I look at my two best friends. “You both knew? You knew and never tried to get in touch with me to tell me?”
“Are you fucking kidding me right now? You left us! You left her! Gone without an explanation as to why! We didn’t know where you were. And you have the gall to be upset that we never called you after Rory was assaulted? Fuck you, JD!” Prez shouts.
Trevor suddenly makes an appearance from the side entryway. “Hey! What the hell is going on in here? I can hear you four jackasses outside and so can the kids. We’re about to cut the cake, so whatever beef is happening in my kitchen, shut it down and get your asses outside.”
“Is Aurora out there?” I ask him.
“Yeah. She’s talking to Elizabeth and Ryder. Why?”
“And Connor?”
“He and Lillie are playing volleyball with a balloon. Renee and Ben are with them.”
I take a deep, calming breath. “Okay. Thanks.”
“No problem,” Trevor comments, a hint of a question in his words.
“Would you mind watching Connor a little while longer?” I ask him.
“I can do that. Why?”
“I need a few minutes and some air.”
Austin snidely comments as I walk out, “If you haven’t noticed, JD, we don’t leave and walk away from those we care about. Connor is in good hands.”
I want to turn around and scream at him that I didn’t have a fucking choice. But I would be a liar. Ididhave a choice. I just made the wrong one that day.
Perhaps I should have fought harder or tried to figure out another way to protect Aurora. If I went to the police and told them everything, would that have stopped this nightmare from happening?WouldI change anything? The thing about going back to fix old mistakes falls into the realm of the ‘butterfly effect.’ By changing one decision could lead to a domino effect and result in a different outcome. That outcome may not include Connor. So, the answer is no. I wouldn’t change the choice I made. I wouldn’t alter destiny, because in doing so, it may have forfeited my son’s existence.
Instead of going back outside, I climb the stairs to the second floor. My mind is whirling, and my feet are on autopilot. Walking to the end of hall, I open the second to the last door on the left and stop when I notice another presence standing in the middle of the room.
“Emergency,” I tell her.
Chapter 56
“I’m going to head out now if you don’t mind,” Shelby says beside me.
Butch just opened the present from me and he loved the new helmet. He’s actually wearing it as he finishes opening up the rest of his presents. Fallon and Trevor bought him a new KMX which is currently in the garage wrapped in a red sash with a big, red bow.
My gaze shifts to where Connor and Lillie are playing. Ben and Renee are with them. “Are you feeling okay?” I ask Shelby, noticing how Renee is blushing at something Ben says. “I’ve been trying to get Renee to give Ben a chance. I think she and Trevor have something going on the side, though.”
Shelby instantly forgets that she wants to leave and sidles up next to me. “Renee and Trevor? Are you sure?” she whisper-shouts next to me.
“Pretty sure but not one hundred percent sure.”
“Eww. No offense. Trevor is hot and has a nice ass, but he’s like an older brother to me. The thought of getting down and dirty while naked with the man is a huge N-O.”
“Please don’t give me any more imagery. He’s my literal brother and I don’t want to picture him and Renee like that.” I shudder. Looping an arm around Shelby’s waist, I bring her in and rest my head on her shoulder.
“Have the results come in yet?” she asks, taking me a little by surprise.
“Not yet. Even when they do, I don’t know what I’m going to do about it. You were right, Shelbs.”
“Which part? The part about playing God or the part about possibly hurting Prez?”
